Mitzel, Claudia

OAKTrust Digital Repository (Texas A&M Univ)

b-II-7,b10",Nt>L·1422CLOTHING FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERSClaudia Mitzel*The first years of a child's life are a time of constantmovement and rapid growth. At each stage ofdevelop-ment there are new skills and activities learned, andspecial requirements for clothing. Comfort, safetyand growth features that will provide protectionand freedom of movement should be consideredin each phase of growth. Other factors importantto parents include durability, convenient dressing,care and economy.Physical Development and Motor SkillsFrom birth until a child's third birthday, physicalgrowth and muscular development are rapidly chang-ing. The child first learns gross movements usinglarge muscle skills and progresses to small musclecoordination. By one year of age most children arecrawling and some are walking. Their boundlessenergy will require clothing that is durable as wellas adaptable to a changing physique.During a child's second year he learns to runand play and will need clothing that does not restrictor hamper his movements. Between a child's secondand third birthdays he begins to learn to dress andundress himself with some help and can name variousgarments. His fine muscle coordination is increas-ing, and he begins to operate zippers and buttons.At the toddler stage a child usually continues towear diapers. His body is rounded with short legsand arms and a head that is large in proportion to therest of the body. As a child leaves the toddler stage,arms and legs lengthen and the torso slims down.Clothes for GrowthInfants and toddlers grow rapidly during theirfirst three years. To help maintain an attractive ap-*Extension consumer information specialist, The Texas A&MUniversity System.3.22pearance and proper fit, well-desjgned clothes havefeatures that allow for some growth. Children'garments designed with growth features may be wornlonger than those without, thus, postponing the neces-sity for n~w clothing purchases. These features in-clude:• Adjustable straps or straps that can be length-ened by moving buttons.• Elastic inserts that provide room for expan-sion.• Knitted or stretch garments that will "give"to allow for growth.ricult ral Ext n io Service. Th T xa A&M University Sy tern. Dani I C. PFann iel, Director. Coli ge Station• Tucks and pleats that can be let out to addlength or width to a garment.• Wide seams at the center back of pants thatcan be let out as needed.• Undefined waistlines in one-piece garments.• Raglan sleeves that do not bind as shouldersbroaden.• Two rows of snaps or buttons to attach topsand bottoms of sleepwear.• Two-piece garments usually provide moreroom for growth than fitted one-piece items.Toddlers can usually express their degree of com-fort more explicitly than an infant, but parents needto check for garments that allow freedom of move-ment, and do not bind or scratch delicate skin. Com-fortable clothes for infants and toddlers:• Have adequate fullness for bending, sitting,stretching and crawling.• Fit smoothly and do not bind or bag.• Hang from the shoulders rather than bindingthe neck.• Are soft and absorbent.• Do not scratch or create a rash.• Cover the feet at night for warmth.Since infants wear diapers constantly, be sure theedges are folded in and do not chafe. Some pre-folded diapers may not fit very large or very smallinfants.Proper FitComfort also depends on proper fit. Clothingthat is too large can hamper freedom of movementas much as garments that are too tight. To selectthe proper size, try the garment on the child beforepurchasing. When this is not possible, buy clothingaccording to the child's weight and measurements;not age. Infants' clothes are sized by height andweight; toddlers, by height, weight, chest and wai t.Toddlers' sizes can be identified by the T followingthe numeral. Toddlers' and children's sizes are oftendesigned for the same body measurement, exceptthat toddlers' sizes allow extra room through the seatand crotch for diapers. For a proper fit, buy the sizethat best corresponds to the child's measurements.Toddlers' Body Measurements By SizeSizes2T 3TComfort FeaturesInfants and toddlers need comfortable clothingthat neither irritates nor binds and provides pro-tection from severe weather. A newborn gives dis-comfort distress signals by crying, perspiring orshivering. Periodic checks on the temperature of aninfant's skin, for rashes and for restricting or bindinggarments will help parents judge their baby's comfort.One rule of thumb is to dress an infant with the samenumber of layers adults are wearing.MeasurementStature - Inches 31Weight - Pounds (approx.) 