Emma F. Angell Drake

The Question That Comes with Fluttering Signs of Life.—Importance of Wise Choice of Material and Style of Dress.—The Blessedness of Mother’s Joy in Preparing Baby’s Clothing.—The Questions of Dress Important.—Formerly Seemingly Planned for Discomfort.—The “Binder” an Instrument of Torture.—Better Methods now Prevail.—The Napkin.—How to Establish Regular Habits for Baby.—The Pinning Blanket.—The Little Shirt.—Baby’s Earliest and Best Dress Described.—The Complete Wardrobe Described.—The Furnishings of the Basket.—Things Which are not to Baby’s Taste or Comfort.—The Later Wardrobe.

“Wherewithal shall my baby be clothed?” is a question that comes to every expectant mother—if her heart be filled with love for it—when she feels the first fluttering signs of life that announce to her listening heart, “Mother, I’m coming;” and she delights to prepare for her little one the softest, daintiest, richest things that her purse and time will allow. If she is not always wise in her choice of material and trimming and style of dress, it is because of ignorance, more often than otherwise. Sometimes, we fear from pride that her baby should make as fair a show in the flesh as the babies of her friends, regardless of healthfulness or suitableness.

I would it were possible for every mother to prepare the first clothing of her coming little ones, all herself; for in such quiet times as women sit down to their needle alone, in the waiting hours, thoughts and plans and high ambitions for the little ones hold them fast, and the heart warms with each dainty stitch, while the mother love kindles and grows, and the castles are built and peopled with baby and its friends and lovers. Far more often than we think, the choicest, tenderest thoughts the woman is capable of, and the highest, noblest ambitions of what her baby shall be, and what she shall be to it, are sewed into the little garments, with her swiftly flying needle; and more than this, are woven into the very fibre and being of the little one.

The question of the baby’s dress is one of large importance, and one which in the past few years has received the attention which is its due. Formerly the comfort of the baby was little planned for; and more than that, it almost seems, as we consider it to-day, that the clothing of the little one was planned for discomfort; as if a sacrificial thought must enter into its first experiences, to insure a proper amount of self-abnegation in later life. Now all this is changed and self-sacrifice and endurance are taught the baby in a more wholesome way.

That instrument of torture, the band, or more properly the “binder,” has been relegated to the shades by all sensible people, and the thought that the All-wise Creator planned and formed the human body so wisely that it needed none of man’s inventions to supplement His creative wisdom, is thoroughly believed by the many to-day; and the baby is given the freedom in dress that its growing body and active limbs demand.

First of all the diaper or napkin must be considered. The large, heavy cotton flannel diapers, which are used so widely to-day, deserve one criticism and caution. There is danger, if they are used in the earlier weeks that too much thickness will be folded down between the legs, and the hips be thrown out of the natural position, and thus an awkward, ungraceful gait follow. Something much softer and more yielding should be used at first and this danger will be obviated. A heavy, firm cheesecloth I have found all that was necessary, and these should not be made more than eighteen inches square, for use in the early weeks. Ten or fifteen of these will be an ample supply, and they should never be dried without a good rinsing after each using. The cotton flannel squares can be used later, but always with care not to fold too much between the legs, and so crowd the soft yielding bones. On the other hand the mother must guard against pinning the napkin too tightly about the hips, for this draws the hips forward and the little one is in danger of becoming knock-kneed. These seem simple cautions, but many thoughtful women do not think of them.

The napkin can very soon be spared the soil of the baby’s regular movements, and only used as a guard against irregularities. The baby while yet very young can be accustomed to a regular morning movement, and can be held out while dressing, over the little chamber, and its bowels moved daily. Should there not be a degree of regularity about the time naturally, it can soon become accustomed to one, by aiding at a stated time, with a little soap suppository which should be moistened before being inserted in the rectum. This habit fixed and the greatest annoyance in the care of the baby is done away with.

All that is required in a band, is a soft piece of flannel, six or eight inches wide, with the edge turned over, once only, on the right side, and catch-stitched down. These are to be worn only until the navel cord is detached and the stump healed, then what is worn over the shoulders and legs is sufficient for the abdomen, hence no band is needed for warmth.

