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Many emergency room visits are caused by pain in the ear. Sometimes the only sign is a baby’s persistent crying, associated with a fever, or the pulling of the ear, indicating that as a source of pain. Earaches are usually triggered by the buildup of pressure behind the eardrum. When the Eustachian tube, that connects the nose to the middle ear, becomes blocked with mucus, pressure builds up, producing pain, occasionally quite severe. Use a hot water bottle over the ear and the inhalation of steam to open the nasal passages. This can bring relief in the early stages. Several warmed drops of olive oil may be instilled into the ear canal carefully, and retained in place with a small tuft of cotton. Replace the ear drops every few hours. This also assists in relieving this uncomfortable symptom. Most earaches subside within hours to days. It is rare that a complicating bacterial infection or rupture of the drum makes surgical treatment necessary. Persistent high fever or increasing pains after several hours of intensive treatment should prompt a visit to the doctor.

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Upper respiratory infections in the baby and young child are very common. Although few of these are caused by bacteria, such as the Streptococcus or diphtheria organisms, most sore throats are viral infections, More than one hundred different viruses can cause the same syndrome, so there is little likelihood that vaccinations will be developed as preventives. The principal measures that parents can use to prevent troublesome runny noses, sore throats, and similar congestion in their youngsters are the following:

1. A diet low in refined sugar allows the body to defend itself better against invading germs. The white blood cells are better able to ingest bacteria (called phagocytosis) on a low sugar diet and recovery time will be hastened.

2. A second factor is adequate clothing. In damp or rainy
weather, the extremities should be clothes and the feet kept dry. The use of overshoes, raincoats, and umbrellas,
although not fashionable with the younger set can definitely help to protect their health and prevent lost days from school for minor illness.

3. Adequate fluid intake, plenty of rest at night, and some outdoor exercise on a daily basis will help to keep young bodies healthy and prevent colds.

4. Baths should be terminated with a brief rub down. To
improve circulation in the skin use the cold mitten friction for a minute or so in a cold shower, especially as the child gets older.

5. A happy disposition also goes a long way toward improving the body’ s resistance to viral respiratory disease.

If one does take cold, the above measures will still prove healthful. A spare diet for a day with increased bed rest and an abundant supply of fluids aids the body toward a quick recovery. The use of a vaporizer by the bedside, usually of the hot steam variety, will increase the flow of mucus and relieve congestion. When bronchitis sets in and a hoarse, raspy cough develops, the vaporizer may make the difference between sleep and a fitful night of coughing with chest pain. Simple COUGH SYRUPS can be made at home with honey. To one cup of honey add 6 to 8 drops of eucalyptus oil, available at most pharmacies. Mix in a tablespoon or two of lemon juice for palatability. When this mixture is thoroughly stirred, the honey-eucalyptus cough syrup may be taken one teaspoonful at a time every four hours to relieve the discomfort.

Bacterial cultures of the throat should be taken if the fever is high or the soreness unduly prolonged. This is to be sure a Strep. Infection or Infectious Mononucleosis has not developed. Most viral illnesses are selflimited and quickly cured by alert parents trained in the basics of home nursing.

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If we lived in an ideal world where perfect heredity, perfect nutrition, and excellent health habits all combined to prevent disease, we would probably never need vaccinations. Nonetheless, it is a very real fact that germs exist and infections abound. Many illnesses are especially serious if contracted by a baby or young child. Others remain a threat throughout our life on planet earth. Some infections are more hazardous in tropical countries, while others inhabit specific areas, such as Asia or Africa. Here are a few guidelines to help parents select the program best suitable for their child.

In brief, vaccinations are inoculations of substances (antigenic proteins) which have been derived from an offending germ. There are two basic types of vaccines, one prepared from bacteria and the other from viruses. The viral vaccines are developed for human use by their repeated laboratory culture in cells of a fertilized egg. This attenuation of the virus makes it unable to produce disease, while retaining its surface proteins or antigens, which are necessary to stimulate antibody formation. This explains the basis for immunization to such diseases as polio and the common childhood illnesses, measles and mumps.

Smallpox germs, on the other hand, although a viral disease, were not used as the virus for vaccination. Instead the cowpox virus (vaccinia) was used as the agent. This produces only a mild illness in most people. Thankfully, the smallpox infection has been eradicated. For many years no infections have occurred, and the vaccination program has been discontinued worldwide.