25Chest 20Waist 2034292120112373422214T403823211/2Infants' Body Measurements By SizeSizesMeasurement 3 mos. 6 mos. 12 mos. 18 mos. 24 mos. 36 mos.Stature - Inches 24 26112 29 31112 34 36112Weight - Pounds 13 18 22 26 29 32Safety FeaturesFor protection, select safe clothing that is suitableto the child's age and stage of development. Forinfants, cleanliness is important to health and safety.Clothing that can be cleaned easily and frequentlyis a good choice. When selecting gowns or kimonos,avoid drawstrings or elastic that tightens around theneck, wrists or ankles. Drawstring closures that tiebeyond the feet are safe to use.As infants develop into toddlers, they becomemore active and spend time playing on the floor.Toddlers may need long pants to protect legs andknees from rough or cold floors. Pants should notbe long enough to trip the child. Cuffs on pants canbe dangerous if caught in tricycle pedals or otherobjects. Look for cuffs that are stitched at the topor select pants without cuffs. Loose sashes or tieson clothing may be caught on play equipment orother objects as children run and jump. Be surethat trims, appliques and other decorative detailsare securely attached and cannot be pulled off andswallowed.All fabric used in infants' and toddlers' sleepwearmust be flame retardant. This protection is enforcedby the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Somestores also offer children's playwear with flameretardant protection.DurabilityClothing durability depends on fabric and work-manship. Infants and toddlers need clothes that aresoft and lightweight, yet durable enough to with-stand frequent washing and wearing. Garments inboth woven and knitted fabrics may be labeled"1 percent maximum shrinkage", "preshrunk", or"colorfast." These terms mean that the fabrics havebeen specially treated to maintain size or color.Check quality of knitted T-shirts, underwear andplay clothes by holding up to the light to detect anyunevenness in fabric or color. Other indicators of goodquality are clothing warranties found on hangtagsor packaging which usually guarantee a garment forone year's normal wear.Sturdy clothes that are well-constructed are mostpractical. Look for these points when shopping forinfants and toddlers clothing:• Seams that do not ravel or pull out.• Snaps with reinforced backing.• Buttonholes that are stitched evenly and donot pull out by a loose thread.• Elastic that is encased.• Buttons that are sewn on securely.• Bar tacks at points of stress such as wherestraps are attached.Since clothing with all of these good points maybe expensive or difficult to find, the homesewer canreinforce seams, stitch bar tacks or resew buttonsto improve the quality and durability of garments.Convenient DressingParents of infants and toddlers usually want cloth-ing that will make dressing and changing their chil-dren quick and easy. Clothes that are simple indesign with few pieces are easiest to take on and off.Most babies do not like to have clothing pulled overtheir heads, so shirts, dresses, sleepers and kimonoswhich fasten all the way down the front are goodchoices. Large or stretchy openings make slip-overgarments easy to handle. Disposable diapers areconvenient, especially for travel. Snap or zippercrotches that open down one or both legs are bestfor quick diaper changes. Easy to operate closuresthat are conveniently located help ease of dressingand encourage independent dressing in toddlers.Care of ClothingTo save time, money and energy, easy-care cloth-ing is a good choice. Labels provide informationon care instructions, fiber content and special fin-ishes. Check for labels that include: "machine wash-able," "permanent press," "soil release," "little orno ironing," "crease resistant," and "stain resistant."Some of the flame retardant fabrics, found in allchildren's sleepwear, require special care and treat-ment to maintain their flame resistant qualities afterwashing. The care labels identify laundry productsor treatments that could adversely affect the flameresistance. Follow the instructions carefully to insureflame resistant protection, after laundering.Consumer Tips for Economy• Consider spending the most money on cloth-ing that is worn and laundered most frequently.• Keep the wardrobe active by only buyinga few garments that are worn often so thatclothes are worn-out by the time they are out-grown.