The feeding method in vogue is a hit and miss system. It is a case of "try this" and "try that" and then try something else. The mother, the nurse and the physician chase "from pillar to post" and tax themselves to the uttermost to find a suitable food. If they find a diet that fits they do not know why is fits. If the diet fails to fit, they are equally in the dark. So long as the child appears to do well on a given diet they are satisfied; but if it develops a diarrhea or an "upset stomach," a change is made and another food tried. This continues until all known foods have been tried out. The little victims of the guessing and abuse who are fortunate enough to survive in spite of such handicaps, finally arrive at the period when they are taken off the baby foods and then the death rate is lowered. Credit for the child's salvation is attributed to the baby food that chanced to be used last.

Much of the troubles in hand-fed infants, which apparently call for modification of the milk, are due to extra-feeding factors. They may be due to overfeeding, in which case the digestive tract requires a rest. They are frequently due to physical and psychological factors that demand attention. Too much noise, too much excitement, over heating, undue chilling, overclothing, lack of rest and sleep, "infection," congenital weakness, lack of fresh air, harsh care, too much bathing, etc., are factors that tend to upset the digestive systems of infants, as of adults.

The healthy, hungry infant can digest almost any sensibly modified milk mixture. The unhealthy infant often needs changes in its care and environment more than in its food. Regularity in feeding often leads to over-feeding and trouble. Mothers and physicians have developed the insane notion that babies should be fed regularly, whether or not there is any actual need for food. They do not allow for the normal from day to day variations in physiologic demands.

Mothers are cautioned to awaken the baby promptly at feeding time (as determined by the clock) and most of them are foolish enough to do so. This teaches the child to eat as a matter of habit and not to supply any existing need and also disturbs its sleep.

The present popular method of feeding is what really makes the problem of infant feeding a difficult one. There is no way to adapt even the most wholesome and easily digested food to an infant when it is fed in such quantities. With proper feeding it is but little trouble to find a food that will " agree" with the baby.

What is the great secret of success in feeding babies? Dr. Tilden well expresses it thus: "Fit children to the food and never attempt to fit the food to the children." How? Easy! Watch these few simple rules:

1. Feed the child natural, that is, uncooked, unprocessed, un-sterilized, unadulterated, undrugged, foods.

2. Do not stuff the child. Feed it three moderate meals a day.

3. Feed simple meals. Do not feed foods that are mixed in such a way as to cause fermentation.

4. Do not feed between meals, nor at night.

5. If the child is upset, or feels bad, or is excited or tired, or over heated, or chilled, or in pain or distress, or is sick, don't feed it. If there is fever, give no food.