Clothing
Children with OI 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.

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

Handling
Common sense is the best guide when handling a child with OI. Remember that the bones are very fragile and can break with little or no pressure. Be especially careful of the long bones in the body, i.e., the arms, legs, and ribs. You should not lift your baby under the armpits or pull on his or her arms or legs.

When you change diapers, lift the baby by the buttocks, not by the ankles as is customarily done. Spread your fingers apart as far as possible, and put your hand under the buttocks with your forearm under the baby's legs to prevent them from dangling. To lift the baby onto your shoulder or carry the baby, use the same technique, but with one hand placed behind the head and the other behind the buttocks, again with fingers spread as far as possible.

When lifting or moving your child, be careful that little fingers and toes do not get caught on the clothing you are wearing, such as shirts or blouses that button down the front.

Many parents find it helpful to insert a piece of egg crate foam rubber or a thick piece of foam rubber into a pillow-case, and to use this aid to transport the baby. Some parents use a pillow. This type of support can also be used as a base when holding the baby. When a child has a painful fracture, it is usually best to avoid lifting or moving him or her as much as possible.

After some degree of healing occurs, the fracture will be less painful, and moving your child will be easier. Unfortunately, leaving your child in one position for a long time can cause skin rashes and sores. Putting a child in different positions not only prevents these problems, but also helps the child develop different sets of muscles, which is important for later mobility.