Establishing the Health of the Child by Maria L. Edwards, M.D.

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 10, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 44.

Establishing the Health of the Child

By Maria L. Edwards, M.D.

IV. Clothing the Child

By Maria L. Edwards, M.D.

It is a source of much interest to inspect the baby wardrobes that have been prepared and are waiting the little ones’ arrival, because the most essential articles are often conspicuous for their absence, and the elaborately trimmed dresses and embroidered skirts that have consumed so much time and nervous energy, are displayed with such evident satisfaction.

The facts are that a child sleeps so much the first few months of its life that it has no time for dress parades. The essentials in the garments are that they be made of warm, light, and soft material, and in a simple and convenient way, with enough changes that the baby may always be sweet and clean.

The necessary articles of clothing are:— (1) The bandage made of outing flannel or cheese-cloth to hold the dressing for the cord in place, to be worn only a few days, or until such a time as the dressings are dispensed with. It is not essential that this be a wide, firm band and pinned as tightly as possible to hold the little one together, for he is securely built, and thus compressing the vital organs is positively injurious. (2) A warm knit abdominal binder, supported by shoulder pieces, that is clinging—but not tight—a good prevention for colic during the early months, as it keeps the abdomen warm. (3) Three or four dozen soft napkins. (4) Warm but soft vests or shirts. (5) Skirts that are attached to waists made of single thickness of goods and with armholes to support them in place without being tight. (6) Warm stockings. (7) Outing flannel or flannel slips, cambric skirts and cotton dresses when desired.

As the child grows older the same thought of warm, light, loose clothing should prevail, always allowing room for development of the little body and supporting everything securely from the shoulders.

The time of greatest danger comes to the girls when they reach puberty, for at this time a sudden change in the mode of living as well as dressing is often disastrous to health. The short, loose, supported skirts are exchanged for long, heavy ones, supported only by tight bands; the little loose supporting underwaists are replaced by the tight corset to give a figure; and the spring-heel shoes are exchanged for those with military or French heels, which just now are from three to four inches high.

At this period all the previous hygienic care of the girl may be made of no avail, and oftentimes the seeds of lifelong invalidism are sown.

See “Dressing for Health” for practical details on the dressing of girls and young women.