一、襁褓之护持
婴孩初生，其净重约为五斤至七斤之间，父母身材长大者，产儿恒较大而重，父母身材短小者，产儿恒较
小而轻，女孩则较男孩稍轻，然纤弱女子，产儿虽小，初不因之而妨及康健，若护持有方，将来长成之后，体
格或亦能变为伟大也。惟初生骨胳皮肤，无不柔嫩，护持之方，殊非容易，有其常识，更须有诚挚爱儿之心，
方能体贴入微，婴孩获其实益也。今将襁褓时期之应须注意者，择要述之如后。
婴孩初生，皮肤上充盈血液，故呈高度之红色，谓之胎肤。胎肤上且护以颇长之毳毛，此种红色，生后一
星期内，渐次减退，其胎肤亦渐次脱落，在此时期，皮肤之柔嫩异常，最易擦破，最好宜常易内衣，勤加拂拭，
洗面可先用乳汁涂抹，再用毛巾蘸温开水揩干，则皮肤光洁，腠理致密，浴身洗口洗眼，均宜规定时期为之，
总以清洁而无碍于儿体为合度。
婴孩初生，其头围与胸围约相等，均为一尺，或头围竟稍大，但胸围之发育应较速，半年之后，胸围应大
于头围，否则即非健康之儿矣。
婴孩初生，哺乳宜迟至十二小时或二十四小时之后，生后三四日，吸取乳量亦不能过多，此时胎粪之排泄不
少，儿身体重，往往较出生时为轻，俗语谓之收身，非属病征，亦有偶尔现发热之象，亦非病征，以儿体中干
燥缺水也，此种现象，不久即恢复常态。若久而体重不增，发热不退者，则为病征，宜亟设法医治矣。
婴孩初生，睡眠之时甚多（每日夜约为十四小时至十六小时），不必屡屡警之使醒，若觉饥饿，自能醒而
索乳，其有终日沉睡不醒者，则防有游丹及脐风发热等证，宜注意审察，以防患于未然。
婴孩之肠，其比例较成人为长，因其吸收滋养之力弱，故不得不长也。婴孩之胃，不若成人之在水准位置，
殆垂直接于食管，故乳后摇动其体，极易吐乳。
婴孩衣服，不可过暖，过暖则令筋骨柔弱，宜时见风日，不见风日，则令肌肤脆软，往往成童之儿，体质
软弱，动辄感冒，实由襁褓时所造成者，不在少数也。
婴孩不可闻啼即抱，一抱便乳，因此最足以养成其好啼之恶习，而于乳食方面，亦有漫无限制之弊也。最
良之育婴法，除吃乳外，勿必保抱，宜安置有轮床筐内，略为摇动，使之肢体舒适，气血宣畅，即在夜间，亦
不同睡一床。
婴孩与乳母同睡，须防其口对儿之囟门，时时吹气，久则儿能致病，乳头亦不可任令长含口中，在婴孩有
闷毙之险，在乳母亦有乳吹之患。
婴孩屎尿布片宜勤换，勿令屎尿久留身上，换时切忌当风，如用水揩拭，须用温水，其布片日晒须要摊凉，
火烘须要退热，如此庶可免除风寒暑湿燥火等症。
婴孩初生，三四个月内，只宜横抱，至百日之后，方可渐渐竖抱。竖抱之时，宜注意头项，勿使倾斜倒侧。
半岁之内，不可令多坐，恐致脊骨受伤，不可令久立，恐致腿骨弯曲。又当睡卧之时，不可令其常侧一面，致
使头骨歪斜，损其仪容。
婴孩初生，听觉极钝，几等于无闻，然二三日后，发达极速，数星期后，已锐敏异常，故小儿之近旁，不
可发高声，恐伤其听觉，雷鸣放炮时，宜掩耳以保护之。
婴孩初生，未剃胎头前，不可戴帽，晴和之天气，宜抱儿出
外，数见风日，如是可使儿气血强盛，腠理坚固，堪耐风寒，不易得病，庶自幼至长，少见鼻塞拖涕之状。
婴孩衣服宜宽大，使其易于发育，婴孩又可习薄衣之法，当从秋习之，不可以春夏卒减其衣，令儿中风寒。
婴孩当消息，无令多汗出，汗出多则致虚损，易受风寒，昼夜寤寐，皆当戒之。
婴孩当时验其溺色，如小便少停，变成米泔水状者，此必肠胃不清，有发热之象。
婴孩当时验其粪色，色深黄苍老而细腻者，为无病之粪色，少带溏薄者，因乳食使然，亦非病象，倘所食
为牛乳、代乳粉之类，则粪便必较用人乳者为干。若嫩黄不苍，渣滓不能全细，则胃中火力，有不到之处，若
淡黄则火力不到，食仅半化，若色青色白，则病象成矣，故于粪色不正之际，先宜早为之防。
婴孩每星期宜磅因称一次，验其体重有无增加，若不增而反减者，防有疾病之暗伏，切宜注意，不可忽视。
