Dressing Baby
Dressing baby is a skill that you must acquire, When you start dressing baby, remember that her skin is more sensitive than yours. Light cotton dresses are ideal and comfortable for dressing baby during summer. If the weather is cold, get additional layers of clothes on her. It is a good choice to opt for natural fabrics like cotton and light wool which are soft on your baby's skin.
When dressing your baby, opt for a dress that you can easily put on and take off your little one. A wrap around dress that need not be slipped over the head is the best choice for dressing baby. This also reduces dressing time. However if you prefer dressing baby with a dress that has to be slipped over her head, choose one that has a large neckline. You may consider avoiding dresses with buttons, zips and strings to prevent accidents such as choking.
Usually, babies find the dressing process a big ordeal. To minimise this, maintain skin to skin contact with her as much as possible and try tickling and fondling her stomach in between. While dressing the baby, keep talking to her as you dress her up. Also, do not take a long time in dressing baby. Remember that babies prefer to feel warm and cosy rather than cold. So make sure that the room in which you dress baby is warm and wrap her in a towel. You need not change your baby's clothes every time you notice baby spitting up following or during a feed. You can gently wipe the dirty areas with a warm sponge. Alternatively, you can consider using a bib while feeding her and also when she has a burp.
Babies grow up very fast. She will grow out of her clothes very quickly. Try not to spend too much on baby clothing at this stage. You may consider spending on her other needs.
When dressing baby, remember to support your little one's head till she is about three months old.
5 Steps to Dressing Baby
You can try the following tips for dressing baby:
- Choose the kind of dress for your baby based on the temperature and time of the day. You may also make this choice based on your activities of the day such as if you are taking him out. A general rule of the thumb is to dress her up in one more layer than yourself.
- After you have got her clothes ready along with a fresh diaper if needed, lay the baby on a clean and safe surface.
- Diaper change first to avoid her wetting either the bed or you.
- If you have chosen a one piece dress that slips over her head, stretch the neck of the dress. Support her head with one hand and slip it through the dress. Slowly extend her hands and pull them through the sleeves. Similarly stretch her legs and pass them through the holes in the dress meant for the legs. If you choose a two piece outfit, cover her body before the legs. Also, do not lift both her legs together when dressing her.
- If it is a cold day or you are taking her out, you may consider protecting your little one's feet with stretchable socks or booties and her head with a cap.
Video on Dressing Baby
Shoppers Stop has an exciting range of outfits by Mother Care. They also have separate Mother Care and Gini & Jony outfits for your slightly older prince or princess. That's Cute has rompers, t-shirts and dungrys for your baby boy. Rompers, frocks and girl sets are available for your baby girl.
