The Care and Feeding of Children | Page 5

comfortable in a baby
carriage, and can be equally well protected against exposure by
blankets and the carriage umbrella.
What are the objections to an infant's sleeping out of doors?
There are no real objections. It is not true that infants take cold more
easily when asleep than awake, while it is almost invariably the case
that those who sleep out of doors are stronger children and less prone to
take cold than others.
_What can be done for children who take cold upon the slightest
provocation?_
They should be kept in cool rooms, especially when asleep They should

not wear such heavy clothing that they are in a perspiration much of the
time. Every morning the body, particularly the chest and back, should
be sponged with cold water (50° to 60° F.).
How should this cold sponge bath be given?
The child should stand in a tub containing a little warm water, and a
large bath sponge filled with cold water should be squeezed two or
three times over the body. This should be followed by a vigorous
rubbing with a towel until the skin is quite red. This may be used at
three years, and often at two years. For infants a little higher
temperature (65° to 70°) may be used.
WEIGHT, GROWTH, AND DEVELOPMENT
Of what importance is the weight of the child?
Nothing else tells so accurately how well it is thriving.
During the first year a record of the weight is almost indispensable;
throughout childhood it is of much interest and is the best guide to the
physical condition. It will well repay any mother or nurse to keep such
a record.
How frequently should a child be weighed?
Every week during the first six months, and at least once in two weeks
during the last six months of the first year. During the second year a
child should be weighed at least once a month.
How rapidly should an infant gain in weight during the first year?
There is usually a loss during the first week of from four to eight
ounces; after this a healthy child should gain from four to eight ounces
a week up to about the sixth month. From six to twelve months the gain
is less, usually from two to four ounces a week.
_Is it to be expected that bottle-fed infants will gain as rapidly as those
who are nursed?_

They seldom do so during the first month; after that time under
favourable circumstances the gain is usually quite as regular, and
during the latter half of the first year it is likely to be more continuous
than in a nursing infant, because the latter usually loses weight at the
time of weaning.
Why do they not gain so rapidly at first?
It takes a few weeks for the stomach to become accustomed to cow's
milk, and until this is accomplished it is necessary to make the milk
very weak or the child's digestion will be upset.
_For a child of average weight at birth (seven to seven and a half
pounds) what should be the weight at the different periods during the
first year?_
At three months it should be twelve to thirteen pounds; at six months,
fifteen to sixteen pounds; at nine months, seventeen to eighteen pounds;
at one year, twenty to twenty-two pounds. At five months a healthy
child will usually double its weight, and at twelve months it will nearly
treble its weight.
_Do all healthy infants gain steadily in weight during the first year?_
As a rule they do; yet it is seldom the case that one gains every week
for the entire year. With most infants there are from time to time
periods of a few weeks in which no gain is made. These are more often
seen from the seventh to the tenth month and frequently occur when the
child is cutting teeth, sometimes during very hot weather.
_Is it true that every infant who gains rapidly in weight is thriving
normally?_
Not invariably. Some who are fed upon prepared infant foods increase
rapidly in weight but not in strength, nor in their development in other
respects.
_Is the weight of as much value in the second year as a guide to the

child's condition?_
After the first year, the gain in weight is seldom continuous; there are
many interruptions, some depend on season, and others often occur
without apparent cause.
At what age should the fontanel close?
The average is about eighteen months. It seldom closes earlier than
fourteen months, and it should not be open at two years.
At what age should a child hold up its head?
As a rule during the fourth month, and often during the third month, the
head can be held erect when the body is supported.