二、哺乳之方法
婴孩哺乳，乳汁宜慎为选择，时间宜妥为规定，哺法宜精密可靠，则婴孩健康茁长，疾病常无由以生。奈
世人对于婴孩哺乳，恒以为有乳可食，其他更无问题，以致肠胃之病，层见叠出，疳积等症，亦积渐而成，可
不戒惧。兹将哺乳之方法，择要述之如后。
婴孩之自乳者，为母宜戒忧怒、酒醉、淫欲等事，如有之，切勿骤然与乳。母睡勿与乳，恐食乳过多而伤
脾胃。与乳之时，宜略为挤去宿乳，然后与吮，则少有停滞之患。
选择乳母，年龄宜在三十五岁以下，性情温和，体格健全者，过肥过瘦，皆有不宜，至有曾患梅毒及神经
性病、肺病、黄胆、喘息、香港脚、近视、重听等，更有大患，不可姑息雇用。凡乳母之乳房充实高起，乳汁白
而甘浓，其子女无病健全者，方可
雇用之。
乳母之食料，宜清淡而富有滋养料者为合，牛乳、鸡蛋、猪蹄、青菜之类，于乳母最为相宜。
乳母生子一年左右者，再哺婴孩则不适于用，盖哺婴孩至十个月之久，则乳汁将历二年，已清淡而无滋补
之力矣。故雇用乳母，须考查其儿生日期，初生至三月以内者，最为适用，以哺至十个月或一周岁为止。
有孕之乳母，不可哺儿。骤患风寒感冒者，哺乳亦宜暂行停止，代以乳粉或乳糕。
人乳不足，须添用牛乳者，人乳、牛乳宜分隔时间与之，不可一时并用，恐成停积之患。
每日择二三次，于乳毕之后，与婴孩以鲜橘汁一羹匙，能辅助消化，增加营养，最为有益，如吃牛乳、
乳粉者，更不可或缺，俾润泽肠胃，使大便有序。
婴孩哺乳之时间，在我国普通社会，往往漫无标准，最为有害，按照婴孩消化力，哺乳时间，宜隔二
小时至三小时一次，稍长则宜隔四小时一次，晚间之次数，愈少愈妙，至于每次哺乳之
时间，约以十五分钟为率，乳质少者，略为超过之，乳质多者，略为减少之。
婴孩初乳，乳母宜将乳头洗净，每次哺乳之后，均宜保持其清洁，或用棉花洗过而以清洁之布片覆之。
婴孩六个月之内，只宜吃乳，不宜兼吃糕饼、粥饭，七个月后，可略吃粥饭，亦不可与肉类荤腥，
盖儿生六个月内，尚无消化米粉质之能力，十个月内，尚无消化肉类等之能力也。
哺乳无一定之时间，常能养成不规则之睡眠，故夜啼之类，恒由夜间多抱多乳而引起，盖夜间少睡，
必白日多睡，白日愈多睡，夜间愈少睡而夜啼养成矣，如遇有此等情形，不可稍存姑息，宜亟设法矫正之。
饮乳量过多之小儿，大都在哺乳中或哺乳后，吐出乳汁，睡眠不安，啼哭多屁，排尿频数，大便多而次
数亦为之增加。
饮乳量过少之小儿，因身体疲倦，易于饮乳未了时，实时睡去，但经短时间后，忽以响大之饥饿号叫而复
醒，儿体外观萎枯弛缓，腹部凹陷，尿量减少，大便次数少而量微，为暗褐或带青色之粘液状粪便。
饮乳量过多之小儿，虽呈消化过度之状，但小儿贪食天成，索乳依然，宜渐为减低其量，使于不知不觉
间校正之，不得已时，或每日一二次仅予以开水代乳。饮乳量过少之小儿，虽呈饥
饿憔悴之状，但此时胃力不振，不可骤予过饱，反致停积，宜渐为增加其量，俾得调整其胃气。
婴孩有病，临时不宜断乳，当夏令时，亦不宜断乳，盖此际消化之力薄弱，
予以他种食物，颇有不宜也。
一、襁褓期的护理
婴儿刚出生时，体重通常在五斤到七斤之间。父母身材高大的，生下的孩子往往较大较重；父母身材矮小的，生下的孩子往往较小较轻。女孩通常比男孩稍轻一些。但是，即使是瘦弱女子所生的孩子虽然小，起初并不会影响健康，如果护理得当，将来长大后体格也可能变得高大强壮。只是新生儿骨骼皮肤都非常柔嫩，护理起来并不容易，既要有常识，又必须有真诚爱护孩子的心，才能做到体贴入微，让孩子获得真正的益处。现在将襁褓时期需要注意的事项，选择重要的叙述如下。
婴儿刚出生时，皮肤中血液充盈，所以呈现高度红色，这称为胎肤（新生儿红斑）。胎肤上还覆盖着较长的毳毛（胎毛），这种红色在一周内会逐渐减退，胎肤也会逐渐脱落。在这个时期，皮肤异常柔嫩，最容易擦破，最好经常更换内衣，勤加擦拭。洗脸可先用乳汁涂抹，再用毛巾蘸温开水擦干，这样皮肤光洁，腠理（皮肤纹理及毛孔）致密。洗澡、洗口、洗眼都应规定时间进行，总以清洁且不伤害孩子身体为适宜。
