Editor’s Note: For more shopping tips, see our article “First Class Second-Hand Shops“
New York is a city known for its superb shopping— and the realms of kids’ gear, clothes, and furniture are no exceptions. Whether you’re seeking a high-end boutique nestled on the City’s side streets or big box and department stores offering a wide selection at a great price, we’ve taken to the streets to bring you a selective list of the best places to stock up on all your little ones’ essentials.
CLOTHES
Babesta
Trendsetters-in-training and the parents who shop for them stock up at these twin Tribeca spots (Babesta Cribz and Babesta Threads) for funky furniture, unique toys, and hip clothes for babies. babesta.com
Bonpoint
The Madison Avenue outpost of the famed French children’s wear couture line is exactly what you would expect: full of beautiful, elegant, and upscale clothing for the younger set. bonpoint-boutique.com
Caramel Baby & Child
Originally London-based, this children’s clothing line has made its way to the Upper East Side. The line is inspired by classic looks—rompers, jumpers, and plaid trousers—updated with a modern, urban feel. caramel-shop.co.uk
Catimini
The Upper East Side flagship of this high-end designer children’s clothing line from France is chock-full of signature colorful embroidery and appliqués for infants, girls up to size 12, and boys up to size 10. catiminica.com
The Children’s Place
There’s a reason this national chain has multiple Manhattan locations: They sell well-made, reasonably-priced clothing and accessories for newborns through kids size 14. childrensplace.com
Estella
Offering upscale and eponymous designer duds for little darlings, this Greenwich Village shop is a favorite of stylists and celebrities. estella-nyc.com
Greenstones & Naturino
The wide selection of European branded basics, hats, and accessories has cemented this children’s clothing shop as a favorite among the preschool set. Plus, Naturino children’s shoes is right next door to their uptown locations. naturino.com
Harry’s Shoes For Kids
This offshoot of the popular Harry’s Shoes is a chip off the old block. The Upper West Side store has a huge selection of infants’ and children’s shoes to keep your tyke shod. harrys-shoes.com
Hartstrings
With several NYC locations, including a new store on the Upper East Side, Hartstrings offers children’s clothing from its two anchor brands—Hartstrings for girls and Kitestrings for boys—plus a variety of popular brands, like Puma Kids, DKNY Kids, Lucky Brand Kids, Nicole Miller Girls, and Paul Frank Kids. hartstrings.com
Ibiza Kidz
Located in an area known for catering to the college crowd, this Union Square kids’ clothing, shoe, and toy shop attracts a cult following via the knowledgeable salespeople who expertly fit children’s feet to the right-sized shoes. ibizakidz.com
Julian and Sara
Downtown parents go gaga for this SoHo children’s store’s chic selection of pint-sized dresses and dress shirts. Stylish little shoes, gifts, and items for Mom round out the selection. julianandsara.com
Lester’s
The Yorkville outpost of this Tri-State area chain is where parents of infants through preteens shop the latest trends in apparel, accessories, and footwear. A huge selection of seasonal summer camp merchandise will have your tween begging for an airbrushed BFF pillow. lesters.com
Magic Windows
Classic, traditional, and formal clothing for infants through teens, plus custom-made party dresses, make this shop a stand-out at this Upper East Side fixture. magicwindowskids.com
My Little Sunshine
Multitasking supermoms love that they can shop for kiddie clothes and toys at the same time as their little one gets a haircut at these Chelsea and Tribeca stores. mylittlesunshinenyc.com
Pink Olive
Take gift giving to a whole new level with this whimsical wonderland nestled in the East Village, Park Slope, and—as of recently—Williamsburg. In addition to an adorable selection of baby and toddler clothes, Pink Olive has everything from playful gifts to handmade jewelry to vintage finds; this store is like the sprinkles on the icing of a cupcake—it makes everything a little bit sweeter. pinkolive.com
Polarn O. Pyret
This Swedish clothing line for children has two Manhattan locations: Tribeca and the Upper West Side. Parents seeking clothing with European flair (think bright colors and stripes) can snatch up their well-made basics. polarnopyretusa.com
Ralph Lauren Children’s
There’s no better place to dress your prepster-in- training than this Upper East Side store. Stock up on little oxfords, polo shirts, and brightly colored threads for boys and girls of all ages. ralphlauren.com
Rosie Pope Baby
Following the success of her maternity line (not to mention the birth of her fourth child) Rosie Pope has launched a line of baby clothes! Available at Rosie Pope stores on Madison Avenue and in Tribeca, this new line of cute, high-quality, and totally irresistible. shop.rosiepope.com/baby
Shoofly
Shoofly specializes in quality European shoes and accessories for toddlers through teens. One-of-a- kind clothing, toys, and baby gifts make this Tribeca boutique a standout. shooflynyc.com
Sprout San Francisco
