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~417-2m University of Texas Bulletin No. 1708: February 5, 1917 What the Baby Health Conferences Teach Compiled by JESSIE P. RICH Formerly Extension Lecturer Home Economics, Department of Extension, University of Texas Published by· the Univer~ity six times a month and entered as second-class matter at the postotfice at Austin, Texas The belieftts of education and of useful knowledge, generally d11fused through a community, are essential to the preservation of a tree govern· ment. Oultfvated mind is the guardian genius of democracy. It is the only dictator that. freemen ac-knowledge and the only security that freemen desire. · President Mirabeau B. Lamar. FOREWORD The Governor of one of our States, when asked what he con-sidered the greatest thing in the world, replied, "The baby." ''For, '' said he, ''everything on earth we respect or revere or admire is the work of man or woman, and sometime or other that man or woman was a baby.'' In every part of the country · thoughtful people have at last recognized th!j.t the baby is the most valuable national asset. A sense of obligation to the child as a citizen of the future is awakening. Today one seldom picks up a magazine or paper without finding such expressions as these: "Baby Health Con-ference,'' ''Better Babies for the . Future,'' ''What is a Baby Worth?'' ~cience has demonstrated how much intelligent care and feeding can do to increase the value and efficiency of our domestic animals. We are just awakening to the possible ap-plication this may have to the rearing of children. The ''Better Babies'' movement originated in the mind of Mrs. Mary Watts, of Audubon, Iowa. She was attending the Denver 'Fat Stock Show and was overwhelmed with the care given to im-prove cattle, hogs, chickens, etc. But where was any effort de-voted to improving the children? Imbued with the idea that chil-dren are of prime importance to the State, she hurriedly walked from the Fair Grounds, saying to a friend, ''I feel as if I were in the center of a whirlwind that bids fair to take me off my fee!." Mrs. Watts took the first train for the Iowa State House; where the Legislature was in session. The~e her earnest and en-thusiastic appeal for the children of Iowa almost swept the law-makers off tl;ieir feet, and resulted in the $75,000 appropriation for the new building on the Iowa State Fair Grounds. This builJ-ing was to be devoted entirely to the cause of better babies. The University -0f Te'xas has been interested in this work for better babies, and has assisted in many of the baby health con- · ferences, or so-called ''Better Babies Contests.'' The object of this brief bulletin is to repeat some of the vital points which are brought out at these conferences. The lessons given here are on the care and rearing of children, and are put in the chart form to make them mo_re emphatic. Any one desiring to copy these 4 University of Texas Bulletin charts as part of an exhibit to be used in a Better Babies Con-vention or in Baby Welfare Work is privileged to do so. Where further information is desired, the following free bulletii:s may be obtained from the Extension Department of the University of Texas: Suggestions for Infant Feeding, Bulletin No. 1706. Food for <bowing Children, Bulletin No. 1707. Pure Milk and Row to Get It, Bulletin No. 1711. Why Register Births and Report Oases of Sickness, Bulletin No. 1709. The following books are also of value in bringing up a child: Care and Feeding of Children, Emmet Holt. Diseases of Infancy and CMldhood, Emmet Hblt. 1'heory and Practice of Infant Feeding, Chapin. What the Baby Health Conferences Teach I. Is YouR BABY 's BIRTH · REGISTERED ? 5 Published with permission of the Children's Bureau, Washington, D. C. 6 Un-iversity of Texas Bulletin II. DOES YOUR BABY HA VE FRESH AIR? Published with permission of the C ~1ildren's Bureau, Wa_shington, D. C. Wkat the Baby Health Conferences Teae~ 7 III. WHICH? 8 University of Texas BUlletin IV. STOP l READ! CONSIDER! Do not use patent medicines with children; these remedies do not get at the root of the difficulty. If the baby is ill, call a physician who understands childrens' diseases, and follow his advice carefully. He is more likely to adjust the food sup-ply than to prescribe any medicine. What the Baby Health Conferences Teach 9 v. A SIMPLE LAYETTE. "The Better Babies Layette" pictured in this poster is ap-Published with permission of the Woman's Home Oompanion, Better Babies Bureau. proved by baby specialists. It embodies the most hygienic and up-to-date ideas in baby raiment. 