婴儿刚出生时，头围和胸围大约相等，都为一尺左右，或者头围稍大。但胸围的发育应该较快，半年之后，胸围应大于头围，否则就不是健康的婴儿了。
婴儿刚出生时，哺乳宜推迟到出生后十二小时或二十四小时之后。出生后三四天，吸吮的奶量也不能过多。此时胎粪（胎儿在母体内形成的粪便）排泄不少，婴儿体重往往比出生时轻，俗语称为“收身”，这不是病征。也有偶尔出现发热现象的，也不是病征，是因为婴儿体内干燥缺水所致。这种现象不久就会恢复正常。如果长时间体重不增加、发热不退的，才是病征，应立即设法医治。
婴儿刚出生时，睡眠时间很多（每天约十四至十六小时），不必屡次叫醒他。如果觉得饿了，自然会醒来索乳。如果有整天沉睡不醒的，则要防备有游丹（新生儿游走性红斑）及脐风（新生儿破伤风）发热等证候，应注意观察，以防患于未然。
婴儿的肠道比例比成人长，因为其吸收营养的能力弱，所以不得不长。婴儿的胃不像成人在水平位置，几乎是垂直连接食管，所以喂奶后摇动身体，极易吐乳（溢奶）。
婴儿的衣服不可过暖，过暖会使筋骨柔弱。应时常接触风和阳光，不见风日会使肌肤脆软。往往导致儿童体质软弱，动不动就感冒，这实际上是由襁褓期护理不当造成的，这种情况不在少数。
听到婴儿啼哭不要立即抱起喂奶，一抱就喂，这最容易养成爱啼哭的坏习惯，而且在乳食方面也会有漫无限制的弊端。最好的育儿方法，除了吃奶外，不要总是抱着。宜安置在有轮子的床筐内，稍微摇动，使肢体舒适，气血宣畅。即使在夜间，也不要同睡一张床。
婴儿与乳母同睡，要防止乳母的嘴对着婴儿的囟门（婴儿头顶骨未合缝处）时时吹气，时间久了婴儿会致病。乳头也不可以让婴儿长时间含在口中，对婴儿有闷死的风险，对乳母也有引发乳吹（乳腺炎）的隐患。
婴儿的屎尿布片要勤换，不要让屎尿久留身上。更换时切忌当风（避免直吹风），如果用水擦拭，须用温水，布片日晒后要摊凉，火烘后要退热，这样才能免除风寒暑湿燥火等病症。
婴儿刚出生，三四个月内只宜横抱，一百天之后，才可以渐渐竖抱。竖抱时，要注意头颈部，不要使其倾斜倒侧。半岁之内，不可让婴儿多坐，恐致脊骨受伤；不可让婴儿久立，恐致腿骨弯曲。另外睡觉时，不可让其常侧向一面，致使头骨歪斜，损害仪容。
婴儿刚出生时，听觉极迟钝，几乎等于听不见，然而两三天后，发育极快，数星期后已敏锐异常。所以小儿旁边不可发出高声，恐伤其听觉，雷鸣放炮时，宜捂住耳朵保护它。
婴儿刚出生，在未剃胎发前，不可戴帽子。天气晴和时，宜抱婴儿出去，多见风日，这样可以使婴儿气血强盛，腠理坚固，耐受风寒，不易得病，从而自幼到长，少见鼻塞流涕的症状。
婴儿衣服宜宽大，使其易于发育。婴儿又可练习穿薄衣的方法，应从秋天开始练习，不可以春夏突然减少衣服，令婴儿中风寒。
婴儿应当注意调节，不要让他出太多汗，出汗多则会导致虚损，易受风寒，昼夜清醒和睡眠时都要戒除这一点。
婴儿当时要检查尿液颜色，如小便少停，变成米泔水状（浑浊如淘米水），这必定是肠胃不清，有发热的迹象。
婴儿当时要检查粪便颜色，色深黄苍老而细腻者，是无病的粪便颜色；少带溏薄（稀软）者，是因为乳食所致，也不是病象。如果食用的是牛乳、代乳粉之类，则粪便必然比用人乳喂养的更干。如果嫩黄不苍老，渣滓不能全细，则说明胃中火力（消化功能）有不到之处；若色淡黄则火力不足，食物仅消化一半；若色青或色白，则是病象已成，所以在粪便颜色不正的时候，应先及早预防。
婴儿每星期宜称重一次，检验体重有无增加。如果不增反减，要防备有疾病潜伏，切要注意，不可忽视。
二、哺乳的方法
