Dressing. The baby should always be dressed while lying on his back or on a bed or pillow. Pin the flannel band at the side with small safety pins; then put on the shirt and be careful that the draw string at the neck is not tied too tightly. Next put on the diaper snugly. The gertrude is placed inside the slip and both are put on at the same time. These two garments should be drawn on over the baby’s feet. If the weather is cool, the baby should be wrapped in a flannel blanket.
Bran bath. If the baby’s skin is sensitive or if he has heat rash, a bran bath will prove beneficial. Prepare this by putting bran into a cheesecloth bag six inches square, and soaking this in the bath until the water is milky. Do not use soap with the bran bath, nor with an ordinary bath when the baby’s skin is sensitive.
CHAPTER VIII
THE BABY’S CLOTHING
Suggestions for demonstrations. 1. Show samples of clothing for a baby. 2. Demonstrate how to dress a baby in hot weather. 3. Demonstrate how to dress a baby in cold weather.
Clothes. The clothing must always be roomy and loose and adapted to the season, climate, and temperature.
FIRST SET OF CLOTHES
Four flannel binders
Four knitted bands
Three shirts and three nightgowns
Three flannel gertrudes
Three dozen diapers
Four long white dresses
Flannel bands. These bands should be made of all-wool flannel, four inches wide and about twenty-eight inches long, that is, long enough to reach twice around the baby’s body. They should have no hems and should be fastened at the left side with small safety pins. Bands must be adjusted with great care; they should not be drawn too tightly, but should be made so snug that they will neither slip down and bind the baby’s legs nor slip up and interfere with the expansion of the chest.
BABY CLOTHES