Fall Activities for Babies and Toddlers (That Won’t Leave You Exhausted)

Fall is lots of fun with little ones, but when they’re under three, a trip to a pumpkin patch or a fall festival may not be as engaging for them. Here are a few ideas for activities that we’ve done with our son.

Make a leaf sensory bin. Collect leaves, acorns, and pinecones on a walk and let your baby explore the textures safely.

Bake something simple together. A boxed muffin mix or pre-made dough can be a fun way to let your little one help you in the kitchen!

Plan a cozy story afternoon. Build a pillow fort, grab some fall-themed books, and sip warm cider together. This is a good one for rainy fall afternoons when the playground isn’t happening.

Do a fall nature walk. Narrate what you see, hear, and smell. For babies and toddlers, every crunchy leaf is an adventure.

The Baby Products I Didn’t Need

The Wall Street Journal has been publishing a series of articles this week on the cost of childcare, and yesterday's article on how new parents spend their money was especially interesting if you're in - or approaching - that phase of your life. 

Having kids has always been expensive, but when you're in the process of preparing for your first child, the never-ending list of perceived "must-haves" can be pretty overwhelming. There were plenty of things my husband and I purchased that we either didn't use much or didn't use at all in the first year of our son's life. 

So for everyone who's doing this for the first time, here's a list of everything I didn't use much, in case it helps you to make some of those purchasing decisions!

Baby-wearing gear: I know this is a popular item on a lot of registries, and I had it on my registry too - and then we realized in the first few weeks and months of our son's life that he absolutely hated it. In our case, this probably had to do with the tightness he was carrying in his body for the first few months (he had some feeding issues and we had the help of a physical therapist help him resolve some of the discomfort), but even after he was in better shape, he never really took to baby wearing. So on this purchase, like much of this list, this might be a purchase you hold off on until a week or two in, when you have a better gauge on your baby's preferences.

Baby bouncers: This was another one that our son just didn't like. Fortunately, we bought a bouncer on the lower end of the cost spectrum (no UPPAbaby for us in this case), so when we found out that our son really didn't like it, we didn't feel as bad about how much we spent on it. For this item, I'd recommend taking a similar route - trying a less expensive (but still safe) option first, and seeing if your baby takes to it before investing in something pricier. Pro tip: while bouncers can be great to keep them occupied, mats with mobiles above them are another good option - and once they're ready for tummy time, you can use the mat for that as well. 

Bottle warmer: My son was combo-fed pretty much since he was born because he had a poor latch, so he got used to drinking cold formula pretty quickly - and that came in handy when we started to prep formula bottles and keep them in a fridge in his room for middle-of-the-night feedings. That might be why he wasn't that picky about temperature - so we almost never used our bottle warmer. That said, if you're breastfeeding exclusively or even often, it might be worth buying. 

Next up, I’ll put together a list of the products that I used the most!

The Working Mom’s Guide to Establishing Routines with Your Baby

When you’re a working mom, your time becomes your most precious resource—and building a flexible daily routine can help your days to feel more grounded and less chaotic. These are a few things I tried in the early days of my son’s life to make space for meaningful connection with my family on a regular basis.

Morning Matters.
Whether you're heading to daycare drop-off or working from home, mornings set the tone. You can try waking up 30 minutes or an hour before your baby (if possible) for a quiet moment to breathe, prep, or caffeinate. Baby’s morning routine should be simple: diaper, feed, cuddle, and a short play session.

Daytime Rhythms.
If your baby’s at daycare, you can coordinate with caregivers to understand nap and feeding schedules. If you're home with baby for part of the day, try to stick to consistent rhythms. Anchoring your day with consistent wake, nap, and feeding times provides predictability for everyone.

Evening Connection.
Evenings are gold. Focus on small moments of connection—reading a book, bathtime giggles, or 10 minutes of undistracted play. Create a wind-down routine that signals sleep, but also lets you soak in the magic of your little one.

Make Room for Grace.
Not every day will go according to plan, and that’s okay. Routines are here to serve you, not trap you. Adjust as needed—and remember that love and presence matter more than perfection.

Bonding with Baby After Work (Even When I’m Exhausted)

Switching from work mode to mom mode isn’t easy - after a full day of my corporate job, it can be hard to feel like I have adequate energy to be fully “on” for my toddler. But even when you're running on fumes, there are small, meaningful ways to reconnect with your baby after work.

Try These:

• A 10-minute walk outside with your baby (baby-wearing when they’re small enough can add an extra layer of connection)

• Reading a short book together

• Singing during diaper changes or bathtime

• Baby massage before bed

Tip: If you can, try to turn off distractions around you. Just 15 minutes of focused connection can be just what both you and your baby need!