Instruction of mothers in well baby care; a program of talks at monthly visits.

As advisor and counsellor of mothers, a physician can contribute greatly to preventive medical care of infants. Advice can be given piecemeal, but according to a program. At birth the mother is reminded of the importance of emotional environment in shaping the life and personality of the child. The most important thing the mother and father do during the first year is enjoy their baby. At six months each monthly visit includes a discussion period. First is the concept of balanced diet and control of diet. At the seventh month, the mother learns how to report an illness-how to get information she wants and to give information the physician wants. Eighth month: Care of minor illness-necessity for rest and the importance of withholding food to promote rest; and the importance of fluids. Ninth month: Discussion of shoes. Eleventh month: Training for toilet and other habits; discussion of attitude toward thumb-sucking. Twelfth month: Stress household accidents, which cause more deaths than all infectious diseases combined.