I used to see 3-year olds around town dressed in wild combinations of stripes, gingham, rainbow tights and superhero capes. I wondered when my baby would look that creative and charming.*
Then it dawned on me and I began to create wild combinations and increase the creativity in my infant’s wardrobe. If your baby is grabbing, he can help pick out his own clothes, just like a willful preschooler.
We start at the bottom and work up:
- Let the baby “choose” from two or three pairs of socks. The idea is that whichever ones he touches (grabbing or sucking is ok too), he wears. You might need to hold them close to his hand if he’s not flapping or waving his hands about.
- Now allow him to pick from two shirts.
- Let him pick pants, hats, and any other accessories.
Now you can brag that baby picked out his own clothes. 
Good mommy.
* Now that Holden is pushing four, he doesn’t like to be quite as wild in the fashion arena, he prefers sweats every day. Oh well.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
my almost four year old only wants to wear grey sweat pants. and grey tshirts. and grey sweatshirts. and grey socks. is it my fault for buying so many things in such a boring color?
Jackie, my son is the same way! It’s either all gray (yesterday) or all brown (most days). I converged on a wardrobe of brown and orange because they hide dirt so well and his hobbies are digging and dumping dirt. When he does the all-brown thing, we tell him he looks like a vanilla bean.
All that said, he asked for a pink tiara to wear at his birthday party, so maybe he does have a little flair.
It is routine for my child to pick out the socks. Sometimes one is blue and the other is white. When you go to storytime, you can see who has the same routine as you in the morning! It is just precious!
I have a 15 month old and she has been picking out her outfits since she was about 9 months. She is extremely independent and opinionated. Even before she could walk she was choosing her clothes and if you wanted her to wear something else, look out! Ever since about January (when she was about 11 months) it has been tu-tus and “pree-pree” (plastic beaded necklaces) every day. She also carries a purse and wear a tiara most days. It cracks me up, but most people don’t believe that children start to dress themselves until they are 2 or 3, they don’t think that a 1 year old is insisting on her own outfits
ha! i love this, we are definately doing this tomorrow