The water should reach the neck of the bottle. Allow it to remain in hot water until the milk in the bottle reaches a temperature of 100 degrees F. Shake it several times so that the heat will be uniform. Thus the milk is heated gradually and a bottle is seldom cracked or lost. Always prepare two extra feedings in event of a bottle may be spilt or broken.<Callout type="tip" title="Tip">Always have an extra feeding ready to avoid interruptions.</Callout> To Tell Good Milk. — Milk chosen for an infant's food is usually selected from a mixed herd of several healthy cows, fed on a clean pasture. A mixed herd is preferred, when possible, to a single cow because the milk is more uniform in quality and not so apt to spread diseases as would be the case in a single cow.<Callout type="important" title="Important">Choose milk from a mixed herd for better health outcomes.</Callout> If the milk is good, it should be acid in reaction; have a dense white color and if tipped to the side of a glass, you will see a distinct film, and when placed on the ice cream rises to the surface.<Callout type="warning" title="Warning">Avoid using milk that does not meet these criteria as it may pose health risks.</Callout> The Bottles. — The bottles should be the rounded graduate ones. Rather wide necks are to be preferred, as they can be more easily and thoroughly cleaned. After each feeding rinse well with cold water so the little milk that adheres to the side will not sour and remain adherent.<Callout type="gear" title="Gear">Use a long handle stir brush for thorough cleaning of bottles.</Callout> Fill them with clear water, in which a little bicarbonate of soda is added; allow them to remain so. Before using wash them well with a long handle stirt brush that is made for this purpose, and boil twenty minutes in a bicarbonate of soda solution. A teaspoonful to a pint of water.<Callout type="tip" title="Tip">Use bicarbonate of soda as a cleaning aid.</Callout> The 'Hygeine' nursing bottle is best, as we are sure of being able to clean this perfectly.<Callout type="important" title="Important">Always ensure bottles are thoroughly cleaned and sterilized before use.</Callout> The Nipples. — The nipples should be the best black rubber nipples that fit over the bottles. Never use a nipple on a graduate nursing bottle with a tube attached to it. It is impossible to clean these as they should be, and they are dangerous.<Callout type="warning" title="Warning">Avoid using nipples with tubes as they cannot be properly cleaned.</Callout> Neither use one that has a large hole in it. The hole should be of such a size that when the bottle is inverted the milk drops easily, but does not run in a stream, as baby would take its food too rapidly, which would cause stomach disturbance.<Callout type="important" title="Important">Ensure nipples are properly sized to prevent overfeeding.</Callout> Immediately after nursing, the nipple should be removed from the bottle and thoroughly washed, at first outside, then inverted and the inside washed well also. The nipples should then be placed in a cup or small vessel, containing a saline solution; this prevents them becoming soft.<Callout type="important" title="Important">Store nipples in a saline solution to maintain their integrity.</Callout> They are kept here until boiled. A nipple must never be used a second time without boiling. After boiling the nipples should be kept in a three per cent boric acid solution until used.<Callout type="warning" title="Warning">Never reuse nipples without proper sterilization as they can harbor bacteria.</Callout> Other Foods. — There are numerous baby foods on the market. Some babies seem to thrive on them and do fairly well. In some instances they are added to the milk formula. Condensed milk agrees with most young babies, but is apt to be constipating.<Callout type="tip" title="Tip">Consider adding olive oil or cream to condensed milk if it causes constipation.</Callout> If such is the case, a little olive oil, given the baby or a little cream added to one or two of its feedings, will usually adjust this condition. Horlick's malted milk is an excellent food for the baby.<Callout type="important" title="Important">Horlick's malted milk can be a good alternative if other foods are problematic.</Callout> The Wet Nurse. — If possible, when the mother cannot nurse her child, a wet nurse should be procured. The nurse should be between twenty and thirty-five years of age, and a thorough medical examination as to her health and constitution should be made by the physician in charge of the case before accepting such a person to nurse the child, and her own child should be as near the age of her adopted charge as possible.<Callout type="important" title="Important">Ensure wet nurses are healthy and of appropriate age.</Callout> Weaning the Baby. — This is hardly necessary to mention here, as I have intended this book simply as a guide or assistant to the young and inexperienced nurse, and to include only from the period of conception to the infant of three months. It is inserted here for the sake of completion.<Callout type="warning" title="Warning">Weaning should be done gradually over several months.</Callout> The weaning of the baby is sometimes a difficult task. The infant will often refuse its food until nursed. Under usual normal conditions, weaning should begin at nine months and be completed at one year.<Callout type="important" title="Important">Wean babies gradually to avoid digestive disturbances.