clothes, when the infant is carried about, to reach to the ground, is
foolish and cruel in the extreme. I have seen a delicate baby almost
ready to faint under the infliction. (2.) _It should be warm_,
without being too warm. The parts that ought to be kept warm are the
chest, the bowels, and the feet. If the infant be delicate, especially
if he be subject to inflammation of the lungs, he ought to wear a fine
flannel, instead of his usual shirts, which should be changed as
frequently. (3.) _The dress should be loose_, so as to prevent any
pressure upon the blood-vessels, which would otherwise impede the
circulation, and thus hinder a proper development of the parts. It
ought to be loose about the chest and waist, so that the lungs and the
heart may have free play. It should be loose about the stomach, so
that digestion may not be impeded; it ought to be loose about the
bowels, in order that the spiral motion of the intestines may not be
interfered with--hence the importance of putting on a belly-band
moderately slack; it should be loose about the sleeves, so that the
blood may course, without let or hindrance, through the arteries and
veins; it ought to be loose, then, everywhere, for nature delights in
freedom from restraint, and will resent, sooner or later, any
interference. Oh, that a mother would take common sense, and not
custom, as her guide! (4.) _As few pins_ should be used in the
dressing of a baby as possible. Inattention to this advice has caused
many a little sufferer to be thrown into convulsions.

The generality of mothers use no pins in the dressing of their
children; they tack every part that requires fastening with a needle
and thread. They do not even use pins to fasten the baby's
diapers. They make the diapers with loops and tapes, and thus
altogether supersede the use of pins in the dressing of an infant.
The plan is a good one, takes very little extra time, and deserves to