婴儿哺乳，乳汁宜慎重选择，时间宜妥善规定，哺法宜精密可靠，那么婴儿健康茁壮成长，疾病便无从产生。无奈世人对于婴儿哺乳，常常认为只要有奶吃就行，其他都没问题，以致肠胃之病层出不穷，疳积（小儿营养不良综合征）等症也积渐而成，不可不警惕恐惧。现将哺乳的方法，选择重要的叙述如下。
由母亲亲自哺乳的，母亲宜戒除忧怒、酒醉、淫欲等行为，如有这些情况，切勿突然喂奶。母亲睡觉时不要喂奶，恐吃奶过多而伤脾胃。喂奶时，宜稍微挤去宿乳（残留乳汁），然后让婴儿吮吸，则少有停滞的隐患。
选择乳母，年龄宜在三十五岁以下，性情温和，体格健全者。过肥过瘦都有不宜。至于曾患梅毒及神经性疾病、肺病、黄疸、喘息、脚气、近视、重听等的，更有大病，不可姑息雇用。凡是乳母乳房充实高起，乳汁白而甘浓，其子女无病健全的，方可雇用。
乳母的食物，宜清淡而富有营养者为合适，牛乳、鸡蛋、猪蹄、青菜之类，对乳母最为相宜。
乳母生子一年左右的，再哺育婴儿就不适用了。因为哺育婴儿长达十个月之久，则乳汁将经历两年，已经清淡而无滋补之力了。所以雇用乳母，须考查其孩子的出生日期，初生至三个月以内的最为适用，以哺育至十个月或一周岁为止。
怀孕的乳母，不可哺育婴儿。突然患风寒感冒者，哺乳也宜暂时停止，改用乳粉或乳糕代替。
人乳不足，须添加牛乳的，人乳、牛乳宜分隔时间给予，不可同时并用，恐成停积（消化不良）的隐患。
每日选择两三次，在哺乳之后，给婴儿一羹匙鲜橘汁，能辅助消化，增加营养，最为有益。如果是吃牛乳、乳粉的，更不可或缺，以便润泽肠胃，使大便有序。
婴儿哺乳的时间，在我国普通社会，往往漫无标准，最为有害。按照婴儿的消化力，哺乳时间宜每隔二小时至三小时一次，稍长则宜隔四小时一次。晚间次数愈少愈好。至于每次哺乳的时间，约以十五分钟为标准，乳质少的，略为超过一点；乳质多的，略为减少一点。
婴儿初乳，乳母宜将乳头洗净，每次哺乳之后，均宜保持清洁，或用棉花清洗后用清洁布片覆盖。
婴儿六个月之内，只宜吃乳，不宜兼吃糕饼、粥饭。七个月后，可略吃粥饭，也不可给予肉类荤腥。因为婴儿六个月内，尚无消化米粉质的能力，十个月内，尚无消化肉类等的能力。
哺乳没有一定的时间，常能养成不规则的睡眠，所以夜啼之类的症状，恒由夜间多抱多喂引起。因为夜间少睡，必白日多睡，白日愈多睡，夜间愈少睡而夜啼养成了。如果遇到此等情况，不可稍存姑息之心，应立即设法矫正。
饮乳量过多的小儿，大都在哺乳中或哺乳后，吐出乳汁，睡眠不安，啼哭多屁，排尿频数，大便多且次数也增加。
饮乳量过少的小儿，因身体疲倦，易于在饮乳未结束时实时睡去，但经短时间后，忽以响亮的饥饿号叫而复醒。婴儿外观萎枯弛缓，腹部凹陷，尿量减少，大便次数少而量微，为暗褐或带青色的粘液状粪便。
饮乳量过多的小儿，虽呈消化过度的状态，但小儿贪食是天性，索乳依然，宜逐渐减低其量，使在不知不觉间校正。不得已时，或每日一二次仅给予开水代替乳汁。饮乳量过少的小儿，虽呈饥饿憔悴的状态，但此时胃力不振，不可骤然给予过饱，反而导致停积，宜逐渐增加其量，以便调整胃气。
婴儿有病时，临时不宜断乳。当夏令时，也不宜断乳，因为此时消化之力薄弱，给予其他种食物，颇有不宜。
I. Care during the Swaddling Period
When an infant is first born, its net weight is usually between five and seven *jin* (approx. 