Formulas for the Early Months from 7-per-cent Milk

Third Series

I. II. III. IV. V.

7-per-cent milk 7 oz. 8 oz. 9 oz. 10 oz. 11 oz.

Milk sugar 1 oz. 1 oz. 1 oz. ¾ oz. ½ oz.

Lime-water 1 oz. 1 oz. 1 oz. 1 oz. 1 oz.

Boiled water 12 oz. 11 oz. 10 oz. 4 oz. 3 oz.

Barley gruel 0 oz. 0 oz. 0 oz. 5 oz. 5 oz.

20 oz. 20 oz. 20 oz. 20 oz. 20 oz.

Since the sugar dissolves, the total will be twenty ounces in each column.

Of any of the formulas, 25 ounces is made by using one quarter more of each ingredient; 30 ounces, by using one half more; 35 ounces, by using three quarters more; 40 ounces, by using twice as much, exactly as described in the First Series on page 73.

The approximate composition of these formulas expressed in percentages is as follows:

FORMULA. Fat. Sugar. Proteids.

I. 2.50 6.50 1.25

II. 2.80 6.50 1.40

III. 3.15 7.00 1.55

IV. 3.50 6.00 1.75

V. 4.00 6.00 2.00

How should the food be increased during this period?

Beginning with I of this Series, which should usually follow V of the First or Second Series (pages 70, 71), the increase may generally be made in a week or ten days to II; in about two weeks more to III; now more slowly to IV and V. When IV or V has been reached, the same formula may sometimes be continued for three or four months with no other change than an increase in the quantity.

In passing from Formula V of the First Series to Formula I of the Third Series the proportion of fat is at first reduced. Is this necessary or important?

No; it only happens to come so in simplifying the calculation. It may be avoided by taking off at first the upper 13 ounces as top-milk and using 7 ounces of this in a 20-ounce mixture, in place of Formula I; and by using for the next increase the upper 15 ounces as top-milk, taking of this 8 ounces in a 20-ounce mixture in place of Formula II. Then should follow Formula III.

What further addition may be made to the food of the later months?

Usually about the sixth or seventh month, farinaceous food in the form of gruel may be added, this taking the place of part of the water and part of the sugar.

What changes may be made in the food when the infant has reached the age of ten or eleven months?

The proteids may be still further increased, and the sugar and the lime-water reduced until plain milk is given.

How may this best be done?

At first one feeding a day of plain milk and barley gruel may be given; later, two feedings; then three feedings, etc. Let us suppose an infant to be taking such a modified milk as Formula IV or V (page 76), six feedings a day. The plain milk diluted only with barley gruel would at first replace one of these feedings; then two, three, four, etc., these changes being made at intervals of about two weeks. The proportions of the milk and barley gruel should at first be about 5½ ounces milk, 2½ ounces barley; later, 6 ounces milk, 3 ounces barley; still later, 7 ounces milk, 2 ounces barley, until finally plain milk is given to drink and the cereals given separately with a spoon. This is reached with most infants at fourteen or fifteen months; with many at twelve or thirteen months. Other forms of farinaceous food may of course be used in the place of the barley, and in the same proportions.

With some infants the addition of a pinch of bicarbonate of soda may be advantageously made to each milk-feeding when the lime-water is omitted, but with most this is unnecessary.

If the infant strongly objects to the taste of the milk when the milk sugar has been omitted, a small quantity (one fourth to one half teaspoonful) of granulated sugar may for a time be added to each feeding, then gradually reduced.