断脐
凡退出所留脐带，大约六寸，长则伤肌。又断脐不可用刀割，盖铁器寒冷，恐伤生气。只须隔单衣咬断
后，将暖气呵七口，庶无内吊之疾。（《千金方》）
断脐若用剪刀，须先置于怀中令暖。（《宝鉴》）
拭口
小儿初生，饮食未开，胃气未动，是诚清虚之府，此时开口，调燮极须得宜。保婴诸书皆云∶分娩之时，
口含血块，啼声一
出，随即咽下，毒伏命门，他日发为惊风、痘疹等证。此说固似有理，然婴儿通体，无非血气所结，而此亦血
气之余，何以毒遽如是？即使咽之，亦必从便而出，何以独留为害？无足凭也。惟是形体初成，固当为之清理。
其法于未啼时，用软帛裹指，拭去口中血秽，以清脏腑。此亦初诞之要法，不可无也。（张景岳）
初生小儿，口中血泡，幼科有谓当用软帛拭出，以解他时麻痘毒，然道家以此为混元球，能补益人精血。
能益他人独不益本人乎？慎不可去也。（《医参》）
开口
小儿初诞，以甘草少许，沸汤泡淡，不宜太甜，用软帛蘸汁，遍拭口中，去其秽浊。用胡桃肉，去皮嚼烂，
以稀绢包如小枣，纳儿口中，使吮其汁，非独和中，且能养脏，最佳。○若母气素寒，小儿清弱者，只以淡姜
汤拭口，去胃寒，通神明，并可免吐泻之患。拭后，仍用胡桃法如前。○一法∶以牛黄半分，同朱砂研匀、蜜
调，如前与吮，极能辟邪去秽，除热安神。然必母气多热、小儿肥盛者可用，清弱者不宜用。○古法拭口，多
用黄连。不知黄连大寒大苦，小儿以胃气为主，安得初生即可以苦劣之气相犯，致损胃气？他日变呕、变泻，
由此而起，大非所宜。○古法多用朱砂开口者，按陈文中曰∶小儿初生，便服朱砂、轻粉、黄连，欲下胎毒，不
知此皆伤脾败阳之药，轻粉下痰损心，朱砂下涎损神，实者服之软弱，弱者服之易伤，反致变生诸病，不可不
察。（张景岳）
小儿初生未啼时，以指轻探儿口，挖去污血。随以甘草汤软帛裹指，蘸拭口中涎沫，然后看儿面色∶若身
面俱红，唇舌紫赤，知有胎毒，用盐茶以帛蘸洗其口，去其粘涎，日五、六次。盖儿之胎毒，藏于脾胃，口中
多有粘涎，马牙、鹅口、重舌、木舌，皆从此起。每日洗拭，则毒随涎去，病从何来？倘胎毒重，须洗过周岁。
若儿面唇色淡，此为胎寒，则不可用盐茶，惟以淡姜汤
洗拭，日三次。姜能开胃和中，最切于时用者。（陈飞霞）
戒灸
北方，诞后三日，每用艾灸囟门，以免惊风。缘北方地寒，故俗灸之以御寒。善调护者，何必令儿受此一
番痛苦也！今南方亦效之。予见灸后发热便秘，因而惊搐，遂致不救。殆无事生事也。讵思南方地热，孕妇又
不断欲、食淡，胎已受毒，加之以灸，是以油济火，曷克当之？（《赤水玄珠》）
浴儿
凡浴儿汤，须令冷热调和。冷热失所令儿惊，亦致五脏疾。冬不可久浴，久浴则伤寒；夏不可久浴，久浴
则伤热。数浴背冷则发痫，不浴又令儿毛落。（《千金方》）
儿生三日，以桑、槐、榆、桃、柳各取嫩枝三寸长者二、三十节煎汤，看冷热，入猪胆汁二、三枚，浴之。
○小儿洗浴，不可先断脐带，候洗了方断，不致水湿伤脐，可免脐风、脐疮等证。（《证治准绳》）
三日浴儿，俗礼也。倘儿生脆弱，迟十日、半月，择晴明吉日，于无风房内浴之。（《赤水玄珠》）
剃头
儿生盈月剃头，须向密室温暖处剃之。为其气血未盈，寒风易入。剃后，用杏仁三枚研细，入薄荷三叶，
再同研，将麻油滴三、四点，合腻粉拌匀，擦头上，能避风邪，免生疮、疖、热毒。（《证治准绳》）
Cutting the Umbilical Cord
The umbilical cord remaining after birth is approximately six cun in length; if left too long, it may damage the muscles. Furthermore, cutting the umbilical cord should not be done with a knife, as iron instruments are cold and may injure the infant's vital Qi (Sheng Qi). It is sufficient to bite through the cord while wearing a single layer of clothing, then breathe seven warm breaths onto the stump, thereby preventing the disease of "Nei Diao" (retraction of the umbilical cord into the abdomen) (*Qianjin Fang*).
If scissors are used to cut the umbilical cord, they must first be warmed by placing them inside one's garment (*Bao Jian*).
Wiping the Mouth
When a child is first born, the pathways for food and drink have not yet opened, and the Stomach Qi has not yet moved; this is indeed a clear and empty organ. At this time, cleaning the infant's mouth requires extremely appropriate care. Books on infant protection state: during delivery, the infant holds blood clots in the mouth, and upon crying, swallows them immediately. The toxins lie dormant in the Mingmen (Gate of Life), manifesting later as convulsions, smallpox, or other conditions. While this explanation seems reasonable, the infant's entire body is formed from Blood and Qi, and these oral blood clots are merely remnants of Blood and Qi; why would their toxicity be so severe? Even if swallowed, they would inevitably be expelled via stool; why would they remain to cause harm? This is unreliable. However, since the physical form has just been created, it is indeed necessary to clean it. The method is: before the infant cries, wrap a finger in soft cloth, wipe away the bloody impurities in the mouth to purify the Zang-Fu organs. This is an essential method for newborns and cannot be omitted (Zhang Jingyue).