• Consider the number of gifts that may bereceived before buying many garments, espe-cially infant's clothing.• Compare prices and workmanship at chil-dren's shops, department stores and discountstores.• When planning the type of diaper to use,compare costs between cloth diapers washedat home or laundromat, a diaper service anddisposable diapers.• Explore garage sales, used clothing storesor clothing exchange shops for good inexPensiveclothing.• Recycle adult or other children's clothing byremaking or updating with trims, appliques,embroidery and other decorations.References"Blanket Sleepers", Consumer Reports, January 1975.Buying Clothes for Small Children. Kentucky Co-operative Extension Service. H. E. 2-513.Fact Sheet No. 24: Laundering Procedures for FlameResistant Fabrics. U. S. Consumer Product SafetyCommission. June 1975.How to Select Infant's and Children's Clothing. SearsConsumer Information Services, 1971.Jaffe, Hilda. Children's Wear Design. New York:Fairchild Publications, Inc., 1972.Roberts, W. Jeanette. Clothes for Infants and Tod-dlers. Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.Leaflet 510, 1973.Ryan, Mary S. Clothing: A Study in Human Behavior.New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc.,1966.Smart, Mollie S. and Russell Smart. Children. NewYork: Macmillan Publishing Company, Inc.,1972.AcknowledgmentThe author acknowledges the assistance of BeckyCulp, Marlene OdIe, Beverly Rhoades, and Mar-gret Ann Vanderpoorten, Extension clothing special-ists, The Texas A&M University System, in prepara-tion of the manuscript.Educational programs conducted by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service serve people ofall ages regardless ofsocio-economic levels, race,color, sex, religion or national origin.Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, The Texas A&M University System and the United States Department ofAgriculture cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, and June 30, 1914.lOM-5-76 CLO

English

Clothing for Infants and Toddlers.

Texas A&M University

b-II-7,b
10",
Nt>
L·1422
CLOTHING FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS
Claudia Mitzel*
The first years of a child's life are a time of constant
movement and rapid growth. At each stage ofdevelop-
ment there are new skills and activities learned, and
special requirements for clothing. Comfort, safety
and growth features that will provide protection
and freedom of movement should be considered
in each phase of growth. Other factors important
to parents include durability, convenient dressing,
care and economy.
Physical Development and Motor Skills
From birth until a child's third birthday, physical
growth and muscular development are rapidly chang-
ing. The child first learns gross movements using
large muscle skills and progresses to small muscle
coordination. By one year of age most children are
crawling and some are walking. Their boundless
energy will require clothing that is durable as well
as adaptable to a changing physique.
During a child's second year he learns to run
and play and will need clothing that does not restrict
or hamper his movements. Between a child's second
and third birthdays he begins to learn to dress and
undress himself with some help and can name various
garments. His fine muscle coordination is increas-
ing, and he begins to operate zippers and buttons.
At the toddler stage a child usually continues to
wear diapers. His body is rounded with short legs
and arms and a head that is large in proportion to the
rest of the body. As a child leaves the toddler stage,
arms and legs lengthen and the torso slims down.
Clothes for Growth
Infants and toddlers grow rapidly during their
first three years. To help maintain an attractive ap-
*Extension consumer information specialist, The Texas A&M
University System.
3.22
pearance and proper fit, well-desjgned clothes have
features that allow for some growth. Children'
garments designed with growth features may be worn
longer than those without, thus, postponing the neces-
sity for n~w clothing purchases. These features in-
clude:
• Adjustable straps or straps that can be length-
ened by moving buttons.
• Elastic inserts that provide room for expan-
sion.
• Knitted or stretch garments that will "give"
to allow for growth.
ricult ral Ext n io Service. Th T xa A&M University Sy tern. Dani I C. PFann iel, Director. Coli ge Station
• Tucks and pleats that can be let out to add
length or width to a garment.
• Wide seams at the center back of pants that
can be let out as needed.
