BABIES.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2200, 15 March 1881, Page 4

BABIES.

[From the " Milliner and Dressmaker."] There is never much that is now to writo •bout infants and their belongings. Still, very great changes have taken place since they wore tightly swathed, bound, and on coming into the world, and kopt •o tied and braced that it was a wonder they oould even grow; and in fact this treatment is, no doubt, responsible for malformations, and mnoh that has been dwarfish and only half-developed. Babies, like other people, fail to appreciate their blessings, and never will known from how much they are saved, and how much they gain in being allowed freedom to writhe, to twist, to wripgle, to take •11 sorts of shapes, and grow all over •t onoe. Dress, for them at least, is not now • matter of fashion, but one of comfort and health, and fashion has naught to do with it—save assist in devising pretty methods of •cutting and ornamenting the material for the babies' clothing, which is always to be as fine 'and soft bs means will admit of. It was Tttthor curious that while the old baby fashions enclosed the baby's body in such cruel bandages, the feeble arms and delicate nook were lett wholly exposed, while the limbs were weakened by an oppressive weight •of long clothing. This is partially remedied nowadays, and has been for some time, by a reduotion in tbe length of baby clotboß, and the covering of the neok and arms. The modern slip, cut in one piece, shaped, but easily adjusted, and of soft, fine, washable, white material, is an almost perfect baby <4ress.

No starch should ever be suffered to oome in contact with baby olothes, and nothing coarse or harsh ia the way of materialor embroidery. It is better not to have trimming than not to have it fine and delicate. Of course, only white fabrios should bo used for infants, and there need be no trouble aboHt these if they are only properly washed. Do not entrust white woollens of any kind to one -whom you cannot trust as you would yourself. The best way is to wash them yourself—it is not disagreeable, takes but little time, and will preserve them new in appearanoe until they are worn out. Use soft, slightly tepid (not warm) water, in whioh put powdered borax—about a teaspoonful to a gallon of the water. Make a lather with white Castile soap, and in this wash your woollen garments thoroughly. Binse in oold water, without blueing. The most wonderful embroidery is now put on baby shawls and blankets. Instead of following stiff, reotangular patterns, artists in •uoh matters follow nature, and design as they work—flowers, leaves, sprays, fibres, inseots, stems, weeds and whatever they find that will lend itself to the purpose of ornamenting. The only requirement is that there -shall be harmony in the carrying out of the ides. For example, if the lotus flower is selected, the figures must bo Egyptian ; if the .primrose, the surrounding objects must possess an English rural character. French ideas are •lways oonventionalised ; the art worker draws from all sources, but is not guilty of inconfruity by mixing opposites, or such things as olong to different ages and eras and peoples. The round cloak is a necessity for a baby, because it can be cut longer than a sacque ; but oare should be taken not to make it too heavy. The most useful and convenient cloaks are made with a round, soft, silk-lined hood, instead of large cape, whioh can be •drawn over the pretty little oap now fashionable, and forma a sufficient protection. Twenty-five years ago it would have been considered dangerous for a newly-born_ baby -to go without its cap until it had acquired a -covering of hair for its head ; and though the abandonment of them has been recommended as a sanitary measure, still we cannot imagine it to be a very imperative one, for babies lived and grew in those days, and were blessed with abundant hair. It does not seem very much a matter for regret, therefore, that fashion has lately restored the tiny, round cap, whioh covered the baby's small, round, bold head, and dresses it lightly, softly, yet effectively, and without any prejudice to its temperature or circulation, for the fabric of which it is made is the lightest and finest of lace or muslin.