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120
COUNTY BOROUGH OF CROYDON.
THE CLOTHING OF INFANTS.
A young infant should be lightly but warmly clad in woollen
material,
The garments required are:—
(1) Long-sleeved Vest.
(2) Binder.
(3) Napkin.
(4) Long Flannel.
(5) Gown.
The vest should be knitted or made of flannel. It must
have sleeves to the wrist, and be made to open down the front
with flaps to close over each other.
The binder can be a knitted belt to be slipped on from the
feet, or a double fold of flannel, to be tied with tapes or ribbons.
Its object is to keep the stomach warm, and it must not be tight.
The napkins should be of best Turkish towelling.
The long flannel must be made to fit closely up to the throat,
and should be double-breasted. At the foot, it can be folded
over, and fastened with buttons or safety pins, or it may be drawn
up with a string like a bag.
If these garments are all made to fasten down the front, they
can be placed in position, with the vest sleeves drawn through
the armholes of the long flannel, and the baby being laid face
downwards on the mother's knee, his arms can be inserted into
the sleeves, then turn him over, and fasten the garments in front
without further moving the child.
The gown should be made of some light material and have
long sleeves.
When the child is short-coated, the long-sleeved vest and
binder should still be worn, and knitted drawers with legs and
feet attached, or long stockings and a flannel square, should be
put on over the napkins.
A knitted or flannel petticoat with sleeveless bodice of the
same material, and a long-sleeved frock of some warm stuff are
also required.
It is a great mistake to try and harden infants by letting them
expose their arms and legs in cold weather.
At night, the child only requires a vest and flannel nightgown
with long sleeves, but a different vest from that worn in the
day should be used.
Patterns for cutting out the garments, and directions for
knitting, can be borrowed from the Health Visitors.
Ordinary Flannelette is a dangerous material.
Public Health Department,
Town Hall.