The child, if properly taken care of, is kept warm. Hence it needs but
little fuel. The ideas on food needs are so exaggerated that it is hard
for parents to realize what moderate amount of food will keep a baby
well nourished.
An adult in the best of health would be unable to stand such frequent
food intake. He would be ill in a short time. Babies stand it no
better, and the only proof of this fact needed is that in the United
States at least 280,000 babies under one year of age perish annually.
During babyhood nearly all troubles are nutritive ones. With the stomach
and bowels in excellent condition baby defies all kinds of diseases,
provided it is given the simple, commonsense attentions needed
otherwise, such as being kept warm and clean in a well ventilated room.
With a healthy alimentary canal, which comes with proper feeding, the
little one can withstand the attack of the vast horde of germs which so
trouble adult minds, also adult bodies, when people fail to give
themselves proper care.
The results of too frequent feeding and overfeeding are appalling. The
first ill effect is digestive disturbance. Then one or more of the ills
of childhood make their appearance.
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