Three points to remember about the baby's cloth ing are that it must be loose, light in weight and of materials that will not irritate the skin. The same weight clothing should be worn indoors both summer and winter. On very hot days the shirt, diaper and dress are sufficient. In cold weather, a light weight knitted shawl or blanket may be used for added warmth. For out of doors in cold weather, a warm cloak, hood and bootees are necessary. Socks or stockings may be worn if needed for warmth but their use is rarely desirable except in very cold weather. The list of articles needed for a layette is as follows: 6 dresses, 6 petticoats without sleeves, 4 shirts, 3 flannel ab dominal bands for the first month, 4 nightgowns, 4 dozen diapers, I wrapper, I cloak, I hood, 4 pairs of socks or stockings, i light weight woollen shawl. The best materials for the dresses are; fine muslin, nainsook or lawn cloth. Do not use lace or em broidery around the neck or cuffs as it is apt to irritate the delicate skin. For the petticoats use a light weight flannel or cotton flannel. Knitted cotton goods is best for the undershirts ; wool is needed only in the coldest climates. The dresses and petticoats should be made twenty inches long from neck to bottom of hem and should be opened all the length of either the back or the front. Both methods of opening have advantages. The full
opening down the back permits the petticoat and dress to be drawn aside when the baby is put into his bed and so prevents soiling of the clothing. When the dress and petticoat open all the way down the front, the entire clothing may be put on as a unit. In this method, the dress is laid out flat on the bed or table with the wrong side up. The petticoat is laid over the dress with its armholes over the armholes of the dress. The sleeves of the undershirt are then drawn through the armholes of both petticoat and dress. The diaper is laid in place on top of the clothing and the abdominal band laid across the top of the diaper and the lower end of the shirt. The baby is then laid on the clothing, the band and diaper fastened in front, the arms drawn through the combined armholes of the shirt, petticoat and dress and the latter fastened in front. With this method of dressing, the baby is not turned at all and is handled only when the arms are being put through the armholes. It has many advantages as a method of dressing as the baby is disturbed so little that digestion is not interfered with, sleep comes more readily and consequently health is markedly improved. (Spe INFANCY.)