Your friend’s bump is growing steadily, and it’s time to celebrate! Babies are so fun to shop for, but sometimes a baby shower can be an intimidating event. What baby bath is the best choice? Which adorable stuffed animal is perfect? Will your onesie be buried under a slew of well-meaning but boring gifts? Find the perfect stand-out present at a range of places around town. We’ve rounded up the best local stores to shop. Read on to find out more.
photo: personal creations via flickr
Baby Boutiques
There are plenty of specialty baby boutiques around town where you can locate a unique, special, and useful gift for the new arrival! The Pearl is home to Posh Baby for top of the line baby gear and beautiful brands, or head to Sellwood for The Bull and the Bee where you’ll find plenty of infant gear, gorgeous clothing, baby books, and adorable toys. Milagros Boutique in NE Portland is a fantastic resource for baby items as well as community connections, classes, and events for the new parents. At Polliwog you can find very special handmade items for babies, tots, and moms. Check out our list to find out more.
photo: TerriC via Pixabay
Toy Stores
Another great place to look are the many local toy stores around town. Unique items abound at these cool shops, and you won’t be able to find them in the big box stores. They carry things for babies as well as plenty for older kids, so if there’s a big sibling involved, you can find something for everyone (and make big brother or sister extra happy!). Kids at Heart has been slinging toys on Hawthorne for years and has a great selection of developmental toys as well as games and stuffed animals. Hammer and Jacks and Made You Look, both have great choices for the littlest among us, and on the West Side, Finnegan’s Toystore downtown has been a mainstay since 1977, or Thinker Toys can be found in Multnomah Village.
photo: Made You Look
Consignment Shops
Get the most bang for your buck at some of the area consignment shops, where you can find gently used items for a fraction of the cost. Most baby items are used for such a brief window of time, you’ll find like-new options for many of the items on your friends’ wish list. A few great options are Beanstalk, Piccolina, and Sweetpea’s for everything from used baby carriers and onesies, to high-end strollers and handmade headbands. Or check out Smallfry for gently used items for both mama and baby. Check out even more great spots here.
Pamper the Parents
Pay some special attention to the doting parents by supporting them those first few blurry weeks. Local spas will give a tired mother some much needed pampering, like at Zenana Spa or Veda Collective. Or give an extra give of love, like a few hours of needed sleep, a pair of extra hands, or some light housekeeping from Doula Love or Mother Tree. Consider these options as well.
After all that, don’t forget the classics—get that humidifier or the diapers they asked for on their registry, bring over a bag of groceries or hot meal, or swing by and hold the baby so they can take some showers.
—Katrina Emery
