Hi Kristen,

At the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, we have 'baby binders'.  My colleague
Martha Sear is curating a Powerhouse exhibition called 'Births of a Nation:
Women, Childbirth and Federation' about women's experiences of childbirth
around the time of Australia's Federation (when the formerly British
colonies united to become a nation) in 1901.  She gave me the following
information:

Oral history references show the term 'baby binders' in use in rural
Australia through late 19th & early 20th century.   Those in the Powerhouse
collection are long, rectangular pieces of fabric which were wrapped around
the baby's tummy to protect the belly button and keep the back straight.
They are about 15-30cm wide, 1m-2m long.

Umbilical trusses (a leather harness with a circular pad at the belly
button) were used to treat umbilical hernias. These can be seen in medical
instrument catalogues.  Babies' and children's corsets were also available
to keep the spine straight. These can be seen in general clothing and
corsetry catalogues.

Philip E. Muskett's guide, The Feeding and Management of Australian Infants
in Health and Disease (8th edition c. 1905), notes that a 'flannel bandage
should be worn over the belly till the child is twelve months old at least,
and in weakly children it may be continued longer with advantage.' (p. 31).
These were sometimes sewn on. He advised that they should be wide enough to
cover the whole stomach from the hips to the waist and long enough to go
twice around the body. It should be cut on the cross to add elasticity. He
argued they kept the baby warm as well as protecting the navel and
strengthening the back.

There will be two baby binders on display in 'Births of a Nation'.  One made
by a woman living in a country town and worn by each of her six children,
born between 1900 and 1918.  The other was worn by three babies born in
Balmain, Sydney, between 1907 and 1912.

The closest Nomenclature terms I can find are:

Tape, umbilical (Medical & Psychological T & E)
Layette (Clothing -- Outerwear)
and
Binder (Clothing -- Underwear)

Hope this helps.  If you would like more information you're welcome to
contact us.

Barbara Palmer
Assistant Registrar (Collection Information System)
Powerhouse Museum, Sydney
[log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: Kristen Stalling [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, 25 April 2001 12:13
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Belly Button Wrap


     Does anyone know the name (either common or Nomenclature) for the
     piece of cloth that was wrapped around a baby to protect its belly
     button during healing? This was done up to the middle of the 20th
     century.
     Thanks,
     Kristen Stalling
     Harry S Truman NHS

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