SPECIAL CARE OF THE BABY.

Baby will be sensitive to light, even the first day.  Do not allow the sun to shine in his eyes, or gas or electric light if that must be used.  The baby’s skin may change to yellow for a few days, but this soon passes away and frequently there is scaling.  The fine soft hair usually comes out and is replaced later by a second growth.  The open spot on the head should not be touched.  When the head is out of shape or is swollen, this need not cause worry for it will soon disappear.  Mold it a little.  Do not allow the baby to lie in one position, as the soft skull may become flattened or all the hair rubbed off in one place.  The baby sleeps about nine-tenths of the time, but he should be wakened regularly for his food and kept awake while taking it.  This will soon become a regular habit to him, and he will wake of his own accord in a short time.  Do not allow the baby to fall asleep nursing at the breast or while taking food in his bottle.  He will not get enough nourishment and will want to nurse too often.  Also if he is bottle-fed the milk is apt to grow cold and cause colic.  He should be taught to nurse slowly and if he tries to nurse too fast the breast or nipple should be taken away for a minute, and then given again.  The baby should nurse from fifteen to twenty minutes.  A certain amount of crying is necessary for a baby if he is to be strong and healthy.  It exercises his lungs.  “Soothing syrup” should never be given to quiet him.

[562 Mothers’ remedies]

The cry-how to distinguish it.

The cry of pain is strong, sharp, but not continuous, often accompanied by contractions of the features and drawing up of the legs.  The cry of hunger is a continuous, fretful sound, after feeding or sometime before the next feeding.  The cry of temper is loud and strong, accompanied by kicking or stiffening of the body, and, this should never be given away to from the first.  The cry of a sick child is feeble and whining.  Baby should not be rocked to sleep, nor carried about the room.

Baby’s First Meal.—­He should be placed to the breast as soon as the mother can have him.  He will not get much milk for the first few days, but he should be given the breast four or five times daily.  He needs what is then secreted and it is also good for the mother to try to nurse as soon as possible.  The baby may be given a few teaspoonfuls of boiled water between nursing, but no teas.  At the third day the milk is usually established, and the baby should nurse regularly every two hours up to 10 p. m., and twice at night.  He should not sleep in his mother’s bed, but have his own crib and be taken to her at nursing time.  There is danger of baby being smothered sleeping with its mother, and it will not sleep so well.  As a rule it is best to wash baby’s mouth out before nursing, and the mother’s nipple should also be wiped off with a little boric acid solution.