What better way to spend a lazy afternoon or evening shopping for you and your little one? Granted, shopping is one of those things you can’t avoid when a new addition to the family is on the way. But it doesn’t always have to be stressful either. Buying diapers or a car seat may not be so enjoyable but there’s always a fun part of every activity isn’t there?
Shopping for baby clothes, toys, and cute accessories doesn’t have to be a harried experience anymore. Instead of heading out to the nearest big box store, consider other options for your shopping needs. As part of our series on hidden shopping gems, here are a few stores in Toronto that cater to newborns, toddlers, and of course – parents!
Li’l Niblets
source: Instagram / @lilniblets
Neighborhood stores that have their roots in the local community are a godsend for new parents. One such shop is Li’l Niblets, located in Lawrence Plaza (526 Lawrence Ave W Unit 16A) in Toronto. Li’l Niblets has a great online store that has everything you need to prepare for your baby but why not spend a leisurely afternoon browsing their location in person?
Li’l Niblets is open every day (yes, even the weekend!), which means you can take your time and make a few trips every now and then. This particular store has everything from baby essentials to clothes and toys under one roof.
Need a car seat or crib but can’t drive all the way to their store? Don’t worry, you can order on their website and get it delivered right to your doorstep. In fact, Li’l Niblets even offer car seat installation services by their certified technicians! You can rest assured that your little one is as safe as they could while you’re driving.
Baby on the Hip
source: Instagram / @babyonthehip
Some people are conscious of their environmental footprint, especially when they go shopping. So where do you go if you want eco-friendly or sustainable products for your baby? Baby on the Hip is a great option if you’re looking for stylish and quality baby products.
They operate out of two locations – one at 969 Queen St E and another at 2978 Dundas St. W in Toronto. Although store hours differ on Sunday, they are open 7 days a week for families! What can you get at Baby on the Hip? They have unique and quality products in multiple lines that cater to everything skin care to items exclusively for moms!
All the staff members in their stores have extensive knowledge of the products they sell. So if you’re unsure of anything, ask questions to your heart’s desire. The business owners take every care to be as ‘green’ as possible, including recycling their incoming shipping supplies for outgoing shipments. If you care about the environment and long-term sustainability, then Baby on the Hip is a great place to shop.
Advice from a Caterpillar
source: Instagram / @advicefromacaterpillar
Located at 8 Price Street, Advice from a Caterpillar is a lifestyle store catering to newborns and children. You’ll find exclusive lifestyle items for babies all the way to children aged eight. Although the store is closed on Sunday, they do have an excellent website you can order from at any time.
You can easily spend a day or two browsing their exquisite collection of new and vintage accessories for your baby. Mix and match items or color coordinate for a more cohesive look in the nursery. You’ll find everything from clothes, toys, books, and home decor items to fill your cart several times over. Beware, you have been warned!
https://advicefromacaterpillar.ca/
Love me do baby
source: Instagram / @lovemedobabymaternity
Love me do baby is yet another hidden gem, located at 79-50 Lynn Williams St. in Toronto. If you’re looking for maternity clothes or just some fun apparel for your child, this is the place to go. They stop many popular brands of children’s clothes along with some rather exclusive finds you won’t get anywhere else.
Not only do they have a great website where you can order just about anything you want but you can also get same-day delivery on some orders! Now, what could be more convenient than that? These are by no means the only awesome baby stores in Toronto but they are a great place to start your shopping trip!