• Undefined waistlines in one-piece garments.
• Raglan sleeves that do not bind as shoulders
broaden.
• Two rows of snaps or buttons to attach tops
and bottoms of sleepwear.
• Two-piece garments usually provide more
room for growth than fitted one-piece items.
Toddlers can usually express their degree of com-
fort more explicitly than an infant, but parents need
to check for garments that allow freedom of move-
ment, and do not bind or scratch delicate skin. Com-
fortable clothes for infants and toddlers:
• Have adequate fullness for bending, sitting,
stretching and crawling.
• Fit smoothly and do not bind or bag.
• Hang from the shoulders rather than binding
the neck.
• Are soft and absorbent.
• Do not scratch or create a rash.
• Cover the feet at night for warmth.
Since infants wear diapers constantly, be sure the
edges are folded in and do not chafe. Some pre-
folded diapers may not fit very large or very small
infants.
Proper Fit
Comfort also depends on proper fit. Clothing
that is too large can hamper freedom of movement
as much as garments that are too tight. To select
the proper size, try the garment on the child before
purchasing. When this is not possible, buy clothing
according to the child's weight and measurements;
not age. Infants' clothes are sized by height and
weight; toddlers, by height, weight, chest and wai t.
Toddlers' sizes can be identified by the T following
the numeral. Toddlers' and children's sizes are often
designed for the same body measurement, except
that toddlers' sizes allow extra room through the seat
and crotch for diapers. For a proper fit, buy the size
that best corresponds to the child's measurements.
Toddlers' Body Measurements By Size
Sizes
2T 3T
Comfort Features
Infants and toddlers need comfortable clothing
that neither irritates nor binds and provides pro-
tection from severe weather. A newborn gives dis-
comfort distress signals by crying, perspiring or
shivering. Periodic checks on the temperature of an
infant's skin, for rashes and for restricting or binding
garments will help parents judge their baby's comfort.
One rule of thumb is to dress an infant with the same
number of layers adults are wearing.
Measurement
Stature - Inches 31
Weight - Pounds (approx.) 25
Chest 20
Waist 20
34
29
21
20112
37
34
22
21
4T
40
38
23
211/2
Infants' Body Measurements By Size
Sizes
Measurement 3 mos. 6 mos. 12 mos. 18 mos. 24 mos. 36 mos.
Stature - Inches 24 26112 29 31112 34 36112
Weight - Pounds 13 18 22 26 29 32
Safety Features
For protection, select safe clothing that is suitable
to the child's age and stage of development. For
infants, cleanliness is important to health and safety.
Clothing that can be cleaned easily and frequently
is a good choice. When selecting gowns or kimonos,
avoid drawstrings or elastic that tightens around the
neck, wrists or ankles. Drawstring closures that tie
beyond the feet are safe to use.
As infants develop into toddlers, they become
more active and spend time playing on the floor.
Toddlers may need long pants to protect legs and
knees from rough or cold floors. Pants should not
be long enough to trip the child. Cuffs on pants can
be dangerous if caught in tricycle pedals or other
objects. Look for cuffs that are stitched at the top
or select pants without cuffs. Loose sashes or ties
on clothing may be caught on play equipment or
other objects as children run and jump. Be sure
that trims, appliques and other decorative details
are securely attached and cannot be pulled off and
swallowed.
All fabric used in infants' and toddlers' sleepwear
must be flame retardant. This protection is enforced
by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Some
stores also offer children's playwear with flame
retardant protection.
Durability
Clothing durability depends on fabric and work-
manship. Infants and toddlers need clothes that are
soft and lightweight, yet durable enough to with-
stand frequent washing and wearing. Garments in
both woven and knitted fabrics may be labeled
"1 percent maximum shrinkage", "preshrunk", or
"colorfast." These terms mean that the fabrics have
been specially treated to maintain size or color.
