8o8 Reading-Course for Farmers' Wives. 



without uncomfortable binding. It is pinned in place with small strong 

 safety pins. This is worn until the child's abdominal muscles are strong. 

 It should be kept clean and changed with the rest of the clothing. 



The next garment is the shirt. This should be of fine soft material. 

 The best fabric for shirts is a mixture of part silk and part wool or part 

 cotton and part wool. This mixture shrinks less and hardens less in 

 washing than all wool. 



The diaper is best made of a soft grade of cotton diaper. It should not 

 be too large and have too many thicknesses, as it interferes with right 

 development. A better arrangement is to provide square pads made of 

 soft cotton and easily washed and place these in the center of the diaper 

 before it is pinned on. The diaper should not be so tight as to constrict 

 the child's pelvis and back, nor so thick as to spread the bones of the legs. 

 Much harm is done by careless adjustment of this garment. The diaper 

 may be fastened to the shirt with safety pins. Over the diaper and shirt 

 in cool Oir cold weather should go a flannel slip, in summer one of some 

 lighter material. It should be a simple garment hanging loose from the 

 shoulders and having sleeves. It should be about eight or ten inches 

 below the feet and is more convenient if made by the same pattern as the 

 dress, but one-half inch smaller. It is best made from a mixture of 

 cotton and flannel and requires careful washing to keep it soft. 



The dress or slip should be made one-half inch larger in all measure- 

 ments save length and one inch longer than the flannel slip. It should 

 be made of some soft white cotton material without dressing and should 

 never be starched. The simplest, prettiest and most comfortable baby 

 dresses are made without tucks,, without trimming and with soft simple 

 bands at neck and wrist. 



Socks may be used, but if the child's clothing is drawn well around the 

 legs no further protection is needed. Stockings which pin to the diaper 

 are sometimes advocated. The objection to these is, they are often wet 

 with the diaper and must be changed and washed each time, or else they 

 are a source of danger rather than protection to the baby. 



Flannel stockinet or canton flannel make good night clothes. The 

 little night slip should be made in the same plain way as the dress, but 

 should have a draw string run in the bottom of the hem. This can be 

 drav^n together at night and protects the child's feet against cold during 

 the sleeping hours. 



None of the clothing which the child wears in the day time should be 

 kept on at night. The child should be completely undressed and allowed 

 freedom of limb for a few moments with gentle massage or rubbing and 

 should then have fresh, dry warm clothes, consisting of a shirt, a clean 

 diaper and pad and the night slip. The clothing worn during the day 



