Kay_SD

We are traveling to Paris next week (our second trip), and since we are expecting our first child (a girl) in 15 weeks, I would love to pick up a special outfit, maybe even a christening gown, in Paris. I would like to find one or two nice outfits of good quality, but without completely breaking the bank (i.e., no $200 dresses). I would also appreciate recommendations on where to find nice non-clothing items, like a silver rattle or hairbrush or special toy. TIA!

slangevar

There are Petit Bateaus all through Paris... you can find locations and prices on their website. Somehow I doubt they have baptismal gowns, but you never know.

I saw several other baby shops there last fall (particularly in the Marais, I believe), but they were as expensive as the adult clothing shops. Basically I could afford to live and eat, but not shop.

Good luck and congratulations on your baby!

dutyfree

You will find darling baby clothes at Monoprix for everyday wear. There are numerous Monoprix all over Paris.

Guenmai

Also the major department stores like Galeries Lafayette and Printemps. And there is a great baby clothing store in the 7th. I bought my newborn nephew his clothes there. I don't remember the name of it, but it's very easy to find.
Just take the metro and get off at the Sevres Babylone stop. Then when you come up to street level, you will see the Bon Marche department store. If you stand FACING the store,looking west, then to your left, you'll see the baby store. It's right across from the little park that's right when you come out of one part of the metro. I'll try to look in my journal and find the name of the store as I write down every pouchase that I make when I travel. Happy Travels!

sglw

I was pregnant during my first trip to Paris and was looking for a good nice special outfit for my girl, while walking down the Champs Elises (sp) I found Nataly's and completely fell in love with it. I had family going to Paris and they have bought other stuff there for my girl.
Good luck

BKP

Can someone supply me with the name of the children's store that is in two separate buildings across the street from each other in the 5th? It's near the patisserie Gerard (sp). Can you tell I'm bad with names? I always find the one when I'm trying to find the other. Anyway -- that store is amazing.

There is also a children's store underneath the hotel L'Abbatial Saint Germain that we like. We didn't know the sex of our baby at the time so we settled on the softest sweetest baby blanket that has Bonne Nuit embroidered on it.

I don't think you'll have a hard time finding something. It seems like baby stores are everywhere in Paris.

Have Fun!

Therese

My favorite French children's store is Du pareil au meme. Great quality and price point. I wanted to cry when my daughter (who is now 14 and tall for her age) finally outgrew DPAM's clothing. Lots of branches.

Jacadi is also nice, if a bit more on the froufrou end of things. You might look there for christening gowns. As per the NYT, Bonpoint has a shop that specializes in christening gowns.

Kay_SD

Thank you for all of the suggestions! Since baby girl will visit Paris before she is born, I feel like she should have souvenirs of the trip.

Gretchen

Do look at the wonderful smocked dresses since you know it is a girl. And don't buy too small. They grow so fast, and you'll want something for when she is 9 months to a year when it will really show off. I found sweet girls' things at the Sunday Pl. Monge market for good prices.

surfmom

As someone who has enjoyed shopping for clothes for kids in the past, here are my thoughts:

- it will be expensive

- Natalys has great stuff - especially for girls. this is nicer, special things. I bought simple, cute white dresses that my girls used for beach pictures.

- DPAM (du Pareil au meme) has very cute stuff - more playclothes than special things. I got many cute things here.

- Monoprix - wonderful cotton clothes. Don't underestimate them b/c it is a department store. I've gotten really cute toile dresses for very good prices there.

- Petit Bateaus (bateaux ?) are also good - more for babies. Not inexpensive though.

As you can guess, my 2 favorites are Monoprix and Du Pareil au Meme.

I find clothes sizes run smaller than American counterparts. And newborns grow out of that first size in about 4-6 weeks. You can always have them in an outfit that is a little too big, but if it is too small, ...

For example, my 8yo is always in 8yo clothes. Shorts and skirts, she can wear 5-6's because she is so skinny (and they aren't too short like pants). Pants, she is in 8 slim b/c anything else is too short (or we have converted her 7's by adding cute ribbons/lace at the bottom to lengthen them). The dress we bought last year (when she was 7), she bought a 10... mainly because of the length. I don't know if fashions are shorter there ? She isn't particularly modest, but the 8 was too short on her long legs.

so... those are my thoughts. have fun!!!

grandmere

BonPoint on rue de l'Universite, Tartine et Chocolat on Blvd. St. Germain, and Jacadi, also on Blvd. St. G., have beautiful clothes. BP and T et C may officially be in the 7th arr., but near the 6th. Jacadi is a bit farther east on B. St.G.
Have fun!

Guenmai

OK...I've looked through many pages of my travel journal and the name of the children's store that I mentioned above is, "Carre Blanc". The side street to Bon MArche Department store is rue du Bac...according to my map here. So, it would be on that street...and just above the big cross street, rue de Sevres. So, right to the left of the little park that's directly in front of the Bon Marche Department store. Happy Travels!

yipper

Hi Kay,

There is a discount Bonpoint children's shop at 4 rue de L'University. This is in the 6th and the Metro is rue de Bac. The prices are 30-50% off. We bought a lovely dress for our granddaughter there in Feb. If you are in this area there are so many wonderful shops for all types of clothes, antiques, and home goods. Plus go to Deux Magots for a drink.

Congrats and have fun.
Yipper

kerouac

When my sister-in-law came to Paris, she looked at various items in various shops but ended up buying everything at an Auchan hypermarket. Not only was it exactly what she was looking for, but it was also half price compared to the small specialty shops.

takingthekids

We stayed in near the Jardin du Luxembourg on our last trip to Paris with our kids. A small street nearby called Rue Vavin had lots of childrens clothing and toy shops. It is close to the edge of the Jardin where the kids play areas are so that may be why there were so many kid oriented shops there. (Rue Vavin between Boulevard Raspail and Rue D'assas.) There was an amazing gelato shop on that block as well so you can kill two birds with one stone!

kerouac

True that rue Vavin is specialized in children's shops. However, I would have to say that the biggest collection of children's shops that I have seen is in the Val d'Europe shopping mall out by Disneyland. There is one entire subsection of the mall devoted to nothing but that.

W9London

Kay, you're in luck as you'll be there probably for the last phase of summer sale.

I also loved buying clothing for my kids in Paris. Another fan of Jacadi (nice knitwear, shame you're going to be there for summer) petite bateaux (good quality cotton, my favourite is yellow hooded raincoat), DPAM (nice colour assortment). Also my favourite place for getting that special dress/outfit is Tartine et Chocolat. Slightly a bit more pricey but not as bad as Bonpoint.

If pressed for time/efforts (your feet will be sore!), you can get multiple brands at the kids section at Printemps (personally like it better than Gallerie Lafayette).

I usually buy 1-2yr ahead. You're most likely to find summer clothes, so keep in mind that your Oct/Nov baby girl will be 6-9mo next summer. Agree with other posters that European size is probably a bit narrower.

I don't know about silver rattle etc (Links in UK does nice baby photo frame and other silver items), but I also liked children's stationery. Also Sephora carries several brands of baby perfume that does not contain alcohol.