NEW YORK CITY
Upper East Side
E.A.T. GiftsTake a step into this shop and you'll feel like a kid again. Perfect for shower gifts, the shop stocks everything from tub toys to sushi bibs. The bonus: $10 monogrammed notepads to help you keep up with your ever-growing to-do list. 1062 Madison Avenue
(at 80th Street) 212.861.2544
Hoofbeats
Moms love personalized shower gifts, and at this tiny downstairs shop you’ll find cute choices, including totes, baby blankets, towels and bibs. 232 East 78th Street
(near Third Avenue) 212.517.2633
Petit Bateau
Known for their scoop-neck cotton Ts, the Petit Bateau shop is a one-stop shop for your baby’s first trousseau, with side-tie bodysuits, knit sweaters, booties, bibs, receiving blankets and more. The bonus: You can do a little retail therapy, too. 1100 Madison Avenue (at 82nd Street) 212.988.8884 petit-bateau.com
Zittles Toy Store at Zitomer Pharmacy
This local neighborhood department store stocks plush toys, games and CDs. In the clothing department it serves up the best, including Baby CZ, RL Layette, Giesswein shoes and 3 Marthas burp cloths. 969 Madison Avenue (btw. 75th and 76th Sts.)
212.737.2037 zittles.com
Upper West Side
Albee’sThis neighborhood super-store may be a little discombobulated, but you’ll find a staff that knows everything about anything you might need for your new arrival. Quick-turnaround deliveries are their specialty. 715 Amsterdam Avenue (at 95th Street) 212.662.8902
Karin Alexis
Karin Alexis is the stroller-friendly shop to head to for original gifts, clothes and accessories. In addition to Karin Alexis-designed clothing, the cheery store offers patchwork blankets and colorful Baby to Go sets, with leggings, T-shirts and hats. 490 Amsterdam Avenue (btw. 83rd and 84th Sts.) 212.769.9550 karinalexis.com
The Upper Breast Side
Not only can you shop for nursing tops at this breast-feeding hub, you can also rent a pump and get a full tutorial on how to use it. You’ll find a huge selection of nursing bras and a staff at the ready to make sure your bra fits just so. 220 West 71st Street, Suite 1 (btw. Broadway and West End Avenue) 212.873.2653 upperbreastside.com
Z Baby
Z Baby bills itself as the one-stop-shop for children’s clothing, shoes and accessories from New York, France and Italy. You’ll find that and more at this high-end shop. 100 West 72nd Street (at Columbus Avenue) 212.579.BABY zbaby.com
Midtown/Murray Hill
FAO SchwarzFAO Schwarz may be a favorite for visiting tourists but locals flock there too for European toys, stuffed animals and strollers. Your baby will squeal with delight as he crawls on the piano featured in the movie “Big.” 767 Fifth Avenue (at 58th Street) 212.644.9400 faoschwarz.com
Homefront Kids
A Murray Hill institution, locals call the owner all the time to order and find hard-to-locate baby items. In this huge space, you’ll find wooden toys, European toys, clothes, books, kids furniture, shoes, frames, gifts and bath toys. The best part: They gift-wrap everything. 202 East 29th Street (at Third Avenue) 212.381.1969
Chelsea/Flatiron/Gramercy
ABC Carpet & HomeIn the mezzanine of this temple to all things cool for the home, you’ll find ABC’s baby department, filled with linens, lamps you’d want in your own bedroom, baby blankets
of the highest order and bumpers. And when she’s old enough, you can return to the shop and purchase your cutie an antique pink car with a steering wheel and pedals. 888 Broadway (at 19th Street) 212.473.3000 abchome.com
Babies ’R Us
Convenience is the order of the day at the grand reopening of Babies ’R Us, a three-level mega-store featuring a registry that comes with baby shower invitations, strollers for every budget (from a $12 umbrella stroller to a high-end Peg Perego) and special fabric orders for everything you need for your nursery. 24-30 Union Square East (btw. 14th and 15th Sts.) 888-BABYRUS babiesrus.com
Baby Depot
Bargain shoppers should head upstairs at Burlington Coat Factory to Baby Depot, a baby department filled with books, clothing, bedding and more—at very reasonable prices. 707 Sixth Avenue (near 23rd Street) 212.229.1300 burlingtoncoatfactory.com
Buy Buy Baby
This department store is stocked with all you need for your baby, from bottles to Baby Bjorns and has some of the most helpful staff around. You’ll get your items sent to you quickly, too: cribs often can be shipped overnight. 270 Seventh Avenue (at 24th Street) 917.344.1555 buybuybaby.com
Daffy’s
Tucked into this department store are Italian imported baby clothes from Zucchero e Filati as well as basics from Absorba, Little Me, Mine Motion and Izod. While you’re here, pick up some onesies, wash cloths and plate sets—at costs way below retail.
