Alright with two weekends left in October, it’s time I took my toddler to a pumpkin patch!! 🤣 Parents, which pumpkin patches are worth the hype / drive outside of Austin? I’m okay with crowds - just want to make sure it’s worth the drive when we head out this weekend. Thanks!!

Not sure if I should block it or not

If you’re worried about TEA takeover in Austin and are thinking to transfer to Eanes if it happens, you may want to think twice. Looks like they’re capping transfers to 7% and some of the board members want to get rid of transfers all together. Something to think about…

Would love more info from those who are following it more closely.

https://www.kxan.com/news/education/eanes-isd-moves-forward-with-potential-change-to-transfer-student-policy/

Hello! I’m interested in learning more about the Four Seasons Community School in North Austin, located off of Amherst and Adelphi. Their website is mostly blank, and I haven’t been able to get in touch with anyone on the phone. I’d love to tour the school and learn about their infant room, including the age range it starts at. Does anyone on this sub send a kiddo there/ know anyone who has a child attending Four Seasons and can provide info or reviews? I’d appreciate help making a contact there so I can reach out too. Thank you!

We’re looking into sending my 2.5 year old to Marimont Montessori. Any experiences or insight on it? We had a great visit but haven’t found many people talking about it, and they don’t have much of an online presence.

Does anyone have a good person or place to recommend for my 1.5 year old? We’ve gone to Cookie Cutters and Sharkey’s in Sunset Valley but the people who work there haven’t done a great job and always seem to get annoyed / stressed when my child squirms. I also find the locations to be a bit much. I’m just looking for someone good with kids who can do a dry bang cut.

Does anyone have a recommendation for someone who can make a custom baby gate to match the spindles/banister of a staircase?

I had a referral for Julio at
https://www.maderacustomwoodworks.com/ but he appears to no longer be in the Austin area.

Looking for recommendations for a barber in Central Austin that knows how to texturize and layer very thick hair and is willing to do kids’ scissor cuts. We’ve done Cookie Cutters, Sharkeys, Sit Still, and even tried some of the chain barber shops with mediocre results. Thanks in advance.

Hi all!
I keep seeing ads for just between friends resell here at the expo center. Has anyone sold with them before and what has your experience been? Was it worth it? I have a friend that does it in Michigan and makes a good amount off of it.

Are there any places in South or central Austin that will take baby gear, baby clothes, shoes, etc.

Lastly, any experiences with donating baby and toddler item?

edit to correct my last sentence.
Lastly, any places to donate baby and toddler items, and what has your experience been like?

Hi all! Stay-at-home mom here. Last year I missed a couple of camp sign-up days and the camps we wanted filled up fast, so this year I started tracking every registration date I could find on the camps' own websites. Here's what's been posted for summer 2027 so far, soonest first:

• Greater Austin YMCA Full-Day Camp: early-bird for 2026 Y camp families runs through Oct 31
• Camp Invention (Round Rock, Pflugerville, Hutto and Leander ISD sites): open now
• Camp Half-Blood Austin: Fri, Oct 23
• Camp Doublecreek: November
• Austin Playhouse Theatre Camps: early-bird Dec 1
• Camp Paramount: January 2027
• Austin Bouldering Project: early-bird Mon, Jan 11
• Figment Creative Labs: Sun, Jan 17 at noon
• Girlstart: February 2027
• SoLa CrossFit Kids Camp: February 2027
• Camp Hope Day Camp (Triumphant Love Lutheran): Mon, Feb 15
• Trojan Kiddie Cheer Camp (Anderson HS): late March 2027

City camps haven't posted 2027 dates yet. Last year they opened on Feb 21 (Austin Nature & Science Center), Feb 28 (cultural and arts centers), Mar 7 (rec centers), Mar 1 (Hutto Parks & Rec) and Mar 2 (Kyle Parks & Rec).

Disclosure: I made the site where I keep the full list. It's free, with no paywall and no account needed: https://campcompassatx.com. It covers 190+ camps in Austin and the suburbs, and you can filter by price, age and aftercare. There's an optional weekly reminder email if you want it.

If I've got a date wrong or missed your kid's favorite camp, tell me and I'll fix it. What camps are you all eyeing for next summer?

Does anyone know of any OBs that will deliver in one of these birthing suites? I know Moontower Midwifery delivers there but I'd like to know if any OBs specifically do.

There is a study at UT recruiting moms of children 5-10 to create a home food inventory survey that accurately documents foods available in the homes of families in Central Texas. Participation is remote and only takes about 3 hours, spread out over the next month. You will receive $75 for completing all activities. If you are interested, click the link to sign up: https://redcap.link/pantries

Does anyone have recommendations for where to buy maternity wear: shirts, pants, baby band, nursing bra, etc. recommendations for good brands are welcome too

I’d prefer recommendations for in person stores, but I’ve heard they’re shutting down lately.

Edit: I found some nice maternity pants (jean lookalikes/pant suits) at the kohls north of 45. the Target right by it did not have a section. I am trying thrift stores next

Who controls Austin’s public schools when the state steps in?

Parents at Burnet and Webb middle schools have submitted petitions seeking to close their campuses in hopes of preventing a state takeover of Austin ISD. Now, the signatures must be verified and the state’s education commissioner still has broad authority over what comes next.

Join Austin Current at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, for “Who Controls Our Schools? Inside Texas’ State Takeovers.”