Check quality of knitted T-shirts, underwear and
play clothes by holding up to the light to detect any
unevenness in fabric or color. Other indicators of good
quality are clothing warranties found on hangtags
or packaging which usually guarantee a garment for
one year's normal wear.
Sturdy clothes that are well-constructed are most
practical. Look for these points when shopping for
infants and toddlers clothing:
• Seams that do not ravel or pull out.
• Snaps with reinforced backing.
• Buttonholes that are stitched evenly and do
not pull out by a loose thread.
• Elastic that is encased.
• Buttons that are sewn on securely.
• Bar tacks at points of stress such as where
straps are attached.
Since clothing with all of these good points may
be expensive or difficult to find, the homesewer can
reinforce seams, stitch bar tacks or resew buttons
to improve the quality and durability of garments.
Convenient Dressing
Parents of infants and toddlers usually want cloth-
ing that will make dressing and changing their chil-
dren quick and easy. Clothes that are simple in
design with few pieces are easiest to take on and off.
Most babies do not like to have clothing pulled over
their heads, so shirts, dresses, sleepers and kimonos
which fasten all the way down the front are good
choices. Large or stretchy openings make slip-over
garments easy to handle. Disposable diapers are
convenient, especially for travel. Snap or zipper
crotches that open down one or both legs are best
for quick diaper changes. Easy to operate closures
that are conveniently located help ease of dressing
and encourage independent dressing in toddlers.
Care of Clothing
To save time, money and energy, easy-care cloth-
ing is a good choice. Labels provide information
on care instructions, fiber content and special fin-
ishes. Check for labels that include: "machine wash-
able," "permanent press," "soil release," "little or
no ironing," "crease resistant," and "stain resistant."
Some of the flame retardant fabrics, found in all
children's sleepwear, require special care and treat-
ment to maintain their flame resistant qualities after
washing. The care labels identify laundry products
or treatments that could adversely affect the flame
resistance. Follow the instructions carefully to insure
flame resistant protection, after laundering.
Consumer Tips for Economy
• Consider spending the most money on cloth-
ing that is worn and laundered most frequently.
• Keep the wardrobe active by only buying
a few garments that are worn often so that
clothes are worn-out by the time they are out-
grown.
• Consider the number of gifts that may be
received before buying many garments, espe-
cially infant's clothing.
• Compare prices and workmanship at chil-
dren's shops, department stores and discount
stores.
• When planning the type of diaper to use,
compare costs between cloth diapers washed
at home or laundromat, a diaper service and
disposable diapers.
• Explore garage sales, used clothing stores
or clothing exchange shops for good inexPensive
clothing.
• Recycle adult or other children's clothing by
remaking or updating with trims, appliques,
embroidery and other decorations.
References
"Blanket Sleepers", Consumer Reports, January 1975.
Buying Clothes for Small Children. Kentucky Co-
operative Extension Service. H. E. 2-513.
Fact Sheet No. 24: Laundering Procedures for Flame
Resistant Fabrics. U. S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission. June 1975.
How to Select Infant's and Children's Clothing. Sears
Consumer Information Services, 1971.
Jaffe, Hilda. Children's Wear Design. New York:
Fairchild Publications, Inc., 1972.
Roberts, W. Jeanette. Clothes for Infants and Tod-
dlers. Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
Leaflet 510, 1973.
Ryan, Mary S. Clothing: A Study in Human Behavior.
New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc.,
1966.
Smart, Mollie S. and Russell Smart. Children. New
York: Macmillan Publishing Company, Inc.,
1972.
Acknowledgment
The author acknowledges the assistance of Becky
Culp, Marlene OdIe, Beverly Rhoades, and Mar-
gret Ann Vanderpoorten, Extension clothing special-
ists, The Texas A&M University System, in prepara-
tion of the manuscript.
Educational programs conducted by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service serve people ofall ages regardless ofsocio-economic levels, race,
color, sex, religion or national origin.
Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, The Texas A&M University System and the United States Department of
Agriculture cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, and June 30, 1914.
lOM-5-76 CLO


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