Publishing - Donts for Mothers

If this book is to be of use to mothers and to the rising generation, as I humbly hope and trust that it will be, it ought not to be listlessly read, merely as a novel or as any other piece of fiction ; but it must be thoughtfully and carefully studied, until its contents, in all its bearings, be completely mastered and understood.

I express the hope that my advice, through Gods blessing, may not have been given in vain ; but that it may beone among manyan humble instrument for improving the race of our childrenEnglands priceless treasures ! O, that the time may come, and may not be far distant, That our sons may grow up as the young plants, and that our daughters may be as the polished corners of the temple !

ANON

Dont indulge in any species of excess. Endeavour to keep the mind in the greatest tranquillity.

Dont indulge in the caprices of pregnancy to too great a degree.

Dont allow yourself to be tightly laced, this species of self torture fails of the desired effect and has pernicious consequences. Light and loose clothing is best for both mother and child.

Dont employ the common sort of female midwife. Their ignorance is the cause of many fatal accidents.

Dont allow delicacy to endanger. Engage the best female practitioner to be had, under the direction of a professional man, who should be in the house to apply to in the case of necessity.

Dont forget that in nineteen cases out of twenty no assistance whatever is necessary to a woman in labour, only good sense enough to leave nature to do her own work.

Dont bathe your new-born babe in cold water. It frequently produces stuffing of the nose or looseness of the bowels.

Dont, however, run into an opposite extreme. Hot water weakens and enervates the babe, and thus would predispose him to disease. Lukewarm rain water is the best to wash him with.

Dont feel it necessary to wash your infants head with brandy.

Dont use the same sponge to bathe more than one infant. The promiscuous use of the same sponge is a frequent cause of inflammation of the eyes.

Dont use white lead as a powder. Some are in the habit of using it, but as this is a poison, it ought on no account to be resorted to.

Dont neglect the washing of creases made by the flesh of very fat children as the skin of these parts becomes sore and inflamed. Rose water or spring water is sufficient to prevent this inconvenience.

Dont allow a babes clothes to become wet with urine. Children can be taught cleanliness, by putting a vessel under their lap when there is a sign of evacuation and will soon be not content to do without it. This practice may be begun at five or six weeks.

Dont neglect the morning wash. Cleanliness is one of the grand incentives to health, and therefore cannot be too strongly insisted upon. A child who is every morning well soused and well swilled with water seldom suffers either from excoriations or any other of the numerous skin diseases.

Dont let the babe remain for a long period in his bath. Let there be no dawdling in the washing, let it be quickly over.

Dont avoid the bosom. The infant ought to be put to the breast soon after birth, the interest of both the mother and child demands it.

Dont feed a new-born babe upon gruel. It disorders the bowels, causes a disinclination to suck, and thus makes him feeble.

Dont neglect to apply the child alternately to each breast. Sometimes, a child, for some inexplicable reason, prefers one breast to the other, and the mother, to save a little contention, concedes the point. And what is frequently the consequence ?a gathered breast !

Dont have your baby constantly at the breast. This practice is injurious both to parent and to child.

Dont resort to broths. They are apt to turn acid on the stomach, and to cause flatulence and sickness, they, sometimes, disorder the bowels and induce griping and purging.

Dont forget to be sure that cows milk is of good quality, if it must be given as a substitute. If you have not a cow of your own, have the milk from a respectable cow keeper.

Dont stuff a babenever overload his little stomach with food, it is far more desirable to give him a little not enough, than to give him a little too much. Many a poor child has been, like a young bird, killed with stuffing.

Dont add either gin or oil of peppermint to the babes food. It is a murderous practice.

Dont choose a wet nurse of a consumptive habit. Check if she or any of her family have laboured under kings evil.

Dont employ a wet-nurse if there be any seams or swellings about her neck. She should have a plentiful breast of milk of good quality and good nipples, sufficiently long for the baby to hold.

Dont forget to assure yourself that the wet-nurses own babe is strong and healthy, that he be free from a sore mouth, and, as nearly as possible, of the same age as your own.

Dont cram a wet-nurse with food and give her strong ale to drink.

Dont allow a wet-nurse to remain in bed until a late hour, and then continue in the house as if she were a fixture.

Dont let your wet-nurse succumb to fretting. She ought strictly to avoid crowded rooms ; her mind should be kept calm and unruffled. Nothing disorders the milk so much as passion and other violent emotions of the mind.

Dont give your child meat until he have several teeth to chew it with. But remember, meat ought to be given sparingly. Much meat is injurious to a young child.

Dont gorge the babe with food, it makes him irritable, cross and stupid ; cramming him with food might bring on convulsions.

Dont keep your child from butter because you fear it is too rich for his stomach. Butter, in moderation, is nourishing, fattening and wholesome.

Dont allow your child luncheon. If he want anything to eat between breakfast and dinner let him have a piece of dry bread. He will never eat more of that than will do him good, and yet he will take sufficient to satisfy his hunger, which is very important.

Dont neglect to be sure a child eats salt with his dinner. Let a mother see that this advice is followed, or evil consequences will inevitably ensue.

Dont give your child beer with his dinner this practice is truly absurd, and fraught with great danger ! Not only so, but it is inducing a child to be fond of that which in after life may be his bane and curse.

Dont allow your child to take cakes or sweetmeats. Such things both cloy and weaken the stomach.

Dont keep your child from the table. A child ought to commence to dine with his parents as soon as he be old enough to sit up at the table. It makes him a little gentleman in a manner that nothing else will.

Dont attempt to harden a young child either by allowing him, in the winter time, to be in a bedroom without a fire, or by dipping him in cold water, or by keeping him with scant clothing on his bed. He ought to be kept comfortably warm.

Dont rock an infant to sleep, it might cause him to fall into a feverish, disturbed slumber, but not into a refreshing, calm sleep. Besides, if you once take to that habit he will not go to sleep without it.

Dont follow the practises of the Dutch or the French. The Dutch keep their infants in a state of repose, always rocking or jogging them. The French are perpetually tossing them about. A medium would be most favourable.

Dont put glaring colours, a lighted candle or anything that glitters opposite an infants bed. The irritation is likely to cause inflammation of the eyes. Shades of green, grey and brown are preferable.