Children with osteogenesis imperfecta are frequently affected by warm temperatures and are often bothered by excessive sweating. Lightweight cotton clothing seems to be the most comfortable. Look for clothes with buttons or snaps down the front and at the crotch. Many parents fashion "cast underwear" by placing snaps or Velcro at the crotch of their child's underwear to simplify toileting.

 

Since children with osteogenesis imperfecta generally do not outgrow their clothes as quickly as other children, many parents feel that it helps to increase the child's self esteem to invest in current styles and fashions. A positive self-image for a child with osteogenesis imperfecta is sufficiently difficult without having the child feeling self-conscious about his or her clothes.

 

As with most babies, bath time can be one of your child's favorite activities. Before your child is able to sit unaided, you will probably find it helpful to purchase a molded sponge bathing aid to lie in the bottom of the tub. A popular variety is the kind with the baby-shaped cutout. Once sitting is feasible, there is a helpful aid called a "safety bath ring," which is a circular ring with suction cups that attach to the bathtub floor.

 

It is possible to bathe a baby who is wearing a sling for a fractured arm. Simply leave the sling on during the bath, and replace it with a dry sling after taking the baby out of the tub.

 

Babies who are wearing a cast must have sponge baths. Be very careful not to get the cast wet. Washing hair is most easily accomplished by placing the baby on the countertop next to the sink and supporting the baby's head over the sink. You can then spray or pour water to wash the hair.