Next in the Gertrude garments is the substitute for the pinning blanket, which is no pinning blanket at all, but a simple little garment, long-sleeved, high-necked, and cut in one piece, like the outer garment or slip. I would suggest but one change in this, and for what I consider a good and sufficient reason. If the little pinning-blanket, of the Gertrude pattern, is soiled, both that and all the outer garments must be removed when the change is made, which may be necessary more than once a day.

The soft wool shirts, that are found in all first-class stores, I always recommend, and to take the place of the skirt part of the little gabrielle described above, I fashion a pinning blanket as follows: Procure Shaker flannel—half wool and half cotton, as by this material shrinkage is avoided—that is as nearly a yard square as possible, cut off one corner, making the bias edge of the triangular piece cut off about eighteen inches long; face the edge from which the corner has been cut, with a bias piece of the flannel an inch and a half wide, turning it over on the right side. Turn over the remaining sides of the blanket on the right side, cross-stitching it down neatly, and you have the little garment complete.

After you have put on the band, diaper and shirt, place the middle of the faced edge of the pinning blanket at the middle of the back of the shirt, at the waist line and secure it with a tiny safety pin; lap the two ends at the front and pin them, and then see how beautifully the two side corners lap over the feet, and the lower corner, when brought up and pinned loosely, that ample room be given the legs to stretch out and move about at will, encases the abdomen and legs of the baby in a smooth soft covering, guiltless of seam or gather. When this is soiled it is a small matter to change it compared with changing the skirt and slip of the Gertrude costume.

Over these for the first weeks all that is needed is a linen lawn slip, twenty-seven inches in length from shoulders to bottom of hem, if it be summer, or a wrapper of French flannel or outing flannel if it be winter. Dressed in this simple and unencumbered manner, the little one will sleep and wake, and eat and sleep again, stretching itself in happy content, and growing as nature intended it should in unconstrained freedom.

Three each of shirts and bands, and a half dozen each of the little pinning blankets and slips, a dozen and a half of the small diapers, and one or two squares of flannel to wrap the baby in when taken from the bed, will furnish the baby’s wardrobe well and amply for the first few months.

During these first months a more elaborate wardrobe may be furnished, although it is far better to keep it in as simple and light clothing as possible for the time until the clothes are shortened, when it will be taken out more and will need a little more attention to its toilet. In place of the linen lawn slips a nice thing is slips made of china silk. These are easily laundered and are soft and a little nicer than the cotton dress.

For the basket where the baby, it is hoped, will spend most of its time for weeks, you should have a thick soft pad of cotton covered with cheese cloth and quilted, not tied, loosely, to cover the pillow placed in the bottom of the basket; a square of flannel over this, if you desire, for a blanket, and a soft knotted comfort, with the knots outside, for the cover. The tiny pillow completes the furnishing for the sleeping basket. Put carefully away for remembrances all the handsomely embroidered pillow-slips, daintily trimmed with ruffles and ribbons, and the elaborate counterpanes of heavy piquÉ, made heavier with yards of hamburg trimming and ribbon. These will answer finely for heirlooms, but are not at all suited to either the baby’s taste or comfort.

The soft knitted socks will be needed for a winter baby, and perhaps for summer, if the baby is delicate, the feet moving about, will get cold easily. But far better than encumber the little one with clothing, warm the basket bed with a hot water bottle or two.

For the later wardrobe, little more will be needed than a slight modification of these already described. We should consider the baby’s comfort, first, last, and all the time. However proud we may be of it we should not allow ourselves to dress it for exhibition. The baby is the centre of attraction, not what it may be dressed in. A supply of the linen lawn or china silk slips, made larger but not longer, two or three flannel skirts, fashioned without gathers at the waist, and attached to a thin muslin waist without sleeves; two or three cashmere or flannel jackets, for the little one is large enough to be out of its basket a part of the time, and needs a wrap that will not fall off easily, and leave it exposed. With this list you have all that is needed until the short clothes are provided; then a more generous supply will be needed, but never anything more elaborate.