Mothers Don’t Always Feed Their Babies Correctly

I have visited seven houses in this week. Fewer children are suffering with colds. But the unbearable heat continues! I think the villagers have gotten through the worst of the summer’s health threats. They now seem better protected and they are trying their best to maintain the hygiene practices I have advised. I found one baby suffering from a normal cough and cold. There were two other houses where I noticed that the mothers were not feeding their babies properly with items from each of the three food groups. I always advise mothers to make sure their children have a balanced diet with protein (to build their bodies), vegetables and fruits (to protect them from diseases) and carbohydrates/fats (to give them energy). These mothers were not cooking any special food for the babies – just feeding them what the adults ate. When I asked, I found it was not that they couldn’t afford it, but that they were a little indifferent about the need for three different kinds of food for a baby’s balanced growth. So I counseled them again, saying that their babies’ brains would not develop properly, and they would remain weak and unhealthy, if they did not eat the right food. The mothers were ashamed that they had not followed my courtyard lesson and they promised, no matter what, they would feed their babies the good foods that babies need to grow, to be healthy and to fight off diseases. I held a courtyard session at the end of the week with the pregnant mothers. I urged them to be sure to get sufficient rest on these extremely hot summer days.