A new Cal football season is underway! And what better way to view the pigskin frenzy than with the fam? Babies may have trouble doing card stunts, but here’s a quintet of essential Golden Bear toddler gear, plus some options for families who insist on cheering for the *wrong* team…

1. Bearwear – Cal onesies, booties and Oski tees. ($14 and up) And okayyyy, equal time – and baby tees – for Stanford fans too.

2. Blankies are a must in Memorial Stadium. It’s a 100 million degrees today, but next week? Ward off the fog with a Bear blanket ($34.99), or if you’re headed South for a USC game, a Trojan blankie with bear attached ($28.95).

3. Even the most devoted young fan gets antsy after halftime. The tubas have danced – nothing tops that. So, along with the sunscreen and water bottles, tote some baby books, such as Brad Epstein’s Berkeley 101, Penn State or UCLA board books ($10.95).

4. Try an Oski toy ($10.95) or teddy bear in a Stanford t-shirt ($15).

5. And when you get home, lull baby to sleep with some fine Cal Band lullabyes … OK, they’re really marching songs. But sales of the CD benefit the band and anyway, to a true Oski devotee, there’s nothing more soothing than “Hail to California” ($16). Except maybe the “Give ‘em the axe” chant…
- Jackie Burrell