Today's style for babies and toddlers has changed dramatically over the years. No longer is the only choice pink or blue. Style has taken color to a whole new level. Bright vivid colors adorn our children from their head to their toe. An exciting change from classic tradition to contemporary fashion. While many of us still drool over gingham print, we can't help but turn our attention to the bold, to the funky, and the fun new patterns that today's fashion emphasizes. So how did this happen? When did this begin? When did simple go out with the trash? Do we really think our babies have the slightest opinion on fashion? I think not. We mothers have emerged out of some invisible cocoon staking our claim in fashion, and we are armed with our children.

As a mother of a toddler, I realized a long time ago that shopping for me was easily replaced with shopping for her. There was always something else I needed to buy...toys, bottles, clothes, diapers, a bag to put the diapers, a bigger bag to put the diapers and my purse. One day, I looked in the mirror and realized that as fashion moved forward, I was lagging behind. Then I realized that the times I did splurge and buy that "I shouldn't have" sweater, no one even took notice, they were too busy looking at my wide eyed slobbering, yet unbelievably cute baby. If she was being sweet, calm, and quiet, people would look up at me and say "Oh my, what a beautiful baby you have," if she was grumpy, frantic, and loud, people would just look at me and not say anything, their eyes said it all....regardless they look either way. Let's face it, most of us will buy that expensive diaper bag, that must have stroller, the stylish outfit because somewhere in the back of our head we know that if baby looks good, we look good. Mothers today want style in their life, we look through the catalogs, we browse in the store, we get green eyed with envy when "Jane" walks by with that new designer tote. And what do we do? We spend more on baby.