OUR BABIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24423, 8 October 1940, Page 10

OUR BABIES

By Hygeia

Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society). "It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain on ambulance at the bottom .” MAKING CLOTHES FOR TODDLERS (Continued) Knickers for Little Boys Material. For cold - weather - wear rather warmer materials may be used than in the case of girls’ knickers, as there will be no covering skirt. Woollen materials that are warm; light, porous, and easily washed and brushed are recommended. If linings are used they should be of lightweight cotton material. Heavy calico should be avoided, but unlined knickers of washable woollen material, worn always in conjunction with separate underpants, are practical and hygienic. Aertex cellular cotton is an ideal material for the underpants. For hot-weather-wear cotton, silk, or linen knickers may be worn. Pattern and Craftsmanship.—Backs of knickers must be cut longer and slightly wider than fronts to allow ample room for bending and sitting, and there must be plenty of length from waist to fork. Knickers made to button on to a liberty bodice are recommended. Alternatively the knickers may be worn outside a blouse and attached directly to this by buttons, or they may hang from wide braces of their own material, crossed at the back to present slipping at the shoulders. A patch pocket on the right side of the back is recommended. Side pockets are undesirable, as they tend to induce slouching, narrow chests, and round shoulders, and invite rubbish collecting. The seams of boys’ knickers should, if possible, be sewn by machine. Babies’ and Toddlers’ Rompers

Material—Viyella, gingham, or any good, light, serviceable cotton material is suitable. 1 Pattern and Craftsmanship.—Ample room must be allowed for bending and sitting, therefore the back should not be cut in one piece. It is a great mistake to regard a romper as a dress joined together between the legs. Avoid any fastenings between the legs or elastic around the legs. One good pattern has the whole front and the pitch knicker back cut in one and gathered at the back into a waistband, which buttons round the front and to the bodice back. The most suitable fastenings for rompers are buttons and buttonholes, fastening to the back of the bodice. Press fasteners are suitable for closing the sides. Child’s Sun Suit Material.—Aertex cotton is strongly recommended, as this material : Hows the beneficial rays of the sun to pass through it, and at the same time its cellular construction protects the child against chills. Pattern and Craftsmanship.—The sun suit should consist of a one-piece garment. worn with a shady hat protecting the back of the neck. It should fit the child’s body loosely, and should be cut high at the back to protect the spine. The sun suit can be faced with bands of a contrasting colour, cut OP the cross to match the hat. It should fasten on the sides and on the shoulders. Liberty Bodice Material. —Aertex cellular cotton is an ideal material for a liberty bodice, as it is porous, warm, and easy to wash. Avoid heavy calico. Double material is unnecessary. If greater warmth is required the bodice may be made of wool stockinette. Pattern and Craftsmanship;—The bodice should fit the child’s figure loosely, and should extend well below the waist. The armholes should be large. The bodice should be reinforced by bands of wide tape stitched vertically along the whole length to take the strain at all points where garments are buttoned' on to it. Similar tape used as a false hem will help to keep the bodice in shape. The bodice can be made to slip oyer the head or it may be buttoned down the front. In the latter case bands of tape will be required for the buttons and buttonholes. The child’s knickers should hang from the bodice by means of buttons and buttonholes. Tape loops (not so good, but labour-saving) may be used instead of buttonholes. ’ It is most important that there should be two sets of knicker buttons on the bodiceone above the other—so that the length mav be adjusted for the use of knickers which vary in size. Buttons must be sewn on so that the cotton forms a shank appropriate to the thickness of the material to be buttoned to the bodice. If a skirt as well as knickers is to be attached to the bodice, separate buttons may be provided, so as not to interfere with the fastening of the knickers. Child’s One-piece Sleeping Suit Material. Viyella, aertex cellular cotton, or wincey are recommended. Flannel or any good wool and cotton mixture may be used also, but avoid flannelette and winceyette. Pattern and Craftsmanship.—A closed pattern is recommended, fastening with buttons down the front. The back should be open from side plaquets and should be gathered into a waistband, buttoning at sides and centre back. Sleeves should be cut with turn-back cuffs to allow for growth, and legs as for pyjamas. For summer wear elbow sleeves are suitable. It is of the utmost importance that the sleeping suits should be cut very long from shoulder to fork and that ample width and length should be allowed in the seat. Machine sewing is more suitable than hand sewing for sleeping suits.