2.5–3.5 kg). If the parents are tall, the child is often larger and heavier; if the parents are short, the child is often smaller and lighter. Girls are usually slightly lighter than boys. However, even if a slender woman gives birth to a small child, it does not initially affect health. If cared for properly, the child's physique may become robust and tall in the future. Nevertheless, the skeletal structure and skin of newborns are extremely tender, making care difficult. It requires both common knowledge and a sincere heart of love for the child to provide meticulous care, thereby allowing the infant to benefit truly. The following are selected important points to note during the swaddling period.
Upon birth, an infant's skin is filled with blood, presenting a high degree of redness, known as *Taifu* (Neonatal Erythema). The skin is also covered with relatively long lanugo hair. This redness gradually fades within one week after birth, and the neonatal skin sheds accordingly. During this period, the skin is exceptionally tender and easily abraded. It is best to change inner clothes frequently and wipe gently. For face washing, milk can be applied first, then wiped dry with a towel dipped in warm water. This keeps the skin smooth and the *Coulí* (skin texture and pores) dense. Bathing, mouth washing, and eye cleaning should be performed at scheduled times, always ensuring cleanliness without harming the infant's body.
At birth, an infant's head circumference and chest circumference are approximately equal, around one chi (approx. 33 cm), or the head circumference may be slightly larger. However, chest development should be faster. After six months, the chest circumference should exceed the head circumference; otherwise, the infant is not healthy.
