The utmost care and cleanliness should be observed in preparing the infant's food. All utensils which come in contact with the food should be sterilized each time they are used. Bottles with rubber tubes should never be used, as they cannot be thoroughly cleaned. The bottle should be plain and graduated without a neck, and the nipple should admit of being turned inside out.

CARE OF BOTTLES

After the nursing, the bottles should at once be rinsed with cold water. Later, the bottles and nipples should be carefully washed in hot, soapy water, then rinsed in clear, hot water. They should then be sterilized by boiling in water for twenty minutes, after which they may be placed in boric acid solution (1 tsp. to 1 qt. water), or the bottles may be emptied and plugged with sterilized absorbent cotton until again required.

CARE OF FOOD

It saves much time to make sufficient food to last for twenty-four hours. This may be put into a large bottle, or what is better, into the several nursing bottles, and each plugged with sterilized absorbent cotton. After cooling, the bottles should be put on the ice or in some cool place until required. Where there is no refrigerator, an ice-box made on the principle of the home-made fireless cooker will do excellent service. When the food is to be used, it should be warmed slightly above body heat by placing the bottle in warm water.

The following table is taken from The Care and Feeding of Children by L. Emmet Holt, M.D., of New York.

SCHEDULE FOR FEEDING A HEALTHY CHILD
DURING THE FIRST YEAR

AgeInterval between meals by dayNight feedings (6 p.m. to 6 a.m.)Number of feedings in 24 hoursQuantity for one feedingQuantity for 24 hours
Hours OuncesOunces
2nd to 7th day3271-27-14
2nd and 3rd weeks3272-3 1/214-24
4th to 6th week3273-421-28
7th week to 3 mos.3273 1/2-525-35
3 to 5 months3164 1/2-627-36
5 to 7 months3165 1/2-6 1/233-39
7 to 12 months4..57-8 1/235-43