19O9 MILK COMMISSION. 139 



SUMMER CARE OF SICK BABIES. 



The following circular was 1 prepared for use in connection with Infants' Milk 

 Depot Work by the " Conference on the Summer Care of Babies," representing the 

 Departments of Health and of Education, and fifty hospitals, dispensaries, settle- 

 ments, and other agencies in New York : 



4,500 BABIES DIED in New York City last summer from diarrheal diseases. 

 Most of them died because they were given improper food. They could have been 

 saved if they had been taken to the doctor at the beginning of their illness, and 

 had been properly fed. 



In hot weather, two or three loose movements a day, even though the baby 

 seems to be well, may indicate the beginning of serious illness ; a doctor should see 

 the baby at once. Remember that it is far easier to keep the baby well than to 

 cure it when sick. 



The baby is sick when it vomits or has diarrhea, and it is seriously sick when 

 it has several loos'e green passages a day containing mucus and curds. Improper 

 food is the cause of such illness; therefore stop all food, give cool boiled water and 

 take the baby to a doctor at once. In summer it is dangerous to wait. 



BREAST-FED BABIES often vomit or have diarrhea because the mother is sick 

 or tired out and her milk is poor. 



Improper food 

 Irregular meals 

 Lack of rest and sleep 

 Too frequent or too 

 prolonged nursing 



weaken the mother and injure her milk. 



These causes' act especially in hot weather. 



NURSING MOTHERS should therefore keep themselves well and their milk in 

 good condition, by eating at regular hours, three plain, well-cooked meals a day, 

 and they should drink water between meals. They should nurse the baby at 

 regular hours. They should keep their bowels regular; constipation in a nursing 

 mother often causes colic in her baby. Large quantities of tea, coffee and beer do 

 not improve the quality of a mother's milk and may be injurious to her baby. 

 So long as the mother keeps well the baby will be well. 



If the mother is ill or " run down " or the baby has diarrhea and vomiting, 

 she should consult a doctor at once and before giving the baby other foods or 

 bottle-feeding. The quality of the mother's milk may be improved by improving 

 her health. 



BOTTLE-FED BABIES often have diarrhea and vomiting because the milk used 

 is bad and old, or the feedings are not properly prepared or properly kept, or the 

 nursing-bottles and nipples are dirty. 



Bottle-fed babies must be given only good milk which is kept constantly 

 covered and on ice. Use milk furnished by the milk depots or diet kitchens'; if 

 the milk stations are not convenient, get good bottled milk which is delivered 

 every morning. // the milk cannot be kept properly cooled it should be boiled as 

 soon as received. 



Prepare the feedings for the baby exactly as the doctor directs. Feed the 

 baby at regular hours. Each feeding should be heated to a proper temperature in 

 the' nursing bottle before it is given to the baby. Taste a spoonful of the milk 



