Getting Ahead for The Holidays

Somewhere between the last of the Halloween candy and the first "How many more sleeps?", the holidays sneak up on every family. One minute you're picking pumpkins. The next, you're holding up last year's velvet dress and realizing she's grown two inches since then.

Whether you're a mom planning around nap schedules, a grandma determined to give the gift this year, or the aunt with a fun-gift reputation to protect, this one's for you. Here are six easy ways to get ahead in November, so December can be about the good stuff: cocoa, cuddles, and twinkle lights along the Riverwalk.

1. Pick the photo outfit before you book the photos

Holiday card sessions and Santa visits fill up fast, and the outfit is what you'll see on the fridge for years. Shop baby holiday outfits early, while every size is still on the rack.

One tip from our counter: for little ones under two, size up slightly. A baby who fits perfectly on November 1 may not on December 15. Not sure? Bring us their age and current size, and we'll help you choose.

Our girls' holiday outfits run from newborn to size 6, and boys' from newborn to 4T. Siblings can coordinate without looking like a matching set of ornaments.

2. Start a matching Christmas pajamas tradition

New pj's on Christmas Eve is one of those small traditions kids remember long after the toys are forgotten. Bonus: everyone looks adorable (and coordinated) in Christmas morning photos.

Tuck the pajamas into a box with a bedtime book and a packet of cocoa mix. You've got a gift that settles excited little ones down instead of winding them up. Grandmas, this one travels beautifully.

3. Give a book, and write in it

Books are some of the best Christmas gifts for toddlers. Toys come and go, but a favorite story gets read until the spine gives out.

Before you wrap it, write a note on the inside cover: the date, the child's name, and why you chose it. Years from now, your handwriting is the part they'll treasure. Ask us for our current favorites by age. We've read them all (several times).

4. Make it personal

Personalized baby gifts say "I was thinking of you" in a way nothing else can. Our favorite example is an ornament with their name and the year.

Start with Baby's First Christmas, then add a new one every year. By the time they head off to college, they'll have a whole tree's worth of memories. Personalization takes a little time, so order by December 12, 2026, to have it in hand for the holidays.

5. Let someone else do the wrapping

You have enough on your list. Pick up your gifts already bowed, and ready for under the tree, or for Grandma's suitcase. It's free!

Shopping for little ones who live out of town? Order online at bowsandbabes.com and send the joy their way. And yes, we'll add a bow. It's kind of our thing.

6. Make a morning of it downtown

Holiday shopping doesn't have to happen on a phone screen at midnight. Bundle up the kids, stroll the Riverwalk, and take in the lights along Water Street.

Start the season early with us: Santa and his tiny reindeer are visiting on Saturday, November 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. His "reindeer" are therapy miniature ponies from Transformational Growth Counseling, and they're every bit as sweet as they sound. It's free, so bring the camera (and maybe that new holiday outfit).

Mark your calendar for the Grand Illumination and Parade of Lights on Friday evening, November 27. Then come back the next morning for Small Business Saturday, November 28, when downtown Naperville is at its festive best. We're just steps from the Riverwalk, so stop in to warm up and say hello.

And save room for the Holiday Cookie Walk on Sunday, December 6 from 12p-4p. Tickets go on sale Monday, November 2, and they tend to go quickly!

Come see us (or shop from your couch)

The best part of the holidays is watching the little ones in your life light up. We'd love to help you find what makes that happen: the right size, a beautiful wrap, a name added just so.

Visit Bows & Babes, your Naperville children's boutique in the heart of downtown near the Riverwalk. Or shop anytime at bowsandbabes.com. From all of us at Bows & Babes, here's to a cozy, joyful season.