YOUR BABY’S CLOTHES
Your baby’s clothes were made long since, of course, but a word about their use is worth while as they may be very influential in promoting the baby’s well-being. In order that his body may be kept at an even temperature the warmth of his clothing must always be adjusted to the needs of the moment. The general tendency is to dress the baby too warmly and the usual result is that he perspires; is listless, pale, and fretful; sleeps badly; is susceptible to colds and other infections and has poor recuperative powers. His digestion is likely to be deranged and he may have prickly heat. On the other hand, if the baby is not dressed warmly enough his hands and feet will be cold and his lips blue; he will cry from discomfort and the general result may be lowered vitality and disturbed digestion. If the baby’s clothes are not comfortable, if they pull and drag or have tight bands, he will be fretful and restless, with disturbed sleep and upset digestion in consequence.
The little wardrobe will be entirely adequate, under ordinary conditions, if it consists of shirts, bands, diapers, flannel petticoats, dresses, nightgowns, flannel wrappers and sacques. As the petticoats and dresses are cut twenty-seven inches long, many doctors feel that they offer enough protection for the feet of the average baby to make stockings unnecessary until he is from four to six months old. The skirts are then shortened to ankle length and stockings added to the baby’s attire. Other doctors think it wiser to put knitted socks or part wool stockings on the new baby, particularly if he is born during cold weather.
When the baby begins to creep, he should wear soft soled shoes, part wool stockings in cold weather and thin cotton or silk ones during the summer, and firm but flexible soled shoes as soon as he tries to stand alone or to walk.
During the first month or two the baby scarcely needs special clothing for outdoor wear as he may be wrapped in one of the flannel squares with a casing run in one corner to form a hood, or he may be placed on a square diagonally and the upper corner folded about his head and held under the chin with a safety-pin. The corners on the sides are folded about his shoulders, the lower one brought up over his feet and limbs and the additional blankets tucked in over all. But as the baby grows older and moves about in his carriage, he will need a cap and cloak or wrap with hood attached. In cold weather the cap should be knitted or wool lined and the cloak of soft woolen material or wool lined. In moderate weather the cap may be of one thickness of cotton or silk, or very light flannel, while on very warm days he will need no head covering at all.
To sum up: The baby’s clothes should be simple in design, hang from the shoulders, fit smoothly but loosely and have no constricting bands; they should be of soft, light, porous material; their warmth always adjusted to the immediate temperature so that the baby will be protected from being either chilled or overheated. And his clothing must always be clean and dry.