10 Umversity of Texas Bulletin It is not natural for a child to be sick. Health is its normal condition; yet three hundred thousand babies under one year of age die annually in the United States. Think what this means. That number of people would make a city three times the size of Dallas or Houston, and that many families would make the metropolis 9f Texas. What the B<iby Health. Conferences Teach 11 Nurse your baby if po s s.i b 1 e. Mother's milk is nature's food, and was intended for the infant. Breast milk never sours, is never dirty, and needs no preparation. It is al-ways ready. It contains the proper elements of food in the right pro-portion · for the child. Babies ~ed on good mother's ·milk grow strong and healthy and are free from the bowel trouble and other ill-nesses which attack the ·artificially fed baby. There is no perfec~ sub-stitute for breast milk. It is unfortunate when a child cannot be nursed by the mother during the first twelve months of life. However, it is impossible at. times for a. mother to nurse the child, owing to poor health, or to the fact that her 'milk is poor in quality, or she has some contagious disease. Where this is the case, the needs of the child should be pre-scribed for by -SOIIl.e competent physician. The best substitute for mother.'s· milk in most cases is clean milk, modified to meet the needs of the individual child. Study the following charts on the care and modification of milk. 12 University of Texas Bulletin CARE OF MILK AND THE FEEDING BOTTLE. 1. Do not allow milk to stand in the sun or in a warm place after delivery. 2. Place milk promptly on the . ice and keep it there in the ·original bottle. 3. Keep milk covered-after the bottle has been opened, dis-card the cap and use an inverted glass or cup. 4. Do not allow sour milk to stand in bottles. 5. Do not put anything but milk into milk bottles. OARE OF FEEDING BOTTLES. 1. Rinse with cold water immediately after using. 2. Wash with stiff brush in borax water (2 teaspoons of borax to one quart of water). 3. Steam or boil the bottles. 4. Rinse iIL boiled water before using. CARE OF NIPPLES. 1. Turn inside out if possible. 2. Wash with stiff brush in borax water. 3. . Boil or steam the nipple. 4. Keep in borax water. TO PASTEURIZE M!ILK. Pasteurized milk is milk heated to 145 degrees for 25 minutes Effect of PG-$teurization: 1. Kills the disease producing bacteria. 2. Makes ordinary milk reasonably safe for infant's use . . Meth<Jds of Pasteurization: 1. City supply often pasteurized in large coi:nmercial plant . (This should be under official supervision.) 2. Household methods: (Thermometer necessary). a. Use household pasteurizer, or b. Place milk in clean bottles or cans. Plug with cot-ton or cover carefully. Place th~ bottles on a trivet in a flat bottomed pail. Fill the pail with water to same level with milk. Heat the water to 155 degrees F., then remove from direct heat, cover, and allow 'to stand for 30 minutes. Re-move bottles from water and cool rapidiy. Keep on ice. What the Baby Health Conferences T each · 13 TO MODIFY MILK. Composition of Milk: Hluman Water ....... ·................ .... 87% Total solids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1a Fatty matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Milk sugar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Protein ..... . · ... .. ... .... ... .. .. ·... 1.5 Mineral matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Principtes of MJod;i,fication: The protein must be diluted. Cows 87% 13 :4 7 3.5 .7 This necessitates the adjustment of fat and sugar. M.ethods of Modification: Use clean milk. Pasteurize for safety. Use the cream and upper layers of milk which has been standing for five hours or more. Dilute this top milk and water, cereal water, or gruel, ac~ cording to· formulae; Add commercial milk sugar to equal amount m mother's milk. FORMULAE FOR MODIFICATION OF MILK Prepare a supply for twenty-four hours at one time. TABLE FROM CHAPIN'S ''THEORY AND PRACTICE OF INFANT FEEDING. " Age Remove from 1 quart mflk Use of thls Add bolled / Sugar in water or gruel level tea-(1 oz . flour to spoon-qusrt) fuls Number and size of feedings for 24 hours ~-1-~~~~-1-~~~~1~~~-I-~~--~ 1-2 weeks 2-4 .. 2nd month 3rd ,,. 4tl)--Oth mo. 7th-9th .. 1Qth-12th" Top 9 oz. : " 9 .. "11 " " 16 " "20 " .. 24 " from each of 2qts. 'l'op 24 oz. from each of 2qts. 4 oz. 7 .. 11 .. 14 ,, 20 " 33 40 " Special Modification of MiTk.: 14 oz. 20 .. 22 " 18 " 16 " 15 .. 8" 2 · 3 4 4 4 4 9-2 oz . 9-2 to 5 oz. 7-3 to 4 oz. 7-4 6-4 to fj " 6--9 to 8 .,, &-8 to 10 " . If vomiting occurs shortly after feeding, reduce the amount of £at in the food by using less cream and more milk. If vomiting, colic, or c'lirdy stools occur, add one tablespoon of lime water. 