History of Children's Clothing

In relation to history children’s clothing is relative new idea.   The


different fashions for children nowadays were none existent until very late


in history.   Children are full of original sin so must be taught to be god


fearing good Christians; hence their growing up was encouraged vigorously .


Children began imitation of adults at an early age.   They were dressed as


adults as soon as possible and encouraged to act mature.


        In Tudor times little is known about children’s lives through records


because not worth recording high enfant mortality rate.   The average age of


death was thirty years old.   At the age of seven to nine children forced


into adult life, so little records are show of children .   There were very


little portraits done for children and what exists show small versions of


adults.


        Babies were normally wrapped in swaddling clothes, they believed that


wrapping babies would protect them from falls and help straighten legs and


spine.   It was also convenient for people to carry the babies around


relatively more safely and if needed they were sometime hung up or a peg.


However, this constricted the baby and was not good for the physical growth.


They were some that even died of convulsions.   These clothes were about six


inches wide and ten to twelve feet long .   Supposedly the tighter a child


was wrapped the better arms were frequently bond as well.


        Children are kept in these swaddling clothes until they are taught to use


their limbs .   Teaching them is at the caretaker’s discretion and not


depending on the baby’s readiness, babies wore these clothes from six months


to one year.   The child was about to move their limbs when their clothes


were changed, for example, when babies soiled themselves.


        As time progress swaddling clothes...