Kahu needs warmth, love and care says doctor

By AINSLEY THOMSON

Kahurautete Durie needs to be kept warm, be clothed appropriately, have her nappies changed, be fed regularly, and receive a lot of love and attention, says an Auckland paediatrician.

Dr Cameron Grant, Auckland University Medical School associate professor and paediatrician at Starship hospital, said the 8-month-old would still be completely dependent on others to provide care.

How traumatised she would be by her ordeal depended on the environment she was in, he said.

About her age babies began to develop stranger anxiety. Love and attention were very important.

Plunket Society general manager of clinical services Angela Baldwin said 8-month-old babies were usually fed about five times a day. Most ate some solids, such as mashed foods, but milk still made up a significant part of their diet.

Mrs Baldwin said the best way to keep a baby warm was to wrap it in a blanket, making sure its face was kept clear.

Full coverage: Baby Kahurautete kidnapping

Picture: Kahurautete Durie

Picture: Kahurautete's clothing

Picture: the car being sought by police

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