wear, usually a small jacket, cap, mittens, or socks, was made from the thinnest skins available: fetal or newborn caribou, crow, or marmot. The Qikirtamiut of the Belcher Islands in Hudson Bay sewed bonnets for their infants from the delicate neck and head skins of eider ducks. Children's clothing was similar in function to adult clothing, but typically made of softer materials like caribou fawn, fox skin, or rabbit. Once children were old enough to walk, they would wear a one-piece suit called an , similar in form to a modern blanket sleeper. This garment had attached feet and often mittens as well, and unlike an adult's trousers, it opened at the crotch to allow the child to relieve themselves. Many of these suits had detached caps, which could be tied down with fringe to prevent them from getting lost. The hood shape and position of decorative flourishes on these suits differentiated between genders. As children aged, they gradually transitioned into more adult-like garments. Older children wore outfits with separate parkas and trousers, although boots were generally sewn directly to the trousers. for female children often had small , and they sometimes carried younger siblings in them to assist their mother. Clothing for girls and boys changed at puberty; in eastern Greenland, for example, both received , or under-breeches, to mark the transition. In general, when girls reached puberty, tails were made longer, and the hood and were enlarged to indicate fertility. Hairstyles for pubescent girls also changed to indicate their new status. Materials Because the Arctic climate is not suitable for cultivating the plants and animals that produce most textiles, Inuit made use of fur and skins from local animals. The most common sources of hide for Inuit clothing are caribou and seals, caribou being preferred for general use. Historically, seabirds were also an important source for clothing material, but use of seabird skins is now rare even in places where traditional clothing is still common. Less commonly used sources included bears, dogs, foxes, ground squirrels, marmots, moose, muskoxen, muskrats, whales, wolverines, and wolves. The use of these animals depended on location and season. When compared to caribou and seal, other skins often had major drawbacks such as fragility, weight, or hair loss, which precluded their more common use. Traditionally, all clothing material was obtained from hunting and hand-prepared, but today, many seamstresses also make use of materials purchased