Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-19
HYGIENIC DRESSING
NECESSARY TO THE HEALTH OF
INFANTS.
Clothing Must Be Warm Enough for
Comfort, but Too Much Oft
Causes Colds.

Dressing a baby correctly combines art as
well as science. and even If the mothers
income Is limited the infant may still be
made to look sweet and attractive. But
whether the parents are rich or poor cloth
ing must be made along the lines Of health
if the young one is to glow as 1t should.
There isn't q mother, however inexperi-
enced. who doesn't know that a child
should be dressed warmly. but some there
are who do not know that there is such
thing as piling on too much clothing and
making the child susceptible to cold by
keeping 1t overheated. This applies to the
winter season as well summer, and Is
a thing to be guarded against.
A part of dressing on the Importance of
which I cannot lay too great stress is
cleanliness. It is impossible to keep a
baby too clean, and I regret that there are
many that, through the parents careless
ness. are anything but attractive. There
Is no excuse for there ever being odor
about baby. Care will prevent 1t, and
no mother should regard this care as too
great trouble. To allow a baby to wear a
soiled bib is inexcusable, and no article Of
clothing should ever be permitted to re-
main on after 1t Is soiled.
There is something besides the aesthetic
in this matter Of clean clothing. for moth
ers who neglect it In even the most trfling
way will find that the infant Is affected by
it. A baby's skin Is delicate beyond ex
preston, and chatting or irritation will
hurt it Immediately. Any such rough sur
face should be treated and healed at once
that 1t may not develop into an ugly sore.
The natural instinct which is to wash
with soap and water Is wrong. soap mere
ly irritating more. If water is used first
squeeze bran bag in 1t; water thus pre-
pared is cleansing without being irritating.
MAny physicians recommend the
of olive oil in place Of water and it Is I'M
doubtedly excellent. 1t is used cloth
quite as water would be. Dry very care
fully after using, and then apply powder
made Of an ounce Of talcum, an ounce of
starch and a quarter ounce of boric acid.
Sift several times to mix thoroughly.
If chafing Is between creaSeS where strips
of old linen may be laid take this precau-
ton to heal.
A baby properly kept will never chafe
except possibly in warm weather from
used on the body before dressing will aid
in preventing chatting, but nothing but con-
slant and perfect cleanliness will keep the
soft skin in condition. This means inces-
must be willing to take 1t, and she will
frequently find that much Of what she
supposed temper and consequent cry
ing will stop, as it was caused through
discomfort.
Putting in band properly so that it is
comfortable and safe is an important part
OF dressing lNaI a young mOIner must I'M
derstand. for the band is capable of caus-
ing serious injury. 1t should be of soft
white flannel ten inches wide and go once
and half around the body when put on
snugly. but not tight. 1t must not be pin
ned. but Is basted at the left side. The OBJ
lection to pins is both that they are likely
to come unfastened and that the band
wrinkles more easily with them. A wrinkled
band will keep a child fretting and cry
ing all the time. The great knack of dress
ing a baby comfortably is that the band
and bodies shall be snug and yet not tight.
and that there shall be no wrinkles any
where. The skin is too delicate to endure
them.
Clothing for a very young baby consists
Of a medium weight wooden shirt, high
neck and long sleeves, bird's-eye diapers, a
small one folded within large. flannel
skirt thirty inches long. A white skirt two
inches long and a thin white dress. Both
of the skirts should be on bands, the fan
mel having a band of flannel and being
sewn on the left side as is the body band.
The white skirt band may have either a
wide band be made with tiny shoulder
straps After three months a baby may
wear a knitted body band with shoulder
straps
1t should be remembered that all these
materials must be light weight that they
shall not be heavy for the chids strength
The feet will be kept warm In worsted
socks. I believe in pinning the flannel skirt
together at the bottom with safety pins to
prevent any chill striking the legs This
turns the petticoats into kind of bag.
Buttoning is better than pinning. A most
necessary article in a baby's outfit Is a
thin flannel or worsted jacket to wear on
damp or cold days when indoors.
At this season Of the year a baby year
old should wear a knitted band with
shoulder straps. a medlum-weight flannel
shirt. white skirt that may be made to
fasten to the waist of the flannel skirt
wooden stockings that pin to the diaper
and cotton dress with a flannel jacket
for extra warmth when necessary. At
night it will wear a band, shirt and flannel
nlghtgown, but no socks. While younger
the dressing at night is the same except
that flannel skirt is required. and that
the nightgown should be made with a
draw string at the bottom and pulled up
like a bag that there may be no chill If the
infant Is uncovered.