My Clothes, My Hat
Show your baby each item before getting dressed, name it, and help them connect familiar clothes with themselves.
- 9 months
- Quick prep
- At home
- About 5 minutes
Developmental benefits
- Social/Emotional：Hearing their name while you point out their clothes and hat helps your baby connect these familiar belongings with themselves.
- Language：Hearing your words during dressing and answering with a look, expression, or movement gives your baby practice taking part in an everyday exchange.
Preparation
What You’ll Need
- 1
Your baby’s clothes
Step 1
Here Are Your Clothes
Choose the clothes your baby will wear and show each item slowly. Give them time to look and touch. If they reach, smile, or otherwise respond, describe a clear feature: “Here is your soft blue shirt.”
What to notice
- Responds to their name by smiling or moving their hands or feet
Sense of Identity and Belonging - Reaches curiously toward the clothes to touch them
Initiative and Curiosity
Tips
- Familiar clothes make it easier for your baby to begin recognizing, “This is mine.”
- Use your baby’s name in short phrases such as “Maya’s shirt” and “Maya is getting ready to go out.” This links the person with their belongings.
- A name is one of the earliest spoken labels connected with the self, so say your baby’s name naturally as you show each item.
Step 2
Our Clothes Are Different
Compare one of your baby’s garments with one of yours. Talk about differences in size, color, or style. If your baby touches one or looks back and forth, respond and ask, “Which one is yours?”
What to notice
- Shows clear interest after hearing that the clothes are theirs Sense of Identity and Belonging
- Holds their own clothes and looks at them closely
Cognitive Self-Regulation (Executive Functioning)
Tips
- A clear color contrast between the two garments can make them easier to tell apart.
- If your baby does not respond, hold the adult garment against your chest, then gently touch your baby with their garment to make the contrast clearer.
- Let a hat or shoe “introduce itself”: “Hi! I’m your little red hat.” The playful voice may hold your baby’s attention.
Step 3
You’re Ready!
Keep your baby interested by playfully presenting each item of clothing. When everything is on, say, “You’re dressed!” If your baby looks down, waves, or smiles, describe what they are doing and respond warmly.
What to notice
- Looks at you happily after hearing “You’re dressed”
Attending and Understanding - Shows excitement about going out after getting dressed Sense of Identity and Belonging
Tips
- After dressing, look in a mirror together and admire the finished outfit.
- When your baby looks closely at or touches their clothes, they may be beginning to connect the feeling of “mine” with familiar belongings.
- Show the outfit to another family member so your baby can enjoy the warm response.
Better Parenting Content Team · Updated September 11, 2026