For blood blisters in the mouths of newborns, some pediatricians suggest wiping them out with soft cloth to resolve future measles and smallpox toxins. However, Daoists regard this as the "Hunyuan Ball," which can nourish the essence and blood. If it can benefit others, why not the person themselves? It is prudent not to remove it (*Yi Can*).
Opening the Mouth
At birth, take a small amount of Gancao (Licorice Root), soak it in boiling water until weak, ensuring it is not too sweet. Dip soft cloth in the juice and wipe the entire mouth to remove turbidity. Take walnut meat, peel it, chew it thoroughly, wrap it in thin silk like a small date, place it in the infant's mouth for sucking. This not only harmonizes the Middle Jiao but also nourishes the viscera, which is excellent. ○ If the mother's constitution is inherently cold and the infant is delicate and weak, simply use light ginger soup to wipe the mouth to dispel stomach cold, clarify the mind, and prevent vomiting and diarrhea. After wiping, still use the walnut method as described above. ○ Another method: mix half a fen of Niuhuang (Calculus Bovis) with Zhusha (Cinnabar), blend evenly, and mix with honey; allow the infant to suck as before. This effectively expels evil, removes turbidity, clears heat, and calms the spirit. However, it is only suitable for mothers with excess heat and robust infants; those who are delicate and weak should not use it. ○ Ancient methods for wiping the mouth often used Huanglian (Coptis Rhizome). One fails to realize that Huanglian is greatly cold and bitter. Since infants rely primarily on Stomach Qi, how can one offend them with such bitter and harsh qualities at birth, thereby damaging Stomach Qi? Subsequent vomiting and diarrhea arise from this, which is highly inappropriate. ○ Ancient methods often used Zhusha (Cinnabar) to "open" the mouth. According to Chen Wenzhong: administering Zhusha, Qingfen (Calomel), and Huanglian immediately after birth to purge fetal toxins fails to recognize that these are herbs that damage the Spleen and destroy Yang. Qingfen reduces phlegm but damages the Heart; Zhusha reduces saliva but damages the Spirit. Administering these to excess conditions causes weakness, and to deficiency conditions causes injury, potentially leading to various diseases. This must be carefully examined (Zhang Jingyue).
Before the newborn cries, gently probe the mouth with a finger to remove dirty blood. Then, using soft cloth soaked in Gancao soup wrapped around a finger, wipe away saliva. Observe the infant's complexion: if the body and face are red, and lips and tongue are purple-red, there is fetal toxin. Use salted tea water dipped in cloth to wash the mouth, removing sticky saliva, five or six times daily. Fetal toxin resides in the Spleen and Stomach; the mouth often contains sticky saliva. Conditions such as Ma Ya (horse teeth), E Kou (goat mouth), Chong She (double tongue), and Mu She (wooden tongue) all originate here. Daily washing removes the toxin with the saliva, leaving no source for disease. If the fetal toxin is heavy, washing must continue until one year of age. If the infant's face and lips are pale, this indicates fetal cold; do not use salted tea. Instead, use light ginger soup to wash three times daily. Ginger opens the appetite and harmonizes the Middle Jiao, making it most suitable for immediate use (Chen Feixia).
Prohibiting Moxibustion
In the North, three days after birth, moxibustion is frequently applied to the Fontanelle (Xin Men) to prevent convulsions. Because the northern climate is cold, custom dictates moxibustion to ward off cold. Those skilled in care, why subject the infant to such pain? Now, the South imitates this practice. I have seen cases where moxibustion led to fever and constipation, resulting in convulsions and death. This is essentially creating trouble out of nothing. Does one not consider that the southern climate is hot, pregnant women do not abstain from sexual activity and eat blandly, thus the fetus already harbors toxins? Adding moxibustion is like adding oil to fire; how could the infant withstand it? (*Chishui Xuanzhu*)
Bathing the Infant
The water for bathing an infant must be balanced in temperature. Improper temperature shocks the infant and may cause disorders of the Five Viscera. In winter, do not bathe for long periods, as this invites Cold; in summer, do not bathe for long periods, as this injures with Heat. Frequent bathing with a cold back may induce epilepsy; not bathing at all may cause hair loss (*Qianjin Fang*).
On the third day after birth, decoct two or thirty segments (three cun long each) of tender branches from Mulberry, Locust Tree, Elm, Peach, and Willow trees. Adjust the temperature, add two or three pig gallbladders, and use for bathing. ○ When bathing infants, do not cut the umbilical cord before bathing. Wait until after the bath to cut it, preventing water dampness from injuring the navel, thereby avoiding conditions such as Umbilical Wind and Navel Sores (*Zhengzhi Zhunsheng*).
Bathing on the third day is a secular custom. If the infant is fragile, delay ten days or half a month, choosing an auspicious sunny day, and bathe in a windless room (*Chishui Xuanzhu*).
Shaving the Head
Shave the head when the infant reaches one month old. This must be done in a warm, sealed room because the Qi and Blood are not yet full, and Cold Wind easily invades. After shaving, grind three Almonds finely, add three Mint leaves, and grind together again. Add three or four drops of Sesame Oil, mix evenly with Nifen (Lead Oxide/White Lead), and apply to the scalp. This repels Wind Evil and prevents sores, boils, and Heat Toxins (*Zhengzhi Zhunsheng*).