14 University of Texas Bulletin At the end of the first year the normal baby should be weaned. He then needs a greater variety of foods to supply the materials for his growing body. However, the foods best suited for his growth and development are limited and need What the Ba1Yy Health Conferences Teach 15 . careful preparation. The child's digestive system is in the same undeveloped condition as his muscles and teeth. All .new foods should be begun with the child in very small amounts, the amount being increased a little at a time. Many of our best. physicians advise the · use of meat in the 16 University of Texas Bulletin dietary of the child. The beef juice and the broths made from beef, mutton, and chicken are used first, and are often given as early as the fifteenth to eighteenth month. The scraped beef and tender well cooked white meat of chicken are advised later. J\ll)eat is often necessary in cases of mal-nutrition, and may be used with good results in medical cases. The great objection to the use of meat is that it is used in too large quantities, and too frequently. The child so9n learns to like its characteristic flavor, and prefers it to the milder flavored foods. It is not ·a sub-stitute in any way for the cereals or vegetables, and must be used in moderation. Pork in any form, veal, corn beef, all fried meats, game and rich stews should not be used in a child's dietary. USEFUL RECIPES Barley Water.-This is often used instead of water to dilute the milk, and tends to make the curds of the milk more di-gestible. Mix two level tablespoons of barley flour and one-quarter teaspoon of salt with one-fourth cup of cold water into a thin paste, and add to one quart of boiling water. Stir well, and boil for twenty minutes. Should any boil away add enough boiling water to make one quart. The pearl barley needs at least three hours cooking, and must be strained before it is used. The barley water should be made fresh daily. Oatmeal W ater.~The oatmeal water is used in the same way as the barley water, but has a laxative effect. Use two table-spoons of oatmeal to one quart of boiling water, and allow it to cook three hours. Strain and add enough boiling water to make the one quart. Make fresh daily. To Gook Cereals.-All cereals 'should be thoroughly cooked for little children. The coarser cereals, as cracked wheat and oatmeal, require from three to four hours cooking (better cook over night in a fireless cooker), and should be strained before serving. To cook a cereal bring the required amount of· water to the boiling point, add the salt, and sprinkle in the measured cereal a little at a time. The water should not stop boiling. Boil five minutes, a~d place in a double boiler or fireless cooker. What the Baby Health Conferences Teach 1'7 To Soft (]look an Egg.-Use only freshly laid eggs. Put the egg in one pint of boiling water. Cover, and remove the water from the fire. Allow the egg to remain in the water from five to seven minutes. . The egg will be thoroughly heated through, and will be of a jelly-like consistency instead of being hard on the outside and fluid at the center, as it is when boiled a few minutes. To Cook Spinac·h.-Select the tender leaves, wash thoroughly and cook in their own juice until tender (about twenty-five minutes). Drain, rub the leaves through a sieve to remove the fibre, and serve with a little butter. Do not throw away the juice in which the spinach was cooked. This makes an ex-cellent cream soup. Cream of Spinach Soup.-Thicken one cup of · the spinach juice which remains after cooking the spinach, with one level tablespoon of flour. Cook fifteen minutes and add one-half cup of sweet milk. Season with one-eighth teaspoon of salt and · one-half teaspoon of butter. THINGS WORTH WHILE FOR THE BABY Provide training for homemaking in your schools. Give the baby intelligent prenatal care. Be sure the baby's eyes are treated at birth. Register the baby's birth-this proves your baby's birth right. From the start cultivate regularity in ·eating sleeping bathing bowel movement exercise. Give the baby plenty of fresh air-keep it out of doors if possible; if not, keep the windows open. The more fresh air the baby gets the better it . will · sleep. Keep the baby's skin active by daily . bathing. Clothe the baby loosely and according to the weather. Keep all flies away from the baby and its food. Never use soothing syrups-the soothing effect is produced by harmful drugs. 18 University of Texas Bulletin Stop usipg a pacifier-it frequently causes deformity of the roof of the mouth. Thumb sucking is nearly as bad. Give the baby a bed of his own. Nurse the baby if possible-there is no substitute as good as breast milk. If breast feeding is not possible, use clean cow's mi1k rrwdified under a physician's advice. Give the baby plenty of cool boiled water to drink. Consult a physician if the baby does not thrive-it is easier to prevent than cure. Wean the baby at the end of the first year. Feed carefully after weaning---'-cons~lt physician an.d feeding bulletins. Hav~ the baby examined yearly at a health conference or by ~ baby specialist. Have the baby vaccinated during the fourth to sixth month or, in case of exposure or epidemic, -before. Give intelligent study to the needs of . the baby. Remember it's health, growth and happiness depend upon you. Through the Child Hygiene Bureau, the City of New York has greatly reduced its infant death rate. What is your com-munity doing to save the babies 1 Ipach community should have an infant welfare organization. 

What the Baby Health Conferences Teach

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