</Callout> In summer it may, sometimes, be advisable to nurse the child a little longer, rather than wean it if the weather is very warm, especially if teething. To overcome the difficulty it should be done gradually; begin by substituting one feeding a day for one nursing. Then two feedings a day for two nursings.<Callout type="important" title="Important">Gradual weaning helps prevent digestive issues.</Callout> Water for the Baby. — Too much cannot be said in regard to this subject, as this is one necessity that is often neglected and the baby suffers for want of it. The child becomes restless and will not sleep, is very cross and fretful.<Callout type="warning" title="Warning">Ensure babies receive enough water to avoid restlessness.</Callout> Babies often have fever and are cross and fretful for lack of water. A new-born baby should have one ounce of water each day. The water should always be boiled and given warm. As baby grows older, the quantity should be increased.<Callout type="important" title="Important">Always boil and warm water before giving it to a baby.</Callout> It should be given a teaspoonful at different intervals during the day until the allowed amount is taken. Best given between feedings.<Callout type="tip" title="Tip">Give water in small amounts throughout the day for better absorption.</Callout> Weight of Baby. — The average weight at birth is seven and a half pounds. Boys usually weigh a half a pound more than girls. The infant loses the first three days after birth, but after the milk appears on the third day, the baby begins to grow and gain, so at the end of a week it should weigh what it did at birth.<Callout type="important" title="Important">Monitor weight regularly for signs of health issues.</Callout> It should gain from one-half to one ounce daily for the first three months; after that the gain is not so great, but it should average from four to six ounces a week the first six months, and from one to three ounces a week from six to twelve months. A child should be weighed once a week for the first six months, and always on the same day of the week, and once a month on the same date of the month from six months to one year old.<Callout type="important" title="Important">Regular weighing helps track growth and health.</Callout> The weight of the child is very important. It is an accurate guide as to the health of the child. It is well to remember that seemingly simple things will cause the weight to vary, such as weighing the baby immediately after feeding; the food it has consumed would increase its weight several ounces.<Callout type="important" title="Important">Consider factors like recent feeding when tracking weight.</Callout> In weighing the baby with the clothes on, the varying weight of these at different times will cause discrepancies, then again the movement of the bowels just before weighing will cause an apparent loss. So that a mother or nurse must consider these things before considering there is an actual loss in weight.<Callout type="important" title="Important">Account for variables when tracking baby's weight.</Callout> Keep the Baby Clean. — The infant should be kept spotlessly clean. Soiled and wet napkins should be removed immediately. The buttocks should always be washed and carefully dried after each movement. Great care should be exercised in keeping the bib and dress, clean.<Callout type="important" title="Important">Maintain cleanliness to prevent infections.</Callout> Remove same immediately should the infant regurgitate its food. Nothing is more disgusting than a sour-smelling baby.<Callout type="warning" title="Warning">Cleanliness prevents unpleasant odors and infections.</Callout>
Key Takeaways
- Always prepare extra feedings to avoid interruptions.
- Use bicarbonate of soda for cleaning bottles.
- Ensure nipples are properly sized and sterilized before use.
- Wean babies gradually over several months.
- Regularly monitor the baby's weight.
Practical Tips
- Always have an extra feeding ready when bottle-feeding to avoid interruptions.
- Use a long handle stir brush for thorough cleaning of bottles.
- Ensure nipples are properly sized and sterilized before use.
- Wean babies gradually over several months to prevent digestive issues.
- Regularly monitor the baby's weight to track growth and health.
Warnings & Risks
- Avoid using nipples with tubes as they cannot be properly cleaned.
- Never reuse nipples without proper sterilization as they can harbor bacteria.
- Ensure wet nurses are healthy and of appropriate age.
- Always boil and warm water before giving it to a baby to avoid restlessness.
Modern Application
While the specific techniques for bottle preparation and care have evolved, the principles of hygiene and safety remain crucial. Modern parents can still apply these lessons by ensuring proper sterilization methods, using appropriate equipment, and maintaining cleanliness. This knowledge is vital in emergency situations where access to modern medical resources may be limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How should I prepare bottles for my baby?
Prepare bottles with warm water and milk at a temperature of 100 degrees F. Shake the bottle well, rinse them thoroughly after each use, and sterilize nipples before every feeding.
Q: What is the best way to clean nipples used in bottle-feeding?
Nipples should be cleaned with a long handle stir brush and boiled for 20 minutes in a bicarbonate of soda solution. They must never be reused without boiling first.
Q: How can I ensure my baby gets enough water?
Give your baby one ounce of boiled, warm water daily. As the baby grows, increase the amount and give it between feedings to avoid restlessness and potential health issues.