or mother should go to it as it lies in its crib, and
talk to it by making a certain sound or say a certain word--whichever
word or words you want to educate your child to say, when it wants to
move its bowels. By constant attention and effort in this direction, a
child with quick perception and initiative will soon associate the sound
and the function, and it will begin to make the sound when the function
is about to be performed. As soon as it begins to make this sound, if
prior to the act of moving the bowels, the child should be immediately
taken up and held on a chamber, into which some hot water has been put,
and encouraged to relieve itself, the nurse or mother still repeating
the sound, or word, or words.
Having successfully accomplished this programme a number of times, the
child should be encouraged and petted every time it gives a satisfactory
warning, and discouraged and reproved every time it wets or soils its
napkin. A little later, say about six months, the child should be held
on the chamber at a certain time each morning and evening, thus
encouraging it to move its bowels regularly twice daily. The careful
carrying out of a scheme such as the above will establish regular,
cleanly habits, and will to a very large extent guard against
constipation in the future.
BABY'S COMFORTER.--The discovery and introduction of the comforter or
rubber teat was an unfortunate episode in someone's life. By the
careless, conscienceless nurse, or thoughtless mother, it is regarded as
a real comfort and blessing. Any temporary comfort, however, which the
nurse or mother may enjoy as a result of its use, is at the expense of
the health of the child. Its use is a serious reflection upon the good
intention and intelligence of the mother who permits her child to use
one. It is a bad habit from every viewpoint possible. In order that
mothers, open to conviction and capable of reasoning, may appreciate the
character of the harm done by the use of the comforter, we will briefly
record these conditions:
1st. The constant sucking pulls upon the delicate structures of the
mouth and throat, and so impairs the health tone of these structures
that they become flaccid and feebly nourished. This to a certain degree
causes adenoids, enlarged tonsils, loose palate and weak throat, with
the constant tendency to winter colds and coughs, and to catarrh.
2nd. It causes an excessive flow of saliva. Saliva should only be
stimulated previo
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