Get the right stuff
If your baby doesn’t want to get dressed, it has nothing to do with the colour or style of the clothing. You still have the final say – for now. But looks alone should not be the only criteria for choosing clothing. Avoid decorations such as beads, ribbons or strings. They contain unnecessary dangers and should – if you still buy the clothing – be removed before wearing.
Try out clothes that unbutton at the neckline. They are very practical for pulling over small heads. Or try out clothes that can be unbuttoned completely and put on like a vest – no need to pull it over the child’s head. Especially for newborn children, romper suits and body suits are better than shirts and trousers so that things do not slip so easily. Choose the right size. If you plan ahead, then the summer clothes might only fit in the winter. And consider the current temperature. A baby’s clothing should not be too warm to prevent overheating. The hands and feet are not the determining areas, because they often feel cooler even though the body is sufficiently warm. The best place to feel the temperature is between the shoulder blades.
First wash, then wear
A hat – made of wool or cotton, depending on the season – should always be handy, as babies lose most of their warmth via their heads. Use a sunhat in summer. Stock up on shirts or t-shirts, romper and body suits, socks and a jacket right from the start. Your baby will be an expert in increasing the dirty washing mountain. When you are outdoors, it is good to have a light blanket with you – even on warm days – in case it gets cooler or the baby needs protection from the sun.
So, what about chemicals in clothes? Many textiles are treated with chemical additives to make them smoother and easy to maintain or to give them colour. Through the continuous skin contact, these chemicals may enter the baby's body. Children chew on their clothes. Choose clothes that carry the “Oeko-Tex Standard 100” label. They avoid dangerous chemicals and allow only certain limits of critical chemicals. But be sure to wash all new clothes and bedclothes before wearing them – even if they are second-hand. Second-hand clothes are, generally, a good idea. You can swop clothes with friends and relatives. A growing child will make an expensive romper suit useless very quickly.
