When someone makes mention of infant
clothing, our minds usually leap to associations with expectant
mothers in their anticipatory bliss, scouring the racks for cuddly
animal-inspired vestments and the like. But sentimental attachments
aside, there are very good reasons to give much thought to the
wardrobe of your infant: their safety depends upon it. Here are some
basic criteria for ensuring your infant's clothing does not pose them
a safety hazard:

Consider using wearable blankets:
Since you cannot keep your baby warm by draping a blanket over the
child the way you sleep with a blanket over yourself, seek
alternatives that keep your baby warm without the risks of
suffocation: wearable blankets are an excellent solution for this
problem.
Avoid over-dressing your baby:
The temptation with new parents is to err on the side of
over-bundling their children. It's an easy enough mistake to make:
babies look so tiny and helpless, and in need of all the protection
they can get from the outside elements. However, over-dressing your
baby poses a risk of overheating, which could lead
to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The rule of thumb for
deciding just how many layers (and of what material and thickness)
you should be dressing your baby in is this: look at your own
clothing which you have deemed to be comfortable and appropriate for
the day's climate, dress the infant similarly, and add one more layer
to that for the baby.
Steer
clear of embellishments:
Clothing with buttons and loose ornamentation like sequins or bows
should be avoided. Your child will surprise you with how soon he or
she begins to explore and play with their surroundings, and you don't
want to discover this through the nasty surprise of discovering them
choking on an object they loosened from their garments. This does not
mean you must forgo clothing with any semblance of aesthetic appeal,
however. For example, clothing that has embroidered or printed
designs on it is both safe and attractive.
When
possible, opt for fire-retardant clothing: This
is more important with sleepwear, since you may be asleep when your
child is, and may not be alerted to the dangers of a fire until it is
well under way. This is actually much easier than it sounds, and does
not involve seeking out highly specialized products from very limited
sources. In fact, much of baby sleepwear is flame retardant; to learn
if this is the case for a specific item, simply check the label. It
will say that it is if this is the case.
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