It is always desirable to make the entire quantity for the day at one time. After the total quantity has been mixed in the jar, fill each bottle with the amount for each feeding, put in a cotton stopper, and place the bottles in the ice box.
In measuring the sugar, it should be remembered that two scant dipperfuls equal one ounce by weight of the sugar.
When each individual bottle is to be filled, do it with the aid of the glass funnel which has been previously sterilized.
Sterilizing the Food For the Day's Feeding.—The simplest method is to place the two-quart jar containing the milk mixture for the next twenty-four hours' feeding upon a saucer in the bottom of an open pan, and then to pour enough tepid water into the pan (outside of the jar) until it will come up as high as the milk level. The water in the pan is then brought slowly to the boiling point. The pan is then moved to the back of the stove and left for half an hour. The jar is then removed and rapidly cooled by allowing cool water to flow over the outside; the individual bottles filled and put in the ice box.
It is always wise to taste the milk before making up the day's feeding to be sure it is not sour. The milk from a herd of good cows is always better than the milk from one cow no matter how good that one cow may be.
When about to feed the baby, the bottle is taken out of the ice box and heated to the desired temperature in a water bath. The temperature of the milk can be tested by allowing a few drops to fall on the wrist; it should feel warm, not hot; it should not be tasted by putting the bottle to the mouth of the nurse, or mother, as it may become infected by doing so. A flannel cover, or bag, should be made to fit the bottle and it should be put on while the baby is nursing so that the milk may retain its heat. The baby must not be disturbed while nursing, nor should he be jounced or carried around after nursing. These habits cause vomiting and indigestion. He should be put in his crib.
When to Increase the Quality or Quantity of Food.—Children of the same age may have different digestive abilities. A strong, robust child may be permitted to take a richer quality of milk than a weak, puny infant of the same age. If the quality or quantity of each feeding is too weak or small for the baby he will be dissatisfied and he will cry after the feeding. In such cases, if the bowel discharges are natural and yellow without curds or white specks, and if he is not gaining sufficiently in weight, the next stronger formula may be tried. If it is decided to put him on the stronger mixture, it is wise to cut the quantity down for a day or two in order to test out his digestive ability. If the stools remain good after three days, the quantity may be slowly increased until the amount in the recipe is allowed. It is a much more serious risk to overfeed the baby than to underfeed him. If too large a quantity is given, he may vomit it at once, or he may develop colic with intestinal indigestion. Such babies lose weight, become fretful and irritable, even though the appetite may remain good. If too strong a quality is given he may vomit sour, buttery-smelling milk, or have colic, and pass curds in the stool. If this happens it may be necessary to go back to a weak formula and work up from that standard. This is always a tedious and anxious experience and may lay the foundation for digestive disturbances for a long time. Don't be too anxious to increase the quality, or quantity, of your baby's food. It is much better to go slow and have a well baby, than to try to force matters and get into all kinds of trouble. No science calls for more elementary common sense, than the science of infant therapy.
Digestive disturbances incident to this period are fully explained in the chapter on Diseases of Children.
FOOD ALLOWABLE DURING THE FIRST YEAR, IN ADDITION TO MILK
About the twelfth month the baby should receive plain milk mixtures instead of the top-milk heretofore used in making up the food. At first the milk may be plain milk from an ordinary bottle shaken up. Of this he may take five ounces, to which may be added three ounces of barley water. The barley water may be gradually withdrawn, an ounce at a time, replacing this amount with milk, until the child is taking eight ounces of milk and two ounces of barley water. Later plain mixed milk will be suitable for a child about the fourteenth month.