Plop him down in Little Bean’s teepee while you hunt for accessories and clothing from small-run designers. Boys and girls clamor for Rubbabu’s cars and planes; Hazel Village dolls and Kid O pull toys round out the selection of lo-fi diversions.
Little Bean, 5308 Junius Street, Dallas (214-370-9111 or littlebeanshop.com).
At Clover, kids hightail it to buckets filled with marbles, polished rocks, and other trinkets that they can buy with their allowance. Wide aisles make for easy stroller navigation and step stools put German blocks and classic playthings within everyone’s reach.
Clover, 5333 Ballard Avenue NW, Seattle (206-782-0715 or clovertoys.com).
Families have long headed to Dottie Doolittle for classic (and affordable) holiday outfits and monogrammed sweaters. More than 30 years later, the inventory still has the power to make grandmothers squeal.
Dottie Doolittle, 3680 Sacramento Street, San Francisco (415-563-3244 or dottiedoolittle.com).
Owner, author, and former teacher Chudney Ross creates an environment where cuddling up with a book is a communal experience. Stocked with classics and contemporary reads, the cozy nooks (think hammock chairs and teepees) have tots and parents alike excited to plop down and get their word on.
Books and Cookies, 2230 Main Street, at Strand Street, Santa Monica (310-362-3103 or booksandcookiesla.com).
She can push choo-choos around the train table while you browse, or trail you with a mini shopping cart of her own. Both Building Blocks locations are packed to the ceiling with a seemingly endless assortment of toys.
Building Blocks, 3306 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago (773-525-6200); 2130 West Division Street, Chicago (773-235-1888 or buildingblockstoys.com).
DUMBO moms shuttle their offspring to Pomme for haircuts, music, art, and cooking classes. The magnetic wall that spans the store gives way to changing installations, but don’t let the highbrow aesthetic fool you: Monchhichis, craft kits, and stationery await at manageable price points.
Pomme, 81 Washington Street, at York Street, Brooklyn (718-855-0623 or pommenyc.com).
At the Boston mainstay Henry Bear’s Park, cubs go crazy for tables laden with toys to test. The abundance of musical instruments, science kits, and toys that spur creative play make it hard for parents to leave the shop with just one thing.
Henry Bear’s Park, locations at henrybear.com.
Art school grad and Treehouse Kid & Craft owner Kristen Bach spreads her love of DIY with classes and a full range of craft supplies. Her obsession with handmade also extends to her stock, a mix of Etsy discoveries and familiar brands that include Jess Brown and Blabla.
Treehouse Kid & Craft, 815 West Broad Street, suite A, Athens (706-850-8226 or treehousekidandcraft.com).
Rachel Baba dedicates Seed Factory’s inventory to staples that you may remember from your own childhood alongside modern lines such as Oeuf and Tea Collection. The white interior and spacious setup encourage leisurely browsing.
Seed Factory, 1170 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta (404-355-2043 or seedfactoryatlanta.com).
Sweet William’s Bronagh Staley has an eye for unusual clothing lines, as well as Waldorf-style toys and games from around the world. The beautifully edited assortment spans everything from Scandinavian kids’ wear to Hansa stuffed animals.
Sweet William, 85 Kenmare Street, New York City (212-343-7301); 112 North 6th Street, Brooklyn (718-218-6946or sweetwilliamltd.com).
At Full of Beans, owner Mary Hutchens is usually on hand to give expert advice. After 26 years in business, she’s a pro at pointing you toward age-appropriate clothing, fair-trade toys, and un-techy wooden playthings and puzzles.
Full of Beans, 3813 Livingston Street NW, Washington, D.C. (202-362-8566).
Everything from cute threads to cribs to the best kid lit are for sale at Yoya. The West Village gem lures New Yorkers and tourists alike with its hard-to-find international lines.
Yoya, 636 Hudson Street, New York City (646-336-6844 or yoyanyc.com).
While meandering through the cluster of rooms located in the quaint, historic building, you’ll come upon craft sets and European toys (Haba, Maileg) that spark imagination — without batteries or chargers.
Oxford Circus, 8127 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia (215-242-1600 or oxfordcircustoys.com).
Kid Firefly takes Erinn Berkson’s eclectic eye and knack for style and applies them to items for the under-6 crowd — toys, clothes, and accessories both beautiful and useful. Modern baby favorites (Ferm Living, Mini & Maximus) snuggle next to local brands (Anthem of the Ants, Dr. Robin) to create a baby bazaar of sweetness and charm.
Kid Firefly, 1405 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice Beach (310-450-6283 or kidfirefly.com).
With durability and practicality in mind, Give Wink’s Francine Delarosa cherry-picks from standouts such as BabyBjörn, and then enlists her three sons to test new products. A family affair, her husband is on-hand for custom furniture orders.
Give Wink, 2570 NE Miami Gardens Dr., North Miami Beach (305-705-3341); 8888 SW 136th St., Miami (877-494-9465 or givewink.com).
The Red Balloon Co.’s Jennifer Pope buys with the Midwest in mind. Fleece mittens and hooded buntings get Windy City tykes through the winter; Chicago-centric gifts allow them to show off their hometown pride.
The Red Balloon Co., 1940 North Damen Avenue, Chicago (773-489-9800); 5407 North Clark Street, Chicago (773-989-8500 or theredballoon.com).
You won’t find smocking or baby blue at Fiddlesticks. Instead, Elizabeth Leu outfits munchkins in apparel with a modern edge. She makes sure her stock of toys — a mix of dinosaurs, Japanese paper monsters, and trucks — strays far from precious, too.
Fiddlesticks, 540 Hayes Street, San Francisco (415-565-0508 or shopfiddlesticks.com).
The whimsical boutique carries luxury essentials such as cashmere blankets, pint-size caftans, and Lacoste shirts. Baby CZ swimwear and Petit Bateau tanks make for fashionable trips to the beach.
Poppy Store, Brentwood Country Mart, 225 26th Street, Santa Monica (310-260-4777); Marin Country Mart, 2413 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur (415-464-0222 or poppystores.com).
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