BABY'S GOOD AND BAD HABITS. FOOD FORMULAS
Baby's Bed—The Proper Way to Lay Baby in Bed—Baby Should Sleep by Itself—How Long Should a Baby Sleep—Why a Baby Cries—The Habitual Crier—The Habit of Feeding Baby Every Time it Cries—The Habit of Walking the Floor with Baby Every Time it Cries—Jouncing, or Hobbling Baby—Baby Needs Water to Drink—The Evil Habit of Kissing Baby—Establishing Toilet Habits—Baby's Comforter—What can be Done to Lessen the Evil Effects of the Comforter Habit—Beef Juice—Beef Juice by the Cold Process—Mutton Broth—Mutton Broth with Cornstarch or Arrowroot—Chicken, Veal, and Beef Broths—Scraped Beef or Meat Pulp—Junket or Curds and Whey—Whey—Barley Water—Barley Water Gruel or Barley Jelly—Rice, Wheat or Oat Water—Imperial Granum—Albumen Water—Dried Bread—Coddled Egg.
BABY'S BED
The Proper Way to Lay Baby in Its Bed.—The baby should be accustomed to sleep by itself from the day of its birth. Mothers have been known to smother their babies during sleep. The mother may pull the bed-clothing over the baby's head during the night and thus deprive it fresh air. A mother is much more apt to nurse her baby regularly and to do it more efficiently, if she is compelled to get up to do it. If she occupies the same bed with baby, she may fall asleep while nursing him; the baby consequently nurses too long, fills his stomach too full, and soon develops indigestion and colic in addition to acquiring a very bad habit.
For the first few weeks an ordinary basket arrangement is all that is necessary. As soon as the baby begins to move around it should have a regular baby crib, so that possible accidents may be avoided.
When the baby is placed in bed after a feeding, it should be laid upon its back, being tilted slightly toward its right side. By placing a soft, small pillow, under its left side, the baby will rest more on its right side, which is the proper position. The reason of this is because the liver of a child grows quicker and larger than any other organ, and it is on the right side. By placing the child on this side, it prevents the heavy liver from sagging over on the little full stomach. If the child were laid on its left side, the liver would crowd the full stomach and embarrass the heart, and cause pain and restlessness. Frequently a change of position fully to the right side, when a child has been restless or crying, and especially if it has been lying on its back, will at once relieve it and allow it to go to sleep again. It is the knowledge of these little things that count in babyhood.
How Long Should a Baby Sleep?—A perfectly healthy baby should sleep, while very young, eighteen or twenty hours out of the twenty-four. As it grows older it will sleep less. It should have, and nothing should interfere with its having, two sound naps every day,—one in the forenoon after its bath, and the other in the afternoon. When four or five months old, it should also sleep from 7 p. m. until 10 p. m., then it should be fed and allowed to sleep until morning. It has been aptly said, that, "a child might easily overeat, but he practically never oversleeps." During the second year a child should sleep twelve hours at night, and about two hours during the day. The twelve-hour night rest should be continued until the child is six years of age. The practice of taking a nap at noon is a very good one, and it should be encouraged as long as possible. It can usually be kept up until the child begins school life. The strenuous activity of childhood, makes some such rest highly desirable, and the result will necessarily be a stronger body, a better disposition, and firmer nerves than otherwise. The practice of retiring early should be strictly enforced during childhood. Children of two years of age, should retire at 6:30 p. m., or at latest at 7 p. m., those from three to five years, may remain up an additional hour. At thirteen or fourteen the regular bedtime should be at 8:30 p. m. There is no justification for the late hours which growing children are allowed to keep, especially in large cities.
Regular sleep is largely a matter of habit, and if the infant is started right, with suitable feedings, given at definite times, followed by the proper periods of sleep, but little trouble will be experienced with sleeplessness. When sleep is disturbed and broken, it means bad habits, unsuitable food, minor forms of indigestion, or positive illness of some kind. Sleep is absolutely essential in infancy and all through childhood for purposes of growth. It is wrong to permit a child to sleep too much during the day; it will become a habit, and it will not sleep well during the night as a consequence. In order to prevent or break this habit, the child should be kept in a well-lighted room and should be amused and entertained so as to keep it awake. The nap during the middle of the day is an exceedingly important factor in keeping the average child in good physical condition. It is a valuable adjunct in preventing, and in treating, nervousness in children. Children who are anemic should be encouraged to sleep long and freely in well-aired rooms.
Why a Baby Cries.—As has been stated, every healthy baby should cry for half an hour each day. Nature suggests, demands this as an essential exercise. Muscular movements involving a greater part of the whole body accompany the act of crying and furnish this necessary exercise. It is of great importance to an adequate and uniform development of the lungs; deep breathing is necessary to lusty crying, hence the lungs are expanded and the blood renewed and oxygenated. Crying is also of material aid in moving the baby's bowels. Babies in perfect health will, however, cry under any of the following circumstances, and doubtless under circumstances of lesser importance and frequency when frightened or uncomfortable from hunger or position, soiled napkins, inflamed buttocks, earache, pain, from heat or cold, unsuitable clothing, and during difficult bowel movement, when displeased or angry. Children slightly but painfully ill may cry incessantly for an hour or two. Thus, with intestinal colic, when the cry is loud and continuous until the child is relieved or until he falls asleep from exhaustion.
The healthy, well trained child seldom causes trouble; it is the rule for it to be happy and good natured in its own way.