Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/747

 719 CHILDRBN .cg^. Bengaline silk, fine cream cloth, or even white corduroy (Fig. i). To make the pelisse about 2^ yards of 44-inch-wide material is needed, and about 7 yards of trimming. The upper part is fitted with a yoke, and the capes are lined. The fronts and lower edge can be ornamented with rows of machine stitching. Dur- ing very warm mornings, for the garden or grounds, a little matinee coat may sometimes be worn, instead of the pelisse. When baby begins to toddle the pelisse is superseded by a little walking coat, sleeved, and with a short cape or large collar (Fig. 2). These little garments are made up in all kinds of light woollen stuffs, such as cashmere, cream cloth, alpaca, etc., and require 2^ to 3 yards of 44-inch-wide material, according to the child's age. For a tiny girl a very useful garment is a Red Riding Hood cape. Made in soft scarlet ripple cloth, with hood complete, it is at once pretty and cosy looking, and is made in very much the same way as the head flannel. A very comfortable outdoor garment for an older baby boy is a knitted or woven coat in scarlet or white wool, the edges bound in silk braid to match (Fig. 3). Baby's Headgfear In choosing this it should be remembered that the anterior fontanel, or space between the bones of the skull, does not properly close till the baby is nearly eighteen months old. Also that the bones of the skull are warm when outside, as from the sun's rays. Then, too, baby's eyes arc in a state of active development, and also need protection from glare. Warm, soft, and cosy hoods arc generally worn in winter, and light, shady hats in summer. Dainty little hoods may be fashioned out of almost any kind of soft material, and may be of the " French " or " Dutch " style (Figs. 4, 5, and 6). For baby boys, wool hats may be obtained. Fig. 6, Aclosc'fittinghood Fig. 7. A shady, light h«t Fig. 3. A knitted coat for a boy, bound with silk braid Figs. 4 and 5. Cosy hoods give the required protection to the head extremely thin. The head, therefore, needs protection, not so much from cold, though it is important that the Uttle ears are kept These being light, shady, and soft, are very comfortable when the child is lying in the pram (Fig. 7). Light felt or pith hats also are excellent, and protect the eyes and front of the head from the sun. The headgear chosen should on no account have any flapping frills or drapery in front. These are very irritating to baby's eyes, and are said to be one cause of strabis- mus, or squint, in young children. Hats and hoods should always be tied on with soft washing ribbon or silk ; on no account should elastic be used. No wires or hard material should be employed in making baby's millinery, and no starch should be used in laundering these items. In choosing hats for baby boys care should be exercised not to have them heavy or ill-fitting. If so, they may rest on the little ears, and push them away from the head. Fig. 8. Woollen combinwioo giving rise to the or overall unsightly outstanding ears so dreaded by careful mothers. Thus the combination garment, or overaU, put on when baby's outing is taken, is absolutely necessary and safe (Fig. 8). The tiny hands should be protected by soft woollen " baby " gloves, without separate fingers, and as baby is apt to shake them off it is a good plan to secure them with a safety-pin to the sleeve of the pelisse. To be continued.