A layette is a collection of
clothing and accessories for a
newborn child. The term "layette set" is commonly used in
the United States to refer to sets of
baby clothes
''Baby Clothes'' is a 1926 American short silent comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 49th ''Our Gang'' short subject released.
Cast
* Joe Cobb as Joe
* Jackie Condon as Jackie
* Mickey Daniels as Mickey
* Johnny Downs as Joh ...
. In the 1920s, expectant mothers or their friends and relatives frequently knitted a matching layette set, consisting of a blanket, hat, sweater and booties. That tradition has continued to the present day.
Traditionally, women would often hand-
sew or
knit their baby's clothes during their
pregnancy. Today "layette" is often used to identify a baby clothing section of a store. The term can also be used for
bedding, accessories, and baby care items.
Basic layette
Although there is no strict definition of the items included in a layette,
basic layette items often include:
*a going-home-from-the-hospital (or
birth center) outfit
*legless sleepwear (sleeping gowns /
kimono /
sleeping bags
A sleeping bag is an insulated covering for a person, essentially a lightweight quilt that can be closed with a zipper or similar means to form a tube, which functions as lightweight, portable bedding in situations where a person is sleeping o ...
/ newborn sacques /
blanket sleeper
The blanket sleeper (also known by many other synonyms and trade names) is a type of especially warm sleeper or footie pajama worn primarily during the winter in the United States and Canada. The garment is worn especially by young children.
...
s) or footed sleepers
*
onesies
An infant bodysuit or onesie (American English) is a garment designed to be worn by babies much like a T-shirt; they are distinguished from T-shirts by an extension below the waist, with snaps that allow it to be closed over the crotch. The purp ...
(short-sleeved, legless bodysuits) / all-in-ones /
rompers / coveralls
*
undershirts
An undershirt in American English (vest in British and South African English, banyan in the Indian Subcontinent, or singlet in Australia and New Zealand), is an article of underwear worn underneath a dress shirt (or sometimes T-shirt) intended to ...
/
T-shirts
*
receiving blankets
*
swaddling blankets
*hooded towels
*baby washcloths
*
cloth diapers (nappies)
*socks /
bootee
A bootee (also bootie or booty) is a short soft sock or bootlike garment used for warmth or protection. Bootees for babies are usually thick and knitted, to keep the baby's feet warm. Dog booties for dogs such as sledge dogs in very cold Arctic ...
s
*hats / beanies / sweaters / bunting (depending on the climate)
*burp cloths (cloth diapers are often recommended)
*
Scratch mitt
Scratch or scratching may refer to:
Science and technology
* Scratch (programming language), an educational programming language developed by MIT Media Lab
* Scratch space, space on the hard disk drive that is dedicated for only temporary stora ...
s
*Vests
*
baby rattles
*
teethers
*
pacifiers (dummies)
*
baby bottles
See also
*
Maternity package
Further reading
*
Baby care for health and comfort' (c1944). Bureau of Educational Services, Byron G. Moon Company. Poster 65 x 51 cm.
National Library of Medicine accession number: 04-08.
References
{{Reflist
Infants' clothing