The Upper East Side location of this popular natural and organic children’s clothing, toy, and furniture shop is more than just a clothing store. They also offer weekly classes, such as postpartum fitness and music, and an indoor play space. sproutsanfrancisco.com
Stoopher & Boots
Eclectic and seemingly all-encompassing, this Upper West Side boutique has everything from kids’ clothing and toys to unique finds for grown-ups. stoopheranboots.com
Tip Top Shoes
The fit specialists here will help your little walker find his or her first pair while older kids will love the vast selection of comfort, dress, and sport shoes. tiptopshoes.com
Yoya
A super-modern boutique for kids ages 4-14 on the edge of the Meat Packing district, this shop is known for its futuristic clothing, nursery furniture, and playthings. yoyanyc.com
TOY STORES
A Time For Children
Don’t let the size fool you—this Upper West Side store stocks a wide variety of merchandise, from stuffed Paddington Bears to cards to vintage onesies, and gives 100 percent of the profits to the Children’s Aid Society. atimeforchildren.org
Dinosaur Hill
This charming East Village variety store stocks both classics and one-of-a-kind items like wooden blocks in 16 languages, batik crib quilts, and a wide variety of handmade puppets and marionettes. dinosaurhill.com
Norman & Jules
This whimsical shop in Brooklyn’s Park Slope is brimming with toys that are both durable and precious. From wooden Cubebots perched on the counters to the menagerie of multi-hued stuffed animals and dolls lining the shelves, it’s a holy grail for parents who want something their little ones can play with that won’t break, fall out of fashion, or clutter the apartment with garish plastic parts. normanandjules.com
Teich Toys & Books
This newly-opened sister store to Teich Design (both owned and operated by local parents Allison Teich McGown and JJ McGowan) brings eco-friendly fun to the West Village. You’ll find a vast selection of handmade and vintage-inspired toys and gifts (think old-school board games and high-quality wooden playthings) sure to delight children and parents alike. teichdesign.com
BOOKSTORES
Bank Street Bookstore
Located on the Northern-most reaches of the Upper West Side, this bookstore caters exclusively to young readers. If you can’t make the trip, its extensive website offers the same carefully chosen selection of books, games, toys, and CDs as its bricks and mortar counterpart. bankstreetbooks.com
Barnes & Noble
Not surprisingly, this national retailer offers the largest selection and supply of children’s books in the city. With many locations (Union Square, Tribeca, and Brooklyn’s Park Slope) throughout the city, it’s always fun and convenient to pop into B&N to browse their children’s section, or for one of their great events. They also offer a great Kids Club program for young readers. barnesandnoble.com
Books of Wonder
The oldest independent children’s bookstore in the city is well-known for its collection of both old and new tomes for tots. Twice a week, kids and their caregivers can enjoy story time at this iconic Chelsea spot. booksofwonder.com
The Strand
This iconic book store—famous for offering “18 miles of books” at their Union Square flagship—has been offering a stellar selection of books since 1927 and, today, is one of the largest independent book stores in the country. Bring the fam in to check out their second-floor YA and children’s section, or to one of their monthly Story Time events. strandbooks.com
BIG BOX DESTINATION STORES
American Girl Place
Spend an entire day with your doll lover at this giant concept store picking out a new doll, accessories, and matching daughter and doll outfits. Enjoy the doll hair salon and doll hospital or have a meal at the café. americangirl.com
Disney Store
The revamped Times Square flagship store is almost as good as visiting the House of Mouse. Disney fans of any age will love the Magical Escalator Experience, the Pixie Dust Path, and the Magic Trees. disneystore.com
FAO Schwarz
This beloved midtown toy emporium is home to a newborn nursery, stuffed animal extravaganza, and a dozen other stores within its walls. All city kids need to dance on the famed giant piano keyboard at least once in their lifetime. fao.com
Toys “R” Us
Come for the toys and stay for the 60-foot Ferris wheel, the 4,000-square-ft Barbie dollhouse, and the life-sized T-Rex. The Times Square flagship store is a toy heaven for children of all ages. toysrus.com
NURSERY & KID FURNISHINGS
ABC Carpet & Home
All of ABC’s artisanal goods have cultural origins, sourced from all over the globe with a mind toward reducing carbon footprint. Its dedicated Home & Planet line particularly delights design- and sustainability-conscious families alike. abchome.com
Albee Baby
This family-owned and operated business on Amsterdam Avenue has built its tradition on keeping babies happy with their top-of-the-line baby gear including toys, furniture, bedding and layette. albeebaby.com
Allyn Howard
If your walls need a little whimsy and cheer, look no further than the Allyn Howard’s Brooklyn studio, where she’s been painting customized murals and artworks for both nurseries and children’s rooms since 2003. allynhoward.com
Babies “R” Us
Leading the retail front in all things baby, this Union Square mega-store is your one-stop shop for all your newborn, infant, and toddler needs—from furniture to formula to fashion. babiesrus.com