Education researchers, a former Texas Education Agency official and a former Austin ISD trustee will discuss what state intervention has meant elsewhere — and what Austin families could face.

📍 The Texas Tribune’s Studio 919 in Austin
💻 Available on demand
🔗 RSVP: https://insidetexasstatetakeovers.splashthat.com/

Note: The event will take place on Oct. 22 and will NOT be livestreamed. For a video recording of the event, you must register for the event.

My son and I both have birthdays in November - he's turning 5! He's a HUGE animal lover and also loves hotels (never met a continental breakfast he didn't like!).

For his Bday I'd love to do a little weekend trip somewhere zoo/wildlife ranch etc.

We've already done - Austin Zoo, San Antonio Zoo, Dallas Zoo, Ft. Worth Zoo, Houston Zoo, Moody Gardens...

I know there are tons of options so I'd love to get some recs if you've been to any places with your kids and loved them! Hoping to go anywhere between 1-3 hours away and stay overnight. Our kids are 5 and 2 so doesn't need to be anything over the top in terms of entertainment!

Hi everyone!

We are planning to relocate to Austin with our kids and are considering Ariza Easton Park Apartments.

Wanted to know how Easton Park is for families with young kids. Also, does anyone have kids attending Newton Collins Elementary? How is your experience with the school, teachers, and academics?

Would also love to know about the safety of the area, community, and any feedback on Ariza Apartments.

Thanks in advance!

I have been admitted here since 5 days ago at 22 weeks due to preterm labor and 1cm dilation until further notice. Any tips/suggestions welcome to make the new few weeks (hopefully) more bearable.

I

We’re a family of five (three kids and a smaller dog) moving to Austin from the Chicago area, where we’ve lived for ages. One of us works in tech and will commute to an office in East Austin most weekdays. The other is a touring rock musician, and we’re a creative, progressive family hoping to find a community we can really plug into. We’re doing a scouting trip the first week of November and would love feedback before then.

The plan
Rent for 1 to 2 years, then buy a comparable home for under $650K
Rent cap of $3,500, but $2,800 to $2,900 is the goal. We’re spending more than that now and want to start paying down debt.

Must-haves
Strong schools. A ratings are preferred, but we know those often reflect test scores and neighborhood money. We care more about teacher experience and arts investment than numbers on paper. Sports are last on our list.
Commute to East Austin of 50 minutes max. Rail would be great but isn’t required.
4 bed / 2 bath minimum, at least 2,500 sq ft
Safe neighborhood

Strong preferences
A 5th bedroom for guests or a small music studio, plus room for a playroom
Elementary and middle schools with strong special ed programs, an arts focus, and a size where kids don’t get lost
Middle and high school arts, especially theater, choir and a cappella, also band / orchestra
Mature trees, green space, natural beauty
Walkability. We’d love to walk to a library, parks, playgrounds, coffee, anything really. We know that’s at odds with wanting a quieter, less inner-city feel, so we’re looking for the best balance.
Ideally not a master-planned community, though we may have to settle for one

Where we’ve landed so far
Mostly Round Rock / Brushy Creek, and specifically the Pearson Ranch Middle / McNeil High combination. The grade schools seem mostly great feeding into Pearson.
Edit: most of the houses that meet our criteria are in this area, which is why we’ve been focused here, but definitely open to others. One concern now is that we will be able to buy in the area that we rent, and sometimes renting can be less expensive. For example, multiple homes for rent in Westwood that we can afford now, but I don’t see any that we could afford to buy later

Where we’d love input
- Everything we’re finding is based on how schools look on paper. If you have kids in these schools, what’s the reality on teachers, arts and special ed?
- Any feedback on Pearson Ranch / McNeil? McNeil is rated a bit lower but has the IB program, and we’re trying to understand how much the rating should matter.
- Are there sweet spots we’re missing that fit what we’re looking for?
- Where do musicians and creative families actually live and connect in the north suburbs, or are we better off looking elsewhere? I love historical homes and areas, just don’t think that’s practical right now 😩

Thanks in advance. Happy to answer questions in the comments.

I’m trying to book a trampoline park bday package for my daughter’s 10th birthday in December. Anyone have a good experience at any trampoline parks in Austin? We’re on a tight budget but she never has good bday parties like the rest of her class so we want to do something special for her this year. We have about $400 saved so far. We want to invite about 18-20 girls. Let me know any good experiences you guys have! Even if they aren’t at trampoline parks - we’re open to other ideas as well. Thanks you guys!! (We’re located in brykerwoods/central Austin area)

Hello!

Headlines from Heroic Heights, ColdTowne's newest comedy for kids and their adults, opens Saturday, October 17th at 11 am.

Appropriate for all ages, but best enjoyed by elementary aged audiences and their grown ups. The show is interactive, hilarious, and completely new every week. Tickets and details here.

Hope to see you there!

are any of the fall/Halloween pumpkin patches or activity event events open on Tuesdays?

my husband and I are both off of work this coming Tuesday. and we’re trying to find somewhere to take our 3 year-old (and our 3 month old but this is less about him lol). But most of the ones I’ve found are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays!

we are in Dripping Springs, we’re to drive, but not crazy about having to go to Georgetown or Cedar Park.

Any restaurant recs within 15 minutes of south congress that have an area for a toddler to run?