For the first two or three months it is better, except at night, when
it may be undesirable to take the infant from its crib, that it be
held on the nurse's arm during the feeding; later it may lie on its
side in the crib provided the bottle is held by the nurse until it has
been emptied; otherwise a young infant readily falls into the bad
habit of alternately sucking and sleeping, and often will be an hour
or more over its bottle.

_How much time should be allowed for one feeding?_

Never more than twenty minutes. The bottle should then be taken away
and not given until the next feeding time. Under no circumstances
should an infant form the habit of sleeping with the nipple in its
mouth. A sleepy infant should be kept awake by gentle shaking until
the food is taken, or the bottle should be removed altogether.

_Should an infant be played with soon after feeding?_

On no account; such a thing frequently causes vomiting and sometimes
indigestion. After every feeding the infant should be allowed to lie
quietly in its crib, and disturbed as little as possible.


INTERVALS OF FEEDING

_How often should a baby be fed during the first month?_

Every two hours during the day and twice during the night, or ten
feedings during the twenty-four hours.