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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.