BasicGrey
If cookie-cutter nursery rooms bore you out of your mind, hop on over to BasicGrey, which revels in all things quirky. Their children’s wall art, storage barrels, and swaddling arts are practically modern art. basicgrey.com
Behr’s Superstore
With over 30,000 square feet of baby and children’s furniture, this Long Island megastore offers one of the largest selections in the Tri-State area—and the friendly and well-informed staff is always ready to come to your navigational rescue. behrsfurniture.com
Bellini
Bellini’s award-winning furnishings combine modern day features with old world craftsmanship to create furniture that is both practical and beautiful. Best of all, their convertible products grow with the kids to last the family a lifetime. bellini.com
Bograd Kids
Along with offering luxury furnishings and designer bedding, this premium retail store provides customers with design consultations and floor plans at no extra charge. The pre-curated designer rooms offer busy parents everything they need. bogradkids.com
buybuyBaby
With several locations throughout the NYC metro area, this store offers an excellent assortment of top products and brands for children from birth to age 4, including strollers, car seats, bouncers, bassinets, cribs, clothing, bottles, monitors, nursery furniture, and more. buybuybaby.com
Casa Kids
Proudly made in Brooklyn, Casa Kids’s contemporary furniture collections are designed for utility and durability so they last through the years. Better yet, everything is designed with small spaces in mind—perfect for urban apartments. casakids.com
California Closets
The design consultants at California Closets are miracle workers. Their adjustable set-ups make transforming age-appropriate furnishings a breeze. californiaclosets.com
DwellStudio
This wholesale designer, most loved for its bold patterns and rich textiles, recently opened a store in SoHo. Head on in for bedding, rugs, and more with their very own personality. dwellstudio.com
giggle
They call themselves a new parent store because they’ve made stocking a nursery a whole lot easier; whether it’s in SoHo or the upper east and west sides, all three stores offer fun collections of bedding, toys, gear, and baby care essentials ensuring you a healthy, happy baby. giggle.com
Iglooplay
Inspired by the idea that play is essential in development, this company’s products feature a rich variety of sculptural shapes, materials, and colors. iglooplay.com
IKEA
Need a bed on a budget? Not a problem in nearby Red Hook, Brooklyn, where the well-known Swedish IKEA offers modern furniture at a low price— including plenty of super-fun toys and kids’ room picks that are durable and functional. ikea.com
Lucky Duck & Friends
English Artist Pippa Scott uses a big splash of colors to create a unique collection of cheery, whimsical animal paintings that capture the joys of being a child. luckyduckandfriends.com
Mini Jake
This modern children’s store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, offers a vast selection of nursery and playroom furniture, décor, and toys that are sophisticated yet playful. minijake.com
NessaLee Baby
With several locations in the Tri-State area, this luxurious brand integrates the as-seen-on celeb- babies aspect and they offer the coolest, newest, most reliable merchandise from clothes to gear all while giving you a customized shopping experience. nessaleebaby.com
Netto Collection
Amongst the first to delve into stylish design in kids furniture, David Netto prides himself on using only sustainably harvested wood and non-toxic finishes to create safe furnishings that aren’t restricted to a pink-and-blue palette. davidnettodesign.com
Oeuf
Launched by a dynamic French/American duo, this brand offers sustainability-minded European furniture at a low price—without sacrificing its key principles of quality, practicality, and function. oeufnyc.com
Posh Baby & Teen
Selling only the safest children’s furniture for a wide range of ages, this Staten Island store even offers delivery and assembly service for outer borough families. poshbabyusa.com
Raymour & Flanigan Furniture
This popular furniture chain boasts a variety of styles from classic to contemporary (but never outdated) with a quick three-day delivery turnaround. raymourflanigan.com
Resource Furniture
Resource is about form as well as hybrid function— beds with fold-out desks, expandable tables, and sofas with secret storage all boast chic, contemporary looks. resourcefurniture.com
Restoration Hardware Baby & Child
One of the fastest-growing brands in children’s furnishings, Restoration Hardware produces classy designs for dreamy nurseries, timeless bedrooms, and more. rhbabyandchild.com
Spoiled Rotten Too
Forget the mundane at Spoiled Rotten Too, a whimsical Long Island boutique that hand picks designer furniture for babies and kids. The in-house painters make their heirloom offerings truly one-of- a-kind. spoiledrottentoo.com
Target
Going on 50 years, this popular retailer continues to offer attractive furniture at even more attractive prices. If you don’t want to wait for shipping, make a visit to the location on 116th Street, or the Atlantic Terminal offering in Brooklyn. target.com
