great care should be
exercised not to pin them too tightly. Never dry them, but always wash them
thoroughly before being used again.

8. The band need not be worn after the navel has healed so that it requires
no dressing, as it serves no purpose save to keep in place the dressing of
the navel. The child's body should be kept thoroughly warm around the
chest, bowels and feet. Give the heart and lungs plenty of room to heave.

9. The proper time for shortening the clothes is about three months in
Summer and six months in Winter. {306}

10. INFANT BATHING.--The first week of a child's life it should not be
entirely stripped and washed. It is too exhausting. After a child is over a
week old it should be bathed every day; after a child is three weeks old it
may be put in the water and supported with one hand while it is being
washed with the other. Never, however, allow it to remain too long in the
water. From ten to twenty minutes is the limit. Use Pears' soap or castile
soap, and with a sponge wipe quickly, or use a soft towel.

* * * * *

NURSING.

[Illustration]

1. The new-born infant requires only the mother's milk. The true mother
will nurse her child if it is a possibility. The infant will thrive better
and have many more chances for life.

2. The mother's milk is the natural food, and nothing can fully take its
place. It needs no feeding for the first few days as it was commonly deemed
necessary a few years ago. The secretions in the mother's breast are
sufficient.

3. ARTIFICIAL FOOD.--Tokology says: "The best artificial food is cream
reduced and sweetened with sugar of milk. Analysis shows that human milk
contains more cream and sugar and less casein than the milk of animals.
{307}

4. Milk should form the basis of all preparations of food. If the milk is
too strong, indigestion will follow, and the child will lose instead of
gaining strength.

WEANING.--The weaning of the child depends much upon the strength and
condition of the mother. If it does not occur in hot weather, from nine to
twelve months is as long as any child should be nursed.

FOOD IN WEANING.--Infants cry a great deal during weaning, but a few days
of patient perseverance will overcome all difficulties. Give the child
purely a milk diet, Graham bread, milk crackers and milk, or a little milk
thickened with boiled rice, a little jelly, apple sauce, etc., may be
safely used. Cracked wheat, oatmeal, wh