Feeding should be delayed until twelve to twenty-four hours after birth. In the first three to four days, the volume of milk ingested should not be excessive. At this time, there is considerable excretion of *Taifen* (Meconium), and the infant's body weight often decreases compared to birth. This colloquially called "shrinkage" (*Shoushen*) is not a pathological sign. Occasional fever is also not pathological, caused by dehydration due to dryness in the body. These phenomena will soon return to normal. If weight does not increase for a long time and fever persists, these are pathological signs requiring immediate medical attention.
Newborns sleep a great deal (approximately fourteen to sixteen hours per day). There is no need to wake them frequently. If hungry, they will naturally wake to seek milk. If an infant sleeps soundly all day without waking, one must guard against conditions such as *You Dan* (Migratory Neonatal Erythema) and *Qifeng* (Neonatal Tetanus) accompanied by fever. Careful observation is necessary to prevent illness before it arises.
The proportion of an infant's intestines is longer than that of adults because their ability to absorb nutrients is weak, necessitating a longer tract. An infant's stomach is not in a horizontal position like an adult's but hangs almost vertically connected to the esophagus. Therefore, moving the body after feeding easily causes regurgitation of milk.
Infants' clothing should not be too warm. Overheating makes bones and sinews weak. They should be exposed to wind and sunlight regularly. Lack of exposure makes skin fragile and soft, often leading to children with weak constitutions who catch colds easily. This is often caused by improper care during the swaddling period.
One should not pick up an infant immediately upon hearing crying and feed them. Doing so fosters a bad habit of frequent crying and leads to unrestricted feeding habits. The best method of rearing, aside from feeding, is to avoid constant holding. Place the infant in a wheeled cradle and rock it slightly to ensure physical comfort and smooth flow of *Qi* and Blood. Even at night, do not share the same bed.
If an infant sleeps with the wet nurse, prevent the nurse from blowing air directly onto the infant's fontanelle (*Xinmen*), as this can cause illness over time. Also, do not allow the nipple to remain in the infant's mouth for extended periods, as this poses a risk of suffocation for the infant and mastitis (*Ruichui*) for the nurse.
Diapers should be changed frequently to prevent urine and feces from staying on the body. When changing, avoid drafts. If using water for cleaning, use warm water. Sun-dried cloths should be cooled before use, and fire-dried cloths should be allowed to cool down. This prevents ailments caused by Wind, Cold, Summer-heat, Dampness, Dryness, and Fire.
For the first three to four months, infants should only be held horizontally. Vertical holding can begin gradually after one hundred days. When holding vertically, support the head and neck carefully to prevent tilting. Before six months, avoid letting the infant sit for long periods to prevent spinal injury, and avoid standing for long periods to prevent leg bone curvature. Also, when sleeping, do not let the infant always lie on one side to prevent skull deformation and facial asymmetry.
Newborns have very dull hearing, nearly equivalent to deafness. However, development is rapid; within two or three days, hearing improves significantly, and within weeks, it becomes highly acute. Therefore, loud noises should be avoided near the infant to protect their hearing. Cover their ears during thunder or fireworks.
Before shaving the natal hair, hats should not be worn. On pleasant days, take the infant outside to see wind and sunlight. This strengthens *Qi* and Blood, consolidates the *Coulí*, enhances resistance to Wind-Cold, reduces susceptibility to illness, and minimizes symptoms like nasal congestion and runny nose throughout life.
Clothing should be loose to facilitate development. Infants can practice wearing thinner clothes starting in autumn. Do not suddenly reduce clothing in spring or summer, which exposes them to Wind-Cold.
Regulate the infant to prevent excessive sweating. Excessive sweating leads to deficiency and susceptibility to Wind-Cold. This should be guarded against during both wakefulness and sleep.
Check the color of urine. If urine stagnates and turns cloudy like rice-washing water, it indicates intestinal and gastric turbidity and suggests impending fever.
