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Show Woman s World Protection, Comfort Important In Infant or Toddler Garments (Bu rtta JlaLf WHEN we think of clothes for j babies, most of us make the mistake of clothing them, at least ! In our thoughts, with ruffles and bO-I bO-I lowy dresses. Actually, though, the ' most important considerations In making baby's clothes sensible are i comfort, protection, room for rapid j growth and room for plenty of movement. So, when you plan a layette, or I do some sewing for a friend with a baby, don't get too sentimental. ' The gift-type garment may bring j most Ahs and Ohs from friends, I but the mother will appreciate sim- plicity and ease of placing the gar- merit on the baby most of all, and - this should be your main aim. It certainly will be your main theme ' if you've ever tried to dress a i squirming, wriggling youngster. ! The garments you'll want to avoid i are those with tiny collars that I wrinkle and crush easily, garments that have to be slipped over the head, and tight, gathered sleeves. Whenever you can, make clothing for baby with wide, raglan sleeves because these slip on so easily. Show a definite preference for gar I ments that open and close in front, j particularly nightgowns and the like ! that can be folded over and tied. Fabrics may be Just a little diffl-I diffl-I rult to find, but remember to choose those that are soft and fine: batiste, ; ! soft muslin, voile, extra-soft flannel and crepe. The seams may be j French fell, flat hand-rolled or bound. Special Care Needed For Toddler's Clothes Have you ever watched a baby learning to crawl or reach? Notice this the next opportunity you have and see how much leeway the gar-! gar-! ment has to have to accommodate I all this activity. The sleeves should be loose and free so as not to put any strain on the youngster. The little seat of the pants comes in for its share of the strain too. Little rompers or panties for the baby at the creeping stage need extra fullness full-ness at the back, and should be shorter in the front because of the positions they get themselves into. Because toddler's garments come I In for their share of buttoning and were an active youngster instead of Just a pretty doll, and the baby will be much better off. Always make little girl's dresses with large hems. Then as the child grows, the hems can be let out and more wear achieved from the garment. gar-ment. A little girl's dress should have an opening sufficiently large around the neck to permit easy getting in and out. Only one button is used for this opening. Very large or small buttons or snaps and hooks are considered poor choice for youngster's gar-ments. gar-ments. Child authorities say that it j is easy for the child learning to j dress to use the medium-sized flat j button, but he is lost with the out-Sixe out-Sixe or small size. Teach him self reliance by making it easy for him to dress himself. For boys' one-piece garments, use a drop seat controlled by a belt. This is easy for the boy to manage even at an early age and looks neat. The drop seat can have an elastic 1 run through a casing so that it snaps back into place easily after being stretched. you're leu'inf for baby. . . . unbuttoning, you will want to make these as secure as possible. Top tips which you will want to follow for sewing on buttons are these: first, use only a single thread; second, sec-ond, do not make the mistake of sewing on the buttons too tight. There is pull and strain on the button but-ton that easily gives way if it hugs the garment too tightly. Save the Sentiment, Lean Toward Practical All mothers want their youngsters to have lovely pastel coats of soft wool with silk linings. This is a nice sentimental gesture, but actually this type of coat is more practical if made with flannel or challis that I is unlined. Then the coat is more easily made, simply washed and more durable. Another good Idea is to spend time making rompers in several ! sizes for the toddler. Boys, of course, use rompers as soon as they begin to crawl, but it isn't such a bad idea to make rompers for little Make them sensible and practical. girls, too. Dresses may be lovelier, but if you will notice, they easily ' i get in the baby's way, and she may ; trip and fall more often than nec-j nec-j essary. Dress the child as if she j |
