Better babies and their care

by Anna Steese Richardson

The outdoor raiment, while baby is in long clothes, should be as simple as possible. For the baby born in the spring a flannel wool cape with hood attached, and a soft silk lining, is ideal for the first few outings. The baby who has his first airings in the fall or winter should be more warmly clad. One of the most sensible first coats for a baby I have ever seen is made of light-weight white eider-down flannel. The pattern is in three pieces—a pointed hood, such as you see in pictures of Eskimo children, the back and the front of the coat with seams on the shoulders under the arms and on either side of the garment. The back of the coat, like the petticoat described on page [158], is longer than the front and turns up like an envelope flap to protect the feet. The coat opens down the front; and attached to the back is a pad made from rubber sheeting covered with cheese-cloth or nainsook. This can be washed, and it protects the coat from stains.

Mittens may be added for cold weather; but veils are no longer used for babies.

The most important thought to be borne in mind when fashioning the layette is that baby should be comfortable and clean. The average inexperienced woman makes the clothing too small. Baby either outgrows it or is bound round the waist, neck, armholes, and wrists. Give him room to kick and grow. If he frets after he is dressed and refuses to go to sleep, you will probably find that he is bound by some one of the little garments.

Cleanliness is only another word for comfort. Choose fabrics that wash well, and then wash them carefully. Never use strong soap, washing-powder, or starch on baby’s clothing. Wash the flannels in tepid soapsuds made from a good white soap, and rinse them several times in clear water of the same temperature. Violent changes in the temperature of the water will make the flannels shrink. The unhemmed belly-bands will fray a little with each washing; but this is better than cutting the skin with hemmed bands.

Do not imagine that you can protect your baby from colds by overdressing him. The average home, heated by furnace or steam, has a temperature of from 70 to 80 degrees. This is equal to summer weather outdoors and no child should be tortured with woolen underwear, heavy sacques, etc., in such an atmosphere. This warning against overdressing applies also to babies in the summer, even when they are passing through the dreaded period of teething. We can all remember the time when baby in his “second summer” was tortured with flannel to ward off summer-complaint. Science has proved that the baby who is suffering from heat will not digest his food. If a baby is normal, healthy, and gaining steadily in weight, in hot weather, he will need only the knitted band, diaper, and little slip. If the weather should change suddenly the flannel skirt can easily be slipped on again.

By the time a baby is six months old the clothes can be shortened; and they should be made long enough to give baby a chance to grow. Like his first garments, these should all be hung from the shoulder. Rompers should not be worn until the baby has been trained not to soil or wet his diapers.

As soon as the baby begins to walk he should have long stockings, with soft kid shoes to support the ankles. Moccasins, slippers, etc., do not furnish sufficient support for the ankles which are now being put to the first test.

The very best specialists in the care of children advise that children from babyhood be accustomed to light-weight clothing. They advise the use of balbriggan or cotton union-suits, with a flannel skirt for the little girl, and no flannels for the boy except his knickerbockers. If the weather is severe and the legs should be covered when the child is outdoors, leggings should be used instead of long flannels. The leggings can be removed when the child comes back into the warm house. The underwear cannot. The result is that the child perspires in the house, is coddled and weakened, and therefore more liable to colds when sent out to play.

There is an art in handling the baby which makes for its comfort and contentment. The less he is handled during the first few weeks of his life the better. If he is well and warm and sufficiently fed he will sleep about twenty-two hours out of the twenty-four. He has no desire to be moved, let alone played with, and if he is left to his own devices he will not demand attention, and, therefore, he will make little disturbance in the family circle. On the other hand, if the different members of the family fairly hang around the crib, waiting for him to wake up and be played with, they must not blame the baby if later on he demands attention throughout his waking hours.

The baby does not like to be trotted on a full stomach. It disturbs his digestion. It may make him vomit and feel generally uncomfortable. The mother who is nursing her first baby may find it a cross to tuck the baby into his crib directly he finishes feeding. The temptation to cuddle the little form close, to pet him, to rock and hum him to sleep is very strong. Mother will do well to remember that, while she may have time for this enjoyable occupation to-day and to-morrow, next week or next month may tell a different story of work that must be done. Baby will not understand this change in affairs. He will have acquired the habit of being cuddled and rocked and he will demand the attention. So from the very first the mother should train herself, as well as the baby, that this practice is unnecessary.