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Many people in the world use Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) to wipe the mouth, not knowing that Huanglian is extremely bitter and greatly cold, which can damage Stomach Qi. A newborn infant, having just left the maternal womb, relies entirely on the strength of the acquired Post-Heaven Spleen and Stomach; how can one offend it with such a bitter and inferior taste? Vomiting, diarrhea, refusal to nurse, abdominal pain later in life, as well as prolonged illness, convulsions, and consumptive fatigue, all arise from this. Chen Wenzhong said: When a child is first born, administering Zhusha (Cinnabar), Qingfen (Calomel), white honey, and Huanglian aims to purge fetal toxins, but these are actually medicines that injure the Spleen and deplete Yang. Qingfen damages the Heart, Zhusha damages the Spirit; if administered to a robust child, they become weak, and if given to a frail child, they are easily injured, thereby causing various harms. This must be carefully examined; it is truly a profound truth.

When a newborn is first born, there will inevitably be "cake-like" swellings (gynecomastia due to maternal hormones) on both breasts. These must be frequently massaged and squeezed to express milk until they dissipate; otherwise, they will swell, harden, and become toxic sores. If, during the initial bathing of the newborn, each nipple is squeezed once, this trouble can be avoided.

A newborn's skin and flesh are not yet solid, and the Couli (pores and interstices) are not yet dense. Old cotton wadding should be used to protect the back. One should not keep them too warm to the point of sweating, which would make the exterior deficient and susceptible to external pathogenic factors.

After two months of age, if the weather is clear and mild, the wet nurse should hold the child to expose them to sunlight. Then the Blood and Qi will become strong, muscles dense, and able to withstand wind and dew. If dressed in thick clothes and covered with warm quilts, hidden in multi-layered curtains and sealed rooms, the bones and sinews will become soft and brittle, unable to endure wind and cold, making them prone to disease. Thus, poor children are tough and free from illness, while rich children are fragile and prone to disaster. It is like plants newly sprouted; if covered tightly by objects so as not to see wind, sun, or rain, they will become yellow, withered, and weak.

Children's clothes and bedding should be sun-dried daily and collected at night; they should not be left outside overnight. Books state: Do not offend the flying stars and evil birds in the sky. If a child contracts pestilential Qi and develops innocent diseases, crying incessantly, the worn clothes must be immediately removed, baked with vinegar and charcoal, and then exposed to the sun.

A child's intestines and stomach are tender like green onions; breastfeeding and feeding should not be excessive. As Mr. Chen said: Endure a little cold, eat only seven-tenths full, frequently rub the belly, bathe less, keep the back and belly warm, and the head and chest cool. These are all profound truths. Furthermore, the wet nurse must prudently avoid the Seven Emotions (Joy, Anger, Worry, Pensiveness, Sadness, Fear, Fright), heavy flavors, and fried/roasted foods, so that the breast milk remains pure and the child does not fall ill.

Infant feeding requires proper method. "Ru" refers to milk, "Bu" refers to food. After nursing, one should not immediately give food; after feeding, one should not immediately nurse. Continuous intake of milk and food makes digestion difficult, leading to accumulations and malnutrition syndromes in older infants, or diarrhea, dysentery, and abdominal pain in younger ones.

Before nursing, a small amount of retained milk should be expressed, and then the child may suck. Milk should not be fed to excess, as overfilling causes overflow and vomiting. If the milk flow is too rapid, it should be extracted quickly, and feeding resumed when it slows down. In summer, failing to remove hot milk, and in winter, failing to remove cold milk, will cause diarrhea and dysentery; caution is essential.

When the wet nurse sleeps, she should support her arm so that the child's head is level with the breast. When the mother feels sleepy, she should withdraw the nipple, lest the child fail to recognize satiety, also leading to vomiting. If parents engage in intercourse while the child lies nearby, or if the child wakes up startled and cries, one must not immediately offer the breast for sucking. At this time, the Qi and milk are unsettled, which may endanger the child's life.

Children who have arbitrary dietary preferences will inevitably fall ill. It is said that overly palatable foods ultimately cause disease. Extreme caution is required. Wang Yinjun once said: "In my youth, I had a strong craving for sweet maltose. One day, I saw an earthworm sticking its head out of the maltose, and since then, I dared not eat it. Growing up, I realized this was done by my elders. This serves as a wonderful method for restraint."

Newborns have unsolidified skin and flesh; single-layer clothing is preferable to warm clothing. Warmth leads to soft bones and sinews and predisposes to sores and ulcers. Old cotton wadding is preferable to new cotton. New cotton induces sweating and exterior deficiency, making one susceptible to cold pathogens. Exposure to ground Qi and wind/sunlight is beneficial. Lack thereof results in soft skin prone to injury. I have seen wealthy families using thick mats and quilts, holding children in their arms all day, so that even at several years old, the children cannot walk. In contrast, rural children exposed to the elements all day, sometimes hungry or cold, suffer no other illnesses. It is like trees growing in deep mountains and large marshes, which easily grow to trunk thickness, whereas exotic plants in gardens, despite cultivation, often flower without fruit. Is there really a difference in the principles of nobility and baseness?

The *Xiao'er Jingyao* states: Do not wrap a newborn with oily hands. In spring, avoid covering the head and wrapping the feet; in summer, avoid cold drinks and ice; in winter, avoid heated clothing and bedding. To ensure a child's peace, let them retain a degree of hunger and cold; this is truly a profound truth.

Children's intestines and stomachs are fragile and narrow. Thick, sticky, dry, hard, sour, salty, spicy foods, as well as all meat, fish, fruits, wet dough, roasted, simmered, stir-fried, pan-fried, and deep-fried items, are all heat-producing and hard-to-digest foods that should be strictly prohibited. Ignorant wet nurses, fearing the child's crying, give everything, accumulating chronic diseases. What good is regret then! The saying goes: To cherish a child is to cherish their diet. Remember, remember! The *Yangzi Zhenjue* states: Eat hot, not cold; eat soft, not hard; eat less, not...