In Ancient Times
People used materials like animal skins and leaves to make simple clothing for infants and toddlers, mainly serving the purposes of keeping warm and covering their bodies. These materials were sourced locally, and the production techniques were extremely simple.
In the Ancient Period
- In Terms of Materials: Gradually, textile materials such as hemp, cotton, and silk emerged. Hemp fabric made from hemp fibers was breathable, durable, and affordable. Cotton fabric woven from cotton was warm, soft, and comfortable. Silk was soft, smooth, and brightly colored, and it was often used to make dresses for children from wealthy families or girls.
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In Terms of Styles:
- Swaddling Clothes: It was a way of wrapping babies with cloth. Usually, the baby's body was wrapped tightly to provide warmth and a sense of security, limit the baby's movements, and make it easier to take care of them.
- Bellybands: Their main function was to protect the baby's abdomen from getting cold or injured. They were usually made of natural materials like pure cotton and hemp. Their shapes were relatively simple, including rectangular and diamond shapes, and they were fixed at the neck and waist with cloth straps or silk ropes.
- Hundred-Family-Clothes: Parents often asked for pieces of cloth from various families to make "Hundred-Family-Clothes" for their children, believing that it could bring blessings from a hundred families and keep the children healthy with fewer illnesses and disasters.
- Liangdang (a kind of sleeveless close-fitting top): It was a sleeveless close-fitting top, similar to modern vests, which could be worn by people of all ages and genders, including children.
- Open-Crotch Pants: Their history can be traced back to ancient times. For young children who lacked the ability to take care of themselves, wearing open-crotch pants was convenient for them to relieve themselves.
- In Terms of Cultural Symbolism: They were often embroidered with auspicious patterns and characters, such as dragons, phoenixes, unicorns, lotuses, peonies, fish, and bats, symbolizing good fortune, wealth, happiness, and longevity. In some special occasions, the colors and patterns of children's clothing also had symbolic meanings. For example, red represented festivity and good fortune, while blue represented calmness and steadiness.
In the Modern Period
- Influence of Western Culture: With the invasion of Western powers and the spread of Western culture, some Western styles of infants' and toddlers' clothing and production techniques were introduced into China, such as Western-style dresses, overalls, and baby hats, enriching the variety of Chinese infants' and toddlers' clothing.
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Driven by the Industrial Revolution: The development of the textile industry made the production of fabrics more large-scale and diversified. More types of cotton fabrics, gauze, and blended fabrics emerged, providing a richer selection of materials for infants' and toddlers' clothing. Meanwhile, the appearance of new production tools like sewing machines improved the production efficiency and quality of clothing, making the production of infants' and toddlers' clothing more standardized and normalized.
In the Contemporary Era
- Innovation in Fabrics: Besides traditional pure cotton fabrics, many new types of fabrics have emerged, such as bamboo fiber, tencel, and Modal. These fabrics have better breathability, moisture absorption, softness, and antibacterial properties, which can better meet the needs of infants and toddlers.
- Diverse Styles: There are baby zip growsuit, two-piece sets, diaper covers, sleeping bags, etc., which meet different scenarios and needs. The design of infants' and toddlers' clothing pays more attention to fashion and individuality, incorporating various popular elements, such as cartoon patterns, animal shapes, and fashionable color combinations. Meanwhile, more attention is also paid to detail design, such as the design of collars, cuffs, and hems, to increase the aesthetics and comfort of the clothing.
- Equal Emphasis on Safety and Function: There are increasingly high requirements for the safety of infants' and toddlers' clothing. The contents of harmful substances such as formaldehyde and dyes in clothing are strictly controlled to avoid harming the skin and health of infants and toddlers. Some functional designs have also been added, such as waterproof, windproof, sun-proof, and mosquito-proof functions, to adapt to different environments and needs.
- Integration of Environmental Protection Concepts: More attention is paid to environmental protection and sustainable development. Environmental protection materials and green production methods are adopted to reduce the impact on the environment. For example, the use of organic cotton and recycled fibers is gradually increasing.
