Clothes Make The Baby
Have you ever tried to buy baby clothes and found that although the sales assistant insists that a certain article is perfect for a newborn, when you take it home it is either too small or too big?
Unfortunately, sales training is not yet developed in this country and often shoppers are left to their own devices.
Penina Segal of Segal, a baby store in Jerusalem that supplies baby clothing countrywide, suggests that a shopper who is unsure of what she really needs shop around before buying anything.
Segal also says that any customer can come in and ask for an explanation on any item without needing to buy a thing.
Sizes
A good idea is to start by telling the sales assistant whether the child was undersized or oversized at birth. If you are buying for a newborn, there is a large selection of tiny clothes, but be careful not to purchase those especially made for preemies.
Remember that babies grow at an alarming rate, so what could fit them today may not next week. Also, keep in mind that they are not yet fashion conscious, although you may be.
Stretch bodysuits, generally made of terry cloth, are the most practical for the first few months, as they can start out loose and end up fitting snugly and still be comfortable. If necessary, you can cut off the feet rather than let a bigger baby wear a garment that will force his/her legs to stay in a semi-curled position.
At Segal, baby clothes are marked according to months: zero to three months; three to six months and six to nine months. According to Segal, a three-month-old will wear a 60-cm. garment; a six-month-old will wear 66 cm. and a nine-month-old baby will wear 70 cm.
A general guide to larger sizes at Segal is: No. 2 for 12-18 months; No. 3 for 18-24 months; No. 4 for two to two- and-a-half years; No. 5 for two-and-a-half to three; No. 6 for three to three-and-a-half; No. 7 for three-and-a-half to four and No.8 for four years old.
If you really haven't a clue, try to take your baby with you, when possible, so you can judge whether he is of average size or requires a larger fitting. Generally, it is safer to buy one size larger, unless your child is obviously small. Segal says that her store will exchange garments if the size is wrong. Check this out before you make a purchase.
At Shilav, the basic items for babies are marked by height and weight on the outside of the packaging. There is the newborn size; the newborn to three months; three to six months; six to 12 months; 12-18 months and 18-24 months. For older babies and toddlers, the sizes are marked according to age, such as No. 2 for two years old, No. 3 for three years old and so forth.
Comfort
Unless you need to show off your child in fancy gear for grandparents or a special outing, you should always think of comfort first.
Babygrows (or sleeper suits) are the best buy. If your child is born in the summer, then you can go for full-body undervest which leave the arms and legs free. Look for items with loose necks. The "envelope cut" allows the child's head to slip in easily, but reverts to a closed shape when it is on.
Snaps are better than zippers that can get stuck, catch some of your child's skin or even break. At any rate, you need openers between the legs.
Material
Go for natural fibers, such as cotton, and keep far away from anything synthetic. Synthetic fibers can cause rashes and make it difficult to judge your baby's body temperature because they produce heat.
Cheap acrylic socks may seem less expensive but are more expensive in the long run, as you will have to replace them more often. They will shrink upon washing and are more likely to tear. Socks for the older baby should be bought without seamed toes and heels, so they will last longer. A good tip is to stick to one color or pattern, so as to not end up with lots of cute singles.
When your baby is a little bigger, you can go for elastic waistbands but make sure that the elastic is not too tight. Having a sales assistant stretch the garment out for you to show how big it can become is no use because once on the child it will just go back to a too-snug fit.
Baby jeans are only practical if, in addition to all the other buttons and hooks, they can be undone from the bottom to allow for diaper changing.
Scratch protection
New babies can have long fingernails, and many parents are afraid to cut these in the first few weeks. To prevent scratching, many baby garments have an extra fold at the end of the arm that can be pulled down over the child's hands while he/she sleeps.
Colors
There are no longer any hard-and-fast color rules, such as blue for boys and pink for girls. It really depends on the color preferences of the parents. "Some like pastels and others go for strong colors," says Segal.
Presents
Practicality is a important factor when buying presents. A delightful raincoat may catch your eye and you could calculate that the baby will be three months old by the time the rainy season starts. But stop and think. What three-month-old baby is going to be wearing a raincoat? Many parents will be glad for items that they can use next year.
Socks and hats are always good ideas.
Washing
Check the manufacturer's instructions before washing. Try to buy clothes that can be machine washed, as this is much more convenient and generally gets out more dirt than hand washing.
It is recommended to wash baby's clothes even before putting them on your child for the first time.
Socks
* Soak dirty socks in a solution of water and baking soda before washing.
* Brighten white cotton socks by boiling them in water with some lemon juice.
* When machine washing, try and keep socks together in a netting bag or a baby's pillow case, so that they do not get lost.
Stains
* Put really dirty clothes into a bucket of warm water and detergent for a couple of hours before washing.
* Instead of bleach you can add vinegar to the water.
* Spray the stained area with a prewash-stain remover before putting the item into the washing machine. This is useful for food stains which occur around the neck and front of the garment.
* Banana stains are the nastiest and can ruin an otherwise perfectly good outfit. Try to wash the stain immediately. If you can't, soak the garment in a soap-and- water solution then rinse well.
Detergent and softener
Many mothers recommend using a non-biological perfume- free detergent such as Tinokleen. Be careful with fabric softeners, a very sensitive baby could be allergic to some of the ingredients. Stay away from the conditioning sheets that can be added to the dryer, as these coat the clothing and can produce rashes.
Drying
Tumble drying is the best way to ensure soft clothes. If you don't have a tumble dryer, dry the clothes outdoors, as clothes dried inside tend to become hard and stiff.