Childrens Clothing Learning Journey

Imagine being wrapped up so that all you can move are your eyes. Imagine boys dressed as girls. Imagine lying face down on the floor with your mother's foot in the middle of your back so that she can lace you tightly into your clothes... Click on steps 1 - 6 to find out more.....

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Childrens clothing learning journey Step 1: Swaddling Babies used to be wrapped up like little parcels in strips of linen. This was called swaddling. It was done to keep the baby warm and for comfort and protection. Babies were swaddled until about 1820. Swaddling garments were usually of linen. A young baby would have a linen nappy (in diaper weave which is why the Americans often call nappies 'diapers') fastened with ties or laces. Then the baby would be dressed in a simple linen shirt and a linen head cap. A 'stayband' or a strip of linen was placed underneath the baby's cap and fastened to the shirt at the shoulders to keep the baby's head straight. Over this outfit a large piece of linen (known as the 'bed') was wrapped around the baby's body to hold its arms at the sides and this was then fastened at the feet with swaddling bands (strips of linen). Often another 'bed' was then wrapped over the top of this one. Sometimes decorative bibs and collars were added. All the baby could do was move its eyes or open its mouth to cry. Do you think a baby would feel frightened that it couldn't move at all?

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