111 Fifth Avenue (at 18th Street) 212.529.4477 daffys.com
Space Kiddets
For 25 years, this store has focused on eclectic children’s clothes and accessories. You’ll find unique and funky items here, including Boo Foo Woo, a Japanese line sold only at this Grammercy Park shop. 46 East 21st Street (btw. Broadway and Park Avenue South) 212.420.9878 spacekiddets.com
East Village/Lower East Side
Sons + DaughtersThis shop prides itself on stocking the best of the best organic and fair trade items. Be sure to pick up a knitted baby rattle and Mandarin jacket while you’re here—
not to mention European toys all custom-tested by the owner’s son. 35 Avenue A (btw. Second and Third Sts.) 212.253.7797 sonsanddaughtersinc.com
Greenwich Village/West Village
Bombalulu’sAt this very eclectic shop, you can select a New York City-themed onesie or infant cap. Bombalulu’s also features unique handmade clothing and accessories. 101 West 10th Street (between Sixth and Greenwich Avenues) 212.463.0897 bombalulus.com
City Cricket
What sets City Cricket apart is that the boutique stocks everything from high-quality, one-of-a-kind antiques to contemporary designs, including toys, blankets, and sterling and pewter items. 215 West 10th Street (at Bleecker Street) 212.242.2258 citycricket.com
Peanutbutter & Jane
At this quaint shop, staffers will help you pick out the perfect outfit for your baby. There’s no shortage of toys and games your little one will love. 617 Hudson (at West 12th Street) 212.620.7952
Showroom 64
This London import promises tongue-in-cheek cotton-knit tees, onesies, bibs and hats for your baby. You can pick one that says “For those about to nap, we salute you” or even one that says “Schmoozer” or “You had me at Shalom.” What’s more, everything is packed in gift boxes. 106 Greenwich Avenue (btw. 12th and 13th Sts.) 212.206.8915
Tribeca
Bu and the DuckAt this vintage-inspired shop, you’ll find charming clothes displayed in
vintage toy cars. You’ll want to scoop up more than one knit item while you’re browsing. 106 Franklin (btw. Church Street and West Broadway) 212.431.9226
Century 21 Department Store
If you’re searching for great finds, the baby department at Century 21 is the place for layette essentials and designer name brands at far-below-retail prices. 22 Cortlandt Street (btw. Broadway and Church Street) 212.227.9092 c21stores.com
Shoofly
Head here for the prettiest shoes in town (more than 80 types of European footwear), purses, hats, nursery lamps and great customer service. 42 Hudson Street (btw. Duane and Thomas Sts.) 212.406.3270 shoeflynyc.com
Soho
Cath KidstonWhile you shop for polka-dotted, vintage-inspired linens at this cheery shop launched in the UK, you can also splurge on Cath Kidston’s signature bibs, onesies, sunhats and cardigans for your baby. 201 Mulberry Street (at Spring Street) 212.343.0223 cathkidston.com
Citibabes
When you have a baby, you can feel isolated. To the rescue: Citibabes, a 10,000-square-foot lifestyle club that has something for the whole family. Members have exclusive access to a salon run by Rodney Cutler, a family wellness center, a café, an indoor playground, concierge service, a shop stocking Lucy Sykes Baby and Noa Lily, a lounge, and even cooking classes for your toddler. 52 Mercer Street (btw. Broadway and Prince Street) 212.334.5440 citibabes.com
Giggle
Perfect for hipster parents, Giggle, which started in San Francisco, is all about providing
ecologically friendly products. At the Soho store, parents can choose from a carefully edited selection of furniture, gear, clothing, toys and bedding that are simple, stylish and organic. 120 Wooster Street (btw. Spring and Prince Streets) 800.495.8577 egiggle.com
Just for Tykes
Downtown parents love this shop for its whimsical offerings, from old-fashioned radio flyers to rugs, blankets and pull toys. With the best of the best on sale here, you can test-drive a Bugaboo stroller as well as buy that Fleurville diaper bag you’ve been eying. 83 Mercer Street (btw. Broome and Spring Streets) 212.274.9121 justfortykes.com
