A Guide to shopping for Babies and Toddlers in Vancouver
Photo credit: Parade Organics
Baby showers have been known to cause panic amongst their attendees. Questions careen through your head when the invitation plops into your inbox. What do I get the prospective parents-to-be? What do babies need in their first few months? What about when they are toddlers?
Luckily, the Vancouver baby and toddler shopping scene is pretty sweet in Vancouver. The city has wide selection of high end to budget-friendly options and a tonne of really great companies who design and produce baby clothes and toys locally. Never mind super friendly and totally helpful staff.
I would say people who work in kids and baby shops are by far some of the nicest people in retail because: A) they genuinely like kids, B) they talk to people like me day in, day out and C) they’re often parents or proud aunties/uncles or grandparents themselves.
For your bambino shopping pleasure, I’ve compiled a list of Vancouver’s baby and toddler stores and grouped them by neighbourhood. I hope you’ll find this quick guide easy to use and inclusive.
Photo credit: Flickr/Creative Commons || Chispita_666
VGH/City Hall/Oakridge
Cambie Street has a handful of great baby-focused stores including the ultra-chic kiddy clothing atelier Baby Avenue, corner toy store Kaboodles and lifestyle store Walrus (which occasionally carries baby goodies). Whole Foods, down the way, cares some earth-conscious baby basics (think bottles, toys, soaps). Further south, Oakridge has a selection of kid clothing stores selling everything from everyday to haute tiny couture from Japanese clothing chain Miki House, to all organic cotton clothing and bedding shop Nature Colored to popular American chain Gymboree.
Westside – South Granville, Kitsilano, Granville Island, Point Grey
On South Granville, high-end baby shoppers looking to outfit nurseries that look they belong in New York or London, can check out Nottinghill Kids. Meanwhile Kits’ West 4th Avenue has a number of sweet clothing, baby gear and toy stores like Hip Baby, Babes on 4th, Crocodile and T.J.s The Kiddies Store.
Granville Island has a number of baby and toddler shops in the Kids Market – everything from books to clothes to science experiments for sale. In the Net Loft, Parade, my favourite local baby brand recently opened a second clothing store to sell their soft organic cotton clothes and plushies. For an all-in-one, tiny human-focused department store experience head to Babies’R’Us on West Broadway for everything from breast pumps to socks to strollers. Tucked away on Arbutus street is the ultra cute Pebble, a wee store that carries everything from bath supplies to bunting bags.
Photo Credit: Beansprouts
Mount Pleasant to Commercial Drive
Hip clothing trends are not limited to adults on Main Street. Beansprouts is a baby and toddler consignment store that carries branded hand-me-downs. Front Company has a small section of new baby supplies (goatee pacifiers, zippy cups and Native brand shoes). A little further North, Victoria-born brand Smoking Lily also carries deliciously screen printed leggings, hats and dresses. If the bustle of Granville Island is too much, then go to Granville Island Toy Company’s second location on Main and 17th. Going East, stop off at Wee Ones Reruns on Kingsway for great deals on gently used baby and toddler stuff.
Photo credit: Dilly Dally
Commercial Drive is probably tied with Kitsilano in terms of highest concentration of fantastic baby and toddler stores. Room for 2 has many practical supplies for pre- and post-baby arrival, while Dandelion Kids carries a lot of Euro baby fashions and supplies (think wood blocks and Life Factory bottles). Further north, Dilly Dally has a stellar selection of educational games/toys and decor for your tiny dictator. Little Earth is a consignment store with about 70 per cent consignment and new items like diaper covers, pacifier clips and Bum Bum balm. Dream Designs also carries baby bedding products like sheets and crib bumpers.
Gastown and Downtown
Parade’s flagship store on Cambie Street and Meadow on Water Street are my go to places for baby shower gifts that are both sustainable and cute. On West Hastings, Ella + Elliot showcases modern and slick strollers, furniture and decor. Robson Street is home to Zara, Old Navy and Gap Kids. All have great clothes for mid-level prices. If Redfish Kids on Hornby is for the baby fashionista in your life, then Cherry Bomb on Granville Street is for the cheeky little punk you’re planning to spoil. Choose from a range of ironic iron-ons for American Apparel onesies.
Closer to the WestEnd, Chocolate Mousse Kitchenware not only food kitchen supplies but also a well-edited dollop of baby goods (think bath supplies, sunglasses, hats, shoes and clothes). One the next block is Whole Foods, which also sells a selection of baby feeding and bathing supplies.
Beyond Vancouver there are a number of uber cute shops: BC Playthings in North Vancouver, Village Toyshop in Port Moody, Room 6 and Ahoy in Deep Cove and Baby’s World in Coquitlam.
Have I missed you’re favourite place to shop for the baby and/or toddler in your life? Please feel free to share the store name, address and web address in the comments section below.
You can help folks like me not panic when they are faced with a wall of baby spoons, hooter hiders or bumbos.
Article source: http://www.insidevancouver.ca/2014/09/24/a-guide-to-shopping-for-babies-and-toddlers-in-vancouver/
