All that is required in a band, is a soft piece of flannel, six or eight inches wide, with the edge turned over, once only, on the right side, and catch-stitched down. These are to be worn only until the navel cord is detached and the stump healed, then what is worn over the shoulders and legs is sufficient for the abdomen, hence no band is needed for warmth. Next in the Gertrude garments is the substitute for the pinning blanket, which is no pinning blanket at all, but a simple little garment, long-sleeved, high-necked, and cut in one piece, like the outer garment or slip. I would suggest but one change in this, and for what I consider a good and sufficient reason. If the little pinning-blanket, of the Gertrude pattern, is soiled, both that and all the outer garments must be removed when the change is made, which may be necessary more than once a day. The soft wool shirts, that are found in all first-class stores, I always recommend, and to take the place of the skirt part of the little gabrielle described above, I fashion a pinning blanket as follows: Procure Shaker flannel—half wool and half cotton, as by this material shrinkage is avoided—that is as nearly a yard square as possible, cut off one corner, making the bias edge of the triangular piece cut off about eighteen inches long; face the edge from which the corner has been cut, with a bias piece of the flannel an inch and a half wide, turning it over on the right side. Turn over the remaining sides of the blanket on the right side, cross-stitching it down neatly, and you have the little garment complete. After you have put on the band, diaper and shirt, place the middle of the faced edge of the pinning blanket at the middle of the back of the shirt, at the waist line and secure it with a tiny safety pin; lap the two ends at the front and pin them, and then see how beautifully the two side corners lap over the feet, and the lower corner, when brought up and pinned loosely, that ample room be given the legs to stretch out and move about at will, encases the abdomen and legs of the baby in a smooth soft covering, guiltless of seam or gather. When this is soiled it is a small matter to change it compared with changing the skirt and slip of the Gertrude costume. Over these for the first weeks all that is needed is a linen lawn slip, twenty-seven inches in length from shoulders to bottom of hem, if it be summer, or a wrapper of French flannel or outing flannel if it be winter. Dressed in this simple and unencumbered manner, the little one will sleep and wake, and eat and sleep again, stretching itself in happy content, and growing as nature intended it should in unconstrained freedom. Three each of shirts and bands, and a half dozen each of the little pinning blankets and slips, a dozen and a half of the small diapers, and one or two squares of flannel to wrap the baby in when taken from the bed, will furnish the baby’s wardrobe well and amply for the first few months.