The bacterial vaccines are prepared from the cell wall of killed bacteria. Many methods are used to prepare them. A commonly accepted vaccination program for babies and young children is as follows:

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It is fascinating for new parents to watch their child grow. The first smile of recognition is always reflected in the face of mother and dad. The infant’s ability to grasp and mimic movements brings equal delight. Within the first few weeks after birth, most children learn to follow the mother’s motion with their eyes. Particularly, if early bonding has taken place in a rooming-in experience, the child will feel more comfortable with the mother, and usually prefers being in the same room. Although the grasp reflex is present at birth, a child by two to three months of age will be strong enough to hold his head up and reach for objects that he or she can grasp and hold in his or her hand. It is important to take caution that objects within reach are safe, for most of them get sampled in the mouth.

Although most children are surprised when they roll over for the first time, this natural exploration of muscle power is seen by about three months. By five to six months of age the child usually crawls. Then the first one or two teeth erupt. By nine to ten months of age most children are able to pull themselves up, supporting their weight on both legs. Thus they develop the normal curvatures in the lower spine that an erect posture produces. By one year of age, we see the little one toddling around, taking his first steps. Parents should not become concerned if this is delayed a few months or be too elated when it comes early, for there is wide variation in normal development. During the second year of life excited parents hear their child’ s first words and phrases, then whole sentences. The child also develops increased coordination for running. These deeper emotional and physical expressions bring a never ending sequence of surprises and pleasures to the proud parents.

Discipline of the young child should never be neglected. Many parents have awakened with the realization that, unknown to them, their child has taken control of the home. Unless restrained, even a young child can manipulate each family member according to his whims, by temper tantrums, prolonged crying, and other demonstrations. Wise denial of food at improper eating times and firm insistence of obedience is essential to the development of a future adult, who will benefit society, bringing honor to the family name.

Parents need divine wisdom to guide their children properly. Never administer discipline in a harsh manner or when the parent is angry, exasperated, or upset. If something should be denied the child, firmness and consistency are needed. The mind soon learns to adapt to situations it is powerless to change. Yet, parents should be reasonable, mixing law with love and administering restraint with patience, praying for deeper understanding.

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Nourishing the newborn is a precious privilege for a devoted mother. Modern scientific research has underscored the ancient belief that mother’s milk is unquestionably the best food for the baby. It’s perfect balance of phosphorus, calcium, vitamins, and protein, as well as its ready availability in a prewarmed, sterile package makes it ideal for travel, as well as home. For the first few days suckling brings forth a watery secretion called colostrum. This fluid contains valuable antibodies that will protect the infant for months against common infections and household germs. By the second or third day after delivery, the mother begins to notice engorgement in her breasts.

As her milk “comes in” a regular feeding pattern is started. Hospital routines of every four hours are not at all ideal for nourishing the newborn. Usually a system can be established with slightly more frequent feedings during the day and more sleep at night, awakening only once or twice to breast feed. The opposite policy of “demand” feedings should be discouraged, and the infant established on a regular pattern, according to his needs, as soon as possible. The nursing mother should be free from unusual physical strain, worry, or excessive work. Her fluid intake should be adequate to maintain a good milk supply, but she need not drink large amounts of milk in order to do this. Just as during pregnancy, a nursing mother should avoid taking drugs, many of which pass directly through to the milk and adversely affect the little one.

Many advantages can be listed for breast feeding the newborn. One of the most powerful reasons is the bonding that this develops between the mother and her new child. From the time of delivery on through the weaning process the physical contact between a mother and her nursing infant is an intimate one. The prophet Isaiah asked, “Can a woman forget her sucking child?” The obvious answer arises every few hours as engorgement of the breasts, as well as a hungry cry reminds the mother that feeding time is here.

The child will have less colic, and be more quiet and peaceful. With the natural limitation on work that nursing requires, breast feeding wins twice, for mother and child. A most ideal food is received through mother’s milk, All attempts to develop formulas are merely fragmentary duplicates of the special product nature has designed in the mother’ s breast. Many dollars as well as hours are saved. The natural, prepackaged, prewarmed, sterilized, and readily available nutrients travel wherever mother goes.

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