Dressing

Everyone loves dressing a baby, and your friends and family will all want to buy clothes for your baby as soon as she is born. You are bound to take great pride in her appearance, and might wish to buy some dressy clothes for special occasions, but there's no need to spend a lot of money - she will grow out of clothes very quickly. Remember that as far as your baby is concerned anything goes as long as it's soft and comfortable to wear, and can be put on and taken off without too much disturbance.

Your baby will spit up and drool on her clothes, and there are bound to be acciden ts and leaks from diapers, so buy only machine­ washable, colorfast clothing, and avoid white - it quickly gets dirty, and frequent washing makes it drab.

Look for soft and comfortable clothes with no stiff seams or rough stitching. Toweling, cotton, or pure wool clothes will feel nicer on your baby's skin. If you buy clothes made of artificial fibers, check that they feel soft. By law, sleepwear must be flame retardant. Look for special labeling and washing instructions before buying.

Avoid open-weave knits, because your baby's fingers could get caught in the holes. Check the fastenings, too: snaps in the crotch allow easy access to the diaper area, and snaps at the neck mean your baby won't grow out of something too quickly just because her head is too big for the neck opening. Babies hate having their faces covered, so look for wide necks or clothes that fasten down the front. Front-fastening clothes also allow you to dress your baby without having to turn her over. This will make dressing much more comfortable for her and easier for you.

Make a note of your baby's measurements and bring it with you when you're shopping. Babies of the same age vary a great deal in size, so look at the height and weight given on the label rather than the age. If in doubt, buy the larger size: loose-fitting clothes are warmer and more comfortable than clothes that are too small, and your baby will soon grow into them.

Dressing Your Baby

At first you may be nervous about dressing your baby and trying to support him while manipulating the garments. Dressing will become easier with practice, so just be gentle and patient.

You should always dress and undress a young baby on a nonskid flat surface, as this allows you to keep both hands free - a changing pad is ideal. Your baby is very likely to cry as you take off his clothes. This is because young babies hate the feel of the air on their naked bodies; they like to feel snug and secure. It's not because you're hurting him, so don't get flustered by it.