.

THE HABIT OF FEEDING BABY EVERY TIME IT CRIES.--The habit of regular
feeding will, if persisted in and successfully established, render
advice on this subject unnecessary. So also will the explanation of the
evil of overfeeding have its effect on mothers. Apart from these
reasons, however, the habit of feeding baby every time it cries is a
pernicious one, and no doubt the mother, who will be striving to
faithfully follow instructions, will have to overcome the advice of
meddling friends who will regard it as a cruelty to allow the baby to
cry. Do not give in to these busy-bodies; insist on attending to your
own affairs, but be absolutely sure baby is not crying for a just cause.
A child can only cry; that is its only language, but it cries for many
things other than the nipple or the bottle. Examine it carefully,--a wet
diaper a pin, an uncomfortable position, a drink of water, any of these
may be the cause.

It is just as essential that a child should cry as that it should sleep.
Every healthy child should cry for twenty or thirty minutes every
twenty-four hours. Nature calls for this as an exercise in order to
develop the lungs; therefore, if there is no just cause for the crying
you must regard it as a necessary evil, even if you look upon it as a
domestic affliction.

THE HABIT OF WALKING THE FLOOR WITH BABY EVERY TIME IT CRIES.--This is
another habit that is indulged in to the sorrow and ridicule of the
race. If you are a victim of this habit, you have yourself to blame. It
is a matter of education, or habit, pure and simple, and, like all bad
habits, it is difficult to break away from. In the preceding paragraph,
you have been told that when baby wants something, or is uncomfortable,
it employs the language nature gave it,--it cries. No child ever cried
to be walked up and down the floor in the dead of the night. Begin at
the beginning, when it first cries, find out why it is crying. Offer it
a little water if it is not feeding time. Examine its diaper and if
soiled change it. It may be overdressed and consequently hot,
perspiring, and uncomfortable; change its position. Find out if any pin
is open and hurting it; loosen the binder so it can breathe easily. If
it is a colicky child follow the instructions given in the treatment of
colic. Be patient the first few nights, and be thorough, because you may
discover why it cries and each discovery will help you next time. If you
discover something wrong, some rea