The first set of teeth, or milk-teeth as they are called, are twenty in number; they usually appear in pairs, and those of the lower jaw generally precede the corresponding ones of the upper. The first of the milk-teeth is generally cut about the sixth or seventh month, and the last of the set at various periods from the twentieth to the thirtieth months. Thus the whole period occupied by the first dentition may be estimated at from a year and a half to two years. The process varies, however, in different individuals, both as to its whole duration, and as to the periods and order in which the teeth make their appearance. It is unnecessary, however, to add more upon this point.

Their developement is a natural process. It is too frequently, however, rendered a painful and difficult one, by errors in the management of the regimen and health of the infant, previously to the coming of the teeth, and during the process itself.

Thus, chiefly in consequence of injudicious management, it is made the most critical period of childhood. Not that I believe the extent of mortality fairly traceable to it, is by any means so great as has been stated; for it is rated as high as one sixth of all the children who undergo it. Still, no one doubts that first dentition is frequently a period of great danger to the infant. It therefore becomes a very important question to an anxious and affectionate mother, how the dangers and difficulties of teething can in any degree be diminished, or, if possible, altogether prevented. A few hints upon this subject, then, may be useful. I shall consider, first, the management of the infant, when teething is accomplished without difficulty; and, secondly, the management of the infant when it is attended with difficulty.
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Appearance of Milk-Teeth

From the first moment the infant is applied to the breast, it must be nursed upon a certain plan. This is necessary to the well-doing of the child, and will contribute essentially to preserve the health of the parent, who will thus be rendered a good nurse, and her duty at the same time will become a pleasure.

This implies, however, a careful attention on the part of the mother to her own health; for that of her child is essentially dependent upon it. Healthy, nourishing, and digestible milk can be procured only from a healthy parent; and it is against common sense to expect that, if a mother impairs her health and digestion by improper diet, neglect of exercise, and impure air, she can, nevertheless, provide as wholesome and uncontaminated a fluid for her child, as if she were diligently attentive to these important points. Every instance of indisposition in the nurse is liable to affect the infant.

And this leads me to observe, that it is a common mistake to suppose that, because a woman is nursing, she ought therefore to live very fully, and to add an allowance of wine, porter, or other fermented liquor, to her usual diet. The only result of this plan is, to cause an unnatural degree of fulness in the system, which places the nurse on the brink of disease, and which of itself frequently puts a stop to the secretion of the milk, instead of increasing it. The right plan of proceeding is plain enough; only let attention be paid to the ordinary laws of health, and the mother, if she have a sound constitution, will make a better nurse than by any foolish deviation founded on ignorance and caprice.
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ABC of BreastFeeding

Buying baby clothes for you new little one might seem like an easy task . . . until you get into the store and see the incredible range of clothing there is! Baby clothes are a big business and that means you have more options than you can shake a stick at. So, which clothes do you go with? Which ones does your newborn really need? This article will help you sort all this out so you can buy the right layette and get on with enjoying your baby.

Newborns don’t need much clothing, really. They aren’t able to crawl around and get dirty yet, so most of the time you will only be dealing with spit up and leaky diapers. Baby clothes that are soft and comfortable are your first priority and after that, you can worry about durability. The fact of the matter is that babies grow so quickly that they usually only wear their cute little outfits for a month or two before they are on to the next size!

Keeping this in mind, you will want to buy slightly larger baby clothes than your infant needs so he can grow into them. The sizes given on baby clothes are often misleading, there are plenty of outfits that say 12 months and fit a two year old, while some that are supposed to be for six months are already too small for your newborn! The best way to be sure of the fit is to hold the outfit up to the baby’s back and stretch the legs down to see if the length is correct.

Most baby clothing is pretty soft and comfy, but you can double check by running your hand inside the sleepers and jumpers and see if you feel any hard seams or other uncomfortable bits. You also should check to see if the clothing is flame retardant. Although this is the law in many countries, occasionally items come in that are not up to the standards and since this is a safety issue, you should make sure that the clothing you buy is not flammable.

With newborns, you need mostly sleepwear and onesies. Onesies are those little one piece jumpsuits without legs that button in the crotch. They are ideal for hot days when you would rather leave your infant with nothing on. They also serve under regular pajamas to keep the baby extra warm on cold nights. These are possibly the most useful baby clothes in existence, so make sure you get at least six or seven.

Sleepers will also be very handy in these first few months. As will bibs, to keep spit up from dirtying every outfit the baby has in a couple of hours! With just these baby clothes items, you can easily keep your infant clothed for his first quarter year or more.

Although there are a multitude of adorable dresses and coveralls for newborns, you really only need a couple of these for special occasions. They are usually very difficult to put on a newborn and aren’t really necessary.

Buying baby clothes can be a bit intimidating, but if you remember that old saying “less is more” you will be on the right track. There is plenty of time to buy cute outfits for your child once he slows down the growth and can actually wear an outfit for more than a few weeks! For now, go with the minimum and enjoy the easiness of it all!