The best method of fastening is by a lace, since this admits of making one part of the upper tight and another part loose, according to circumstances.

Elastic fastenings, as in so-called congress shoes, are not good for children; and when buttons are used, the nurse must not necessarily leave them in the position fixed by the shoemaker, but move one or more as the size of the ankle demands.

The thickness of the soles depends upon the age of the child. Before walking is attempted, they may be thin, flexible, and of uniform thickness from heel to toe; afterward they should be made heavier and more resisting, in order to protect the tender feet, and should be decidedly thicker at the heel, that this part of the foot may be elevated. A clear-cut heel, however, as in boots adapted for adults, is not to be recommended in children's shoes before the age of six or eight years.

Sometimes a careful mother may notice that, for a short time after stockings and shoes are put upon her baby, the feet are cooler than before. Undue pressure about the ankle, with consequent interference with the blood circulation in the feet, is the cause of this, and the remedy is to remove occasionally the coverings, chafe the feet into warmth, and see that the shoe-top is not so tightly laced or buttoned as to constrict the. ankle.

So far, all that has been said of the clothing after shortening refers to the day and house garments. It remains now to consider the night dress and the extra wraps to be worn out of doors.

At bedtime, all the clothing worn during the day being removed, the baby is washed, and after the application of a fresh napkin and binder, is ready for the night dress. This consists of a shirt and a special gown. The shirt should be of flannel or merino, a light gauze in summer and a heavier material in winter; its pattern may be the same as that worn by day, though its texture ought to be a trifle lighter. The best pattern of a winter nightgown is a long, plain slip, with a drawing string at the bottom, to prevent exposure of the feet and limbs, should the child kick off the bed covering during sleep. It ought to be made of flannel, or the more easily washed Canton flannel. In summer, a loose muslin slip of the same design, but without the drawing string, may be worn. There is even more temptation by night than by day to use a rubber cloth over the napkin, to protect the body and bed clothing, but never do this.

It is a good plan to provide the child with a flannel garment corresponding to the dressing gown of the adult, and with a pair of bedroom shoes. The latter are composed of soft leather or felt soles and knitted uppers, and are fastened around the ankle by a soft elastic. Both of these will be found useful in the many occasions when the child has to be taken up at night.

When dressing a child for exercise in the open air in cold weather, do not put on the extra outer clothing until immediately before leaving the house, and remove it directly on returning. A long cloak, with or without capes, according to the degree of cold, and a pair of long, warm leggings, constitute the extra covering for the body. Protect the head, in winter, by a close-fitting thick cap; the hands, by worsted gloves or mittens.

In summer the child may go out of doors in the same dress worn in the house, the head being protected from the direct rays of the sun by a broad-brimmed, light straw hat.

Every mother must decide for herself when her child is to doff the costume of babyhood and assume that of the boy or girl. There are two points that must always be considered, however, namely, the time of dispensing with the napkin and with the abdominal belt. Abandon the napkin, and substitute ordinary drawers, as soon as the child can be trusted to make known the calls of nature - a period that varies considerably with the care and skill in training. The binder, as already indicated, should always be worn until about the end of the second year.

In clothing the boy or girl, be particular to secure warmth, freedom of movement and cleanliness. The first is accomplished by enveloping the whole body - no matter what the season - in woolen underclothing. This means high-neck and long-sleeve flannel shirts and flannel drawers extending down to the ankles. It is hardly necessary to mention that the thickness of these garments must vary with the seasons, but it is quite worth while insisting upon woolen undergarments, except during the very excessively hot days of midsummer. This provision being made, and the shape of the shoes and stockings* looked into, it matters little what may be the fancy of the mother in regard to outer clothing. While securing warmth, we must not go to the other extreme and burden the child with underwear so heavy that constant perspiration is produced. The risk of this is great during the winter in the, so often, over-heated city house, and it is much better to select underclothing of just sufficient weight to keep the skin warm without over-activity, depending upon thick overcoats and wraps to conserve the body temperature when out-of-doors. Again it must be remembered that there are a few children who cannot comfortably wear woolen underclothing on account of a very sensitive or a very active skin. These either suffer from irritation rashes or, having a constantly moist surface, are readily chilled in passing from warm rooms to a cool outdoor air, and do much better when clothed with some other material, as linen-mesh or cotton stockinet.

* It is impossible for either a stocking or shoe to fit accurately unless the toe-nails be kept in good order. In cutting the toe-nails there is, as in every other affair of life, a right and a wrong way. Cut the nail directly across, without rounding the corners. Should the latter be done, the nail is apt to grow into the flesh and give suffering to the child and work to the surgeon.

Freedom of movement refers not only to the limbs, but to the chest and abdomen, which should never be constricted, lest the important organs they contain be crippled in their action. Loose-fitting clothes accomplish this object; but it is to be understood that looseness or ease in fit does not necessarily imply that the dress must be awkward, ill-fitting, and a source of mortification to the wearer. On the contrary, clothes must be easy and yet well cut and stylish.

To be clean, the child must have a plentiful supply of clothing, so that changes may be made as frequently as required. Clean, cheap clothes look much better than soiled finery.

The night dress or a child five or six years old consists, during winter, of a light, high-neck and long-sleeve merino shirt and night drawers of Canton flannel; in summer, of a gauze undershirt, with short sleeves and muslin night drawers.

Cold weather calls for a warm overcoat, hat, mittens, and leggings, or rubber boots in wet -or snowy weather, when the child leaves the warmth of the house. Should the cold be so great as to necessitate ear tabs and a neck wrap for protection, a child under six years is better off in the nursery.

As to rainproof clothing - and our climate calls often for both rubber boots and a long mackintosh - it must be remembered that such coverings, while impervious to moisture from without, are no more pervious to body moisture or, in other words, to perspiration, which secretion they encourage by their warmth. Of course, when perspiration is retained, the underclothing becomes moist, and there is a great risk of surface chilling and consequent catarrh. Therefore, it is a good plan, when waterproof garments have been worn for any length of time, to take off the underclothing as soon as shelter is reached, to rub the surface into a glow with a coarse towel and then redress the child.

Before concluding this chapter, let me advise that the change from winter to spring or summer clothing be not made at any fixed date, under the supposition that it is the time to change, and the weather should be warm, whether it is or not. In our Eastern climate it is unusual to have settled, warm weather until June. May has a certain number of warm days, but they are quickly followed by cooler ones. Consequently the safe plan is to keep on the winter flannels until hot weather surely sets in, changing, in the meanwhile, the outer clothing to suit each day.