Dressing
Once your baby has learned to crawl he’ll be far less willing to sit or lie still while you dress him. On the other hand, he is now much more able to help you as you put on his clothes. For example, an 11-month-old baby can make a fist or stretch out an arm, if you ask him to, or hold his arm still while you pull his sleeve into place. If he’s very restless you can sing a song to him or engage his attention with a toy, or involve him in the whole dressing process by naming each item of clothing as you put it on or take it off, and getting him to repeat the names after you, for example. You could also turn dressing into a peek-a-boo game: ”Where’s baby’s foot? Oh, look, here it is!”
Here are some tips for dressing your baby if it’s difficult to get him to hold still:
- Stand him between your legs so that he’s immobiliied while you pull up his pants.
- Sit him in his high chair so that you can put on his shoes.
- You can make a game out of putting on his shoes by placing them at the bottom of the stairs and getting him to step down into them carefully while you steady him.
Choosing Clothes
Now that your baby is more active, you will need to look for clothes that allow easy movement. He ,will be awake longer, and moving around, so his clothes are more likely to get dirty and you’ll there-fore need more of them. You’ll also have to consider whether they are tough enough for the wear and tear that your child will give them: look for sturdy fabrics that last well and strong fastenings that won’t break or fall off. If your baby is crawling, make sure his clothes protect his knees. Once he begins to walk he’ll need shoes.
When you’re buying baby clothes, check the label to see what kind of material they are made from. Natural fibers are both strong and comfortable, so look for pure cotton or a fabric with a high cotton content. Toweling, denim, and corduroy are all strong and hard wearing. Look, too, for clothes that can be easily pulled down or up once your child is learning how to use the potty, and avoid zippers or complicated fastening; elastic waists are by far the easiest for him to manage.
Until he’s walking, socks or woolen bootees are all your baby needs, even when he’s crawling. Fabric bootees with elastic at the ankles stay on better. Ensure there’s plenty of room for movement; the bones in your baby’s feet are so soft and pliable that even tightly fitting socks could misshape the toes if worn regularly.