Check the color of feces. Deep yellow, mature, and fine feces indicate health. Slightly loose feces are due to diet and are not pathological. If fed cow's milk or formula, feces will be drier than those breastfed. Pale yellow without maturity and coarse residue indicates insufficient Stomach Fire (digestive function). Light yellow indicates weak fire and incomplete digestion. Green or white feces indicate pathology. Early prevention is necessary when fecal color is abnormal.
Weigh the infant weekly to check for weight gain. If weight does not increase or decreases, suspect hidden disease. Pay close attention and do not ignore this.
II. Methods of Breastfeeding
Breast milk selection, timing, and methods must be careful, well-regulated, and reliable to ensure the infant grows healthily and avoids disease. Unfortunately, many people believe that as long as there is milk, other issues are irrelevant. This leads to frequent gastrointestinal diseases and gradual accumulation of conditions like *Ganji* (Infantile Malnutrition Syndrome). Vigilance is required. The following are selected important methods for breastfeeding.
For mothers breastfeeding directly, they should avoid worry, anger, drunkenness, and sexual indulgence. If any of these occur, do not breastfeed immediately. Do not breastfeed while asleep, as excessive intake may damage the Spleen and Stomach. Before feeding, express some residual milk to prevent stagnation.
When selecting a wet nurse, choose someone under thirty-five years old, with a gentle temperament and sound constitution. Both obesity and emaciation are unsuitable. Exclude those with syphilis, neurological diseases, pulmonary tuberculosis, jaundice, asthma, beriberi, myopia, or hearing loss. A suitable wet nurse has full, prominent breasts, white and sweet-thick milk, and healthy, disease-free children.
The wet nurse's diet should be light yet nutritious. Cow's milk, eggs, pig trotters, and green vegetables are most suitable.
A wet nurse who has been nursing for about a year is no longer suitable. Nursing for ten months means the milk quality has degraded over two years, becoming thin and lacking nourishing power. When hiring, check the age of her own child. Those whose children are under three months old are most suitable, nursing until the child is ten months to one year old.
Pregnant wet nurses should not nurse. If a wet nurse suddenly catches a Wind-Cold cold, breastfeeding should be temporarily stopped, and formula or milk paste used instead.
If human milk is insufficient and cow's milk is added, give them at separate times, not simultaneously, to prevent digestive stagnation.
Give one spoonful of fresh orange juice twice or three times daily after feeding to aid digestion and nutrition. This is especially important for infants on cow's milk or formula to moisten the intestines and regulate bowel movements.
In general society, breastfeeding schedules often lack standards, which is harmful. Based on infant digestive capacity, feed every two to three hours, or every four hours if older. Fewer feeds at night are better. Each feeding session should last about fifteen minutes. Adjust slightly longer for lower milk quality/volume and shorter for higher volume.
Wash the nipples thoroughly before the first feed. Maintain cleanliness after each feed, covering with clean cloth or cotton.
Infants under six months should only drink milk, avoiding cakes, porridge, or rice. From seven months, small amounts of porridge/rice can be introduced, but meat and strong flavors should be avoided. Infants under six months cannot digest starch well, and those under ten months cannot digest meat.
Irregular feeding times lead to irregular sleep patterns. Night crying is often caused by excessive holding and feeding at night. Less sleep at night leads to more sleep during the day, creating a cycle of night crying. Correct this promptly without leniency.
Infants who drink too much milk often vomit during or after feeding, sleep restlessly, cry excessively, pass gas frequently, urinate often, and have increased frequency and volume of stools.
Infants who drink too little milk appear tired and fall asleep before finishing feeding. After a short time, they wake with loud cries of hunger. They appear withered and flaccid, with sunken abdomens, reduced urine output, and infrequent, small-volume dark brown or greenish mucous stools.
For infants drinking too much milk, although showing signs of over-digestion, their natural greed for milk persists. Gradually reduce the volume to correct this imperceptibly. As a last resort, offer boiled water once or twice a day instead of milk. For infants drinking too little, although appearing hungry and haggard, their Stomach Qi is weak. Do not force-feed heavily to avoid stagnation. Gradually increase the volume to adjust Stomach Qi.
Do not stop breastfeeding temporarily when an infant is ill. Do not stop during summer either, as digestive power is weak then, and other foods are unsuitable.