vide protection against the undue growth of germs.

[Illustration: Fig. 9. Homemade Ice Box]

PREPARING THE BOTTLE

At each feeding hour, one of baby's bottled meals is taken from the
ice box and carefully dipped in and out of a deep cup of hot water. A
very convenient receptacle is a deep, quart aluminum cup, which may be
readily carried about. The hot water in the cup should amply cover the
milk in the bottle (Fig. 10).

To test the warmth allow a few drops to fall on the inner side of the
arm, where it should feel quite warm, never hot. A baby's clean woolen
stocking is now drawn over the bottle, which keeps it warm during the
feeding. No matter how great the danger of offending a fond
grandparent or a much adored friend never allow anyone to put the
nipple in her mouth to make the test for warmth of baby's food.

There are many contrivances, both electrical and alcoholic, for
heating baby's bottle, many of which are both convenient and
inexpensive.

POSITION DURING FEEDING

And now we realize that we are about to advise against the
time-honored injunction which has been handed down from "Grandma This"
and "Mother That" to all young mothers who have lived in their
neighborhoods: "My dear young mother, if you can't nurse your precious
infant, you can at least 'mother it' at the nursing time by holding it
in your arms and gently rocking it to and fro as you hold the bottle
to its lips." This so-called "mothering" has resulted in
regurgitation, belching, and numerous other troubles, as well as the
formation of the "rocking habit."

A young mother came running into my office one day saying: "Doctor, it
won't work, the food's all wrong; my baby is not going to live, for
he throws up his food nearly all the time." We arranged to be present
when the next feeding time came and watched the proceedings. A dear
old friend had told her "she must 'mother' her baby at the nursing
time," and so she had held the child in a semi-upright position as she
endeavored to hold the bottle as near her own breast as was possible.
The hole in the nipple was a bit large, which occasioned the
subsequent bolting of the food, and then to continue the "mothering"
she swayed him to and fro, all of which was interrupted suddenly by
the vomiting of a deluge of milk.

[Illustration: Fig. 10. Heating the Bottle]

I drew the shade in an adjoining room, opened the windows, and into a
comfortable carriage-bed I placed the baby on his side.