How to Dress our Babies.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 889, 15 March 1889, Page 4

How to Dress our Babies.

In • Dombey and Son ’ the inimitable pen of Charles Dickens has immortalised a pincushion. ‘lt is only a pincushion for the the toilet table, Paul (said Mrs Chick), but I do say, and will say, and must say, that Miss Tox has prettily adapted the sentiment to the occasion. I oall “ Welcome little Dombey,” poetry, myself!’ H?o trust that the fashion of welcoming angelic strangers (as Miss Tox called little Paul) with pincushions is passing away, for bristling pins and starch are forms of infant torture which may well be got rid of. How is it that ladies, who are prone to change the fashion of their own garments to suit every season, are so conservative about their infants’ wardrobe ? Is it that dear baby must look pretty, whatever betide, with starched embroideries and elegant shoulder-knots, or is it really a want of knowledge, which leads mothers to follow persistently the custom of fifty years ago Let all remember Hood’s lines :

Evil is wrought by want of thought, As well as want of heart.

Looking over layettes, priced from £5 to £SO, we can see no difference in them except in the quantity and quality ; all the articles are made from the same patterns in vogue in our grandmothers’ time. No doubt many sensible mothers have adopted loDg-sleeved gowns, and others warm little knitted jackets ; but if the babieß could speak for themselves, they would demand some sweeping reform to shorten their woarisome toilette. We all know how much they enjoy their refreshing bath ; in fact, like the child crying for Pear’s soap, they * Can’t be happy till they get it,’ and would gently fall asleep afterwards if it were not for the tedious dressing. We have seen a little infant almost in convulsions during this operation, needing to be soothed between each tiresome article, put on by a skilful experienced nurse. Dr Jaeger, with his sanitary woollen clothing, is certainly working a reform in the right direction. He maintains that babies should be in * all wool ’ from the hour of their birth ; by this means the skin is kept active, at an equable temperature neither too hot nor too cold, which greatly lessens the risk of a chill; an evil more likely to befall a baby wearing flannel and linen garments combined. But Dr Grosvenor, of Chicago, offers something quite novel in his * Gertrude Baby Suit,’ designed by him for his little daughter. He had been struck, he says, by the inconvenient and harmful way babies were dressed. Binders or swathes he considers injurious to the health of infants, likely to produce unpleasant consequences when displaced by the movements of the child, and often causing undue pressure in the wrong place. We asked a medical friend his opinion, and he seemed inclined to think after the first month a baby might thrive all the better without the usual bandages ; but here custom steps in, and baby’s figure becomes the first consideration —it 3 tender body swathed so firmly by nurse resembles a barrel more than anything else. According to Dr Grosvenor, the lawn shirt and long petticoat with bands complete the mischief, leaving no room for the expansion of the infant’s chest or limbs.

His remedy for this state of things is the * Gertrude Suit,’ of whioh he gives the following description. He recommends that the under garment should be made of fleecy goods—Canton flannel is the best we have at present—cut Princess shape, reaching frorii the neck to 10 inches (25 inches long) below 1 the feet, with sleeves tro : the wrists, arid haying all the seams smooth, and the At neck, wrist, and hritt.qiß upon the outside, the latter turned over onoe and felled or oatstitched with silk ; a tie and one button behind. Here we have a complete fleecelined garment, comfortable and 'healthy) and one that can be washed without shrinking. The next garment is triads of baby-flainnel (woollen, also cut Princess, same pafters^, 1 only one-half inch larger, reaching from the neck to 12 or J 4 inches 'below the feet 1 , to cover the other, with generous ’ armholes, pinked or scalloped, hut not hound, and with two buttons behind at the neck, and may he embroidered at pleasure. The dress cut Princess, to match the other garments, is preferable. These three garments are to be put together before dressing—sleeve within sleeve—put over the little one’s head at‘ ouoe, then buttoned at the back, and baby is

dressed. 1 1 •" ■ 4 ' M (Ordinary baby gowns may be worn over tkeJPrincess garments, but the doctor Would 1 havb them only from 30 inches to a yard in lergth. At night h 6 would only haVe a Carton flannel nightdress, as be does not belhye baby can sleep comfortably in a

number of wraps. The main advantages of this method, he says, are perfect freedom to rill the organs—all the clothiug hanging frorii tbe shorilders ; the evenness of the covering of the body—there being the same covering over the shoulders as elsewhere ; the saving of time and strength at baby’s toilette, and the important result—health and comfort of the child. We trust some mothers may be found courageous enough to brave the opposition they are likely to meet with from nurse, and try the effect of this simpler style of baby clothes. We have lately seen some charming long gowns of soft cream washing silk, trimmed with finest Torchon lace insertion, which looked quite as smart as tho embroidered cambric starched robes in whioh our grand, mothers delighted. If mothers wh» possess a superabundance of these robes prefer using them, let the starch be omitted. This will add to baby’s comfort and not detract from its appearance. Soft gowns crease less than stiffened ones, and are more economical, as they retain their freshness longer. Tho dressing of baby to go out is usually attended with a crying remonstrance on the part of the child. The toilette may be shortened by the following method, whioh we have seen successfully adopted : An embroidered skirt gathered into a waistband waß firßt put on over the ordinary day gown, thus saving a change of robe ; tho baby’s cloak was spread out on the bed, a soft fleecy shawl put on that; the hood, with the veil attached, placed in its proper position, and then baby laid into the whole. The clever nurse assured us she has sometimes managed this operation without waking the child. Even if it should wake, there is no time for tears.

As regards veils or handkerchiefs of silk or cambric thrown over an infant’s face, great care must be taken that the little one has perfect freedom to breathe. If the wind pressthehandkerchief against the mouth, and baby sucks it in, there is groat risk of suffooation.

Some people imagine infants are * taking notice ’ when they stare at a bright object like a fire or lamp ; in reality their eyes become fixed by the glare, and they are physically unable to withdraw them at once. Adults should think of this, and not carelessly expose them to bright lights. The days when children were * hardened ’ by exposure, and treated when ill with leeches, lancets, and calomel, have happily departed, and nursing has become a science ; still, infant mortality is much too groat, and we should endeavour to lessen it by adapting baby’s clothes and food to baby’s requirements. 111-ventilated or over-heated nurseries are a fertile source of much mischief, and lead to sudden chills, which may pinch our dear baby’s life in a few days ; hence one of the advantages of woollen clothing.