Little Autumn Adventures: Dressing Your Baby or Toddler for the Season
I love this time of year. There is something about the start of autumn that makes me want to dig out the cosy jumpers, get outside for a walk and enjoy those first few weeks before the weather gets really cold and wet!
And after teaching baby and toddler classes for many years, I know October is also when the little autumn outfits start appearing.
I love seeing what the children arrive wearing to classes. The tiny knitted jumpers, dungarees, woodland prints and all those gorgeous warm autumn colours. Add in the autumn-themed baby groups, brunches and trips to the pumpkin patch popping up across Solihull, Birmingham and South Warwickshire and there are plenty of opportunities to embrace the season.
But that doesn’t mean buying a whole new wardrobe.
Start with what you already have
Have a rummage through your little one’s wardrobe first. Dungarees over a cream, green or rust-coloured top can suddenly look very autumnal, and adding tights and a cardigan can give a favourite summer dress a few more weeks of life.
If you’re hoping for a lovely autumn photograph, the surroundings will do quite a lot of the work for you too. A favourite jumper, a woolly hat and a pile of colourful leaves may be all you need.
Children grow so quickly that I’m also a big fan of passing clothes around. Ask friends or family what they have tucked away, or have a look on Vinted and local parent groups. We even have Kids2Kids Preloved in Solihull Lodge, which is a great local option for preloved children’s clothes.
Adding a little bit of autumn
If you do want to add something new, I’d look for something that will earn its place in their wardrobe rather than an outfit that only works for one autumn photograph.
A chunky cardigan, knitted jumper, dungarees or a cosy hat can give you the autumn look but still be worn week after week. And you really don’t need to spend a fortune. The children’s ranges at Tesco F&F, George at Asda and Sainsbury’s Tu are always worth a look when you’re doing the food shop. I’ve already spotted some lovely autumn colours and knits appearing this year.
If you fancy something a little more special, have a browse in John Lewis Solihull, M&S or one of our independent children’s shops. I love the idea of buying one lovely piece and then mixing it with clothes they already have.
And don’t feel you have to stick to oranges and pumpkins. Browns, greens, creams, mustard, checks, woodland prints and denim all give that lovely autumn feel without looking as though you’ve dressed them specifically for one occasion.
Where are you going to wear it?
This is probably the best bit, because there is so much going on locally once autumn arrives.
Lots of the Mama groups and parent communities I work alongside across Solihull, Birmingham and South Warwickshire are planning autumn get-togethers, brunches and seasonal sessions. They are looking popular already this year, so have a look at what your favourite local group is doing and book early if there is something you particularly fancy.
Then there are the pumpkin patches. Newlands Bishop Farm in Solihull, Becketts Farm at Wythall, Pumpkins R Us near Southam and Lower Clopton Farm near Stratford-upon-Avon all have pumpkins on the agenda this October, giving you a lovely excuse to get out, choose a pumpkin and, inevitably, take far too many photographs.
But you don’t need to have an event booked to make the most of autumn. Wear the cosy jumper to your normal baby class, meet a friend for coffee and a walk, or take the children to the park after lunch. Autumn doesn’t have to be another thing to organise.
The autumn days I remember
When my own children were little, it wasn’t necessarily the organised days out that became the memories. Sometimes it was just getting outside, collecting leaves and conkers, jumping in puddles or coming home with pockets full of things they had decided were treasures.
There are plenty of places locally where you can do exactly that. Brueton Park in Solihull, Dorridge Wood, Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham and Jephson Gardens in Leamington Spa all give you autumn colours, space to explore and, importantly, a day out that doesn’t need to cost anything.
Give a toddler a little bag and let them collect leaves. Find different colours together. Look for the biggest leaf or the smallest conker. With a baby, take a blanket, find a spot amongst the autumn colours and you’ve got the backdrop for some lovely photos without paying for a photoshoot.
And don’t worry too much about getting the perfect picture. The muddy wellies, the toddler who won’t look at the camera and the baby trying to eat the leaf you’ve carefully placed beside them are usually far more representative of family life anyway.
Enjoy autumn your way
There is so much lovely stuff around at this time of year and, if you want the gorgeous new jumper, the pumpkin-picking trip and the autumn brunch, enjoy every minute of it.
But you don’t have to do all of it.
Use what you already have, add something new if you fancy it, choose one of the lovely local events or simply put on the wellies and go and find some leaves.
Autumn with little ones doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. Sometimes a cosy jumper, a pile of leaves and a muddy pair of wellies are all you need.
