Unique baby shower gift from Paris, etc.?
 

I have just been notified that a baby shower (girl) I am to attend is moved to just a day after we return from Europe. I did not shop in advance, so I thought it might be neat to get something for the baby/mom there.<BR>We will be in Paris, Bruges, Brussels, Amsterdam and London.<BR>I am not a baby shower expert either. <BR>Any recommendations for something unique from one of these cities would be greatly appreciated!

You're not a huge fan of spontaneity are you? I mean, you ask questions about almost every conceivable aspect of your trip when just acting on spur of the moment impulses could work just as well.<BR>

The baby stores in Paris are to die for--you will see something that will grab you. They have a lot of Babar themed items which I love. And on rue Dominique about 1/2 block from the Seine there is a shop that sells smocked dresses that are beautiful.

Oooooooo .. the French LOVE babies &amp; children -- you'll have a hard time deciding.<BR><BR>For ease of shopping I would suggest one of the big stores such as Galeries LaFayette. But I have seen great baby/kid stuff also on rue St. Dominique in the rue Cler area. Enjoy your shopping :)

I just noticed Brugge in your list -- there you can get all sorts of wonderful baby things decorated with Belgian lace. I bought a small pillow with the ribbon lace for a baby gift. I wish I'd bought 10.

Quinty,<BR><BR>Look for the Bonpoint shoppes with several locations in Paris...they sell chic well-made clothes... we purchased some gorgeous smock-style dresses and silver haircombs.<BR><BR>One location: 15 rue royale in the 8th.<BR><BR>Tartine et Chocolat has wnderful things too, specializing in cover/overalls. 105 Rue de Faubourg-St-Honore, in the 8th also...(with branches around Paris also)<BR><BR>Froment-Leroyer #7 rue Vavin in the 6th, is for really little ones, with lots to choose from.<BR><BR>Happy shopping.<BR><BR>Wendy

Jacadi is another line of high quality baby clothes with shops in Paris, Brussels and Brugge.<BR>Don't forget baby books and stuffed toys! There are some really outstanding high quality stuffed animals made in Germany and France. In Brussels, on the Avenue Louise, next to the Conrad Hotel, is an upscale toy shop with traditional toys. Worth checking out. <BR>A note about Petit Bateau: According to a French gentlemen seated next to me on a train from Basel to Paris, Petit Bateau has now been bought by the Yves Rocher company (a mid priced skin care and beauty products company). At the moment, many Petit Bateau things are made near Troyes, but with the new owners the employees are afraid the work will be &quot;farmed out&quot; to Asia. <BR>Finally, don't forget the new mom. Maybe a small gift basket of French skin care products. Caudalie is very chic at the moment; the products are sold in French pharmacies (also widely available in Belgium pharmacies).

BTilke -- thanks for a wonderful list of ideas -- I'm saving it for my next trip [grandkid #3 arrived recently]

Thanks all for the replies.<BR>Like I said, not an expert at baby showers anyway, so these tips are very helpful indeed.<BR>I liked the idea about skincare/etc. for the Mom as well. She's my husband's sister so we're a little closer. I think that would be a nice touch.

A few other ideas (I've been buying a lot of baby gifts lately):<BR><BR>A silver baby spoon from Christofle (in Brussels, there's a large Christofle store right next to the Hilton Hotel on the Blvd. Waterloo)<BR>Baby cup and saucer, etc., from Villeroy &amp; Boch (there's a V &amp; B store on the Ave. Louise in Brussels, just up the street from Cartier, etc. and there are V &amp; B sections in the china departments at Galeries Lafayette and Au Printemps)<BR>a really nice baby blanket.<BR>Some of the best baby shopping will be in Brussels. There are several high quality baby/child shops along the Avenue Louise. Between the Place Louise and the Conrad Hotel (just a couple of blocks), I can think of at least four. In Belgium, you'll see some Cool Island stores--kind of a Belgian version of the Gap--and they have stuff for kids as well.<BR>Designer diaper bag

These really are some wonderful ideas. :)<BR>I didn't plan on doing a whole lot of shopping in Paris, and since so many recommended shops are right near my hotel in Brussels (Conrad Brussels), I will plan to check those out.<BR>If something elsewhere catches my eye, then I'll get that too!<BR>As for that basket of Caudalie brand skincare items, are pharmacies easy to find in Paris/Brussels? In Paris I am staying at the Paris Hilton near the Eiffel Tower. Just wondering if there's one convenient to either of these locations. <BR>Thanks!

I was searching for a gift for my grandchild-to-be last trip to Paris, and I especially loved the clothes in Tartine et Chocolat (also they sell wonderful baby products, such as lotions, etc.) and Bonpoint. The shops were in the area where the 6th and 7th end/begin, just down from Blvd. St.Germain, toward Seine.

I second the Bonpoint suggestion. When my son was born last year, my cousin in Paris sent us the most exquisite little blanket from Bonpoint. Simply beautiful.

Yes, there are pharmacies near the Conrad. If you walk down the Ave. Louise, toward the Place Louise, you will find one on the same side of the street as your hotel less than a block away (literally a 1 minute walk). I *think* they carry Caudalie (I know they carry Lierac, Darphin, Mustela, Vichy, Roc, etc.). If they don't, ask them where to get it nearby. There is also a pharmacie at the intersection of the Ave. Louise and Avenue de la Toison d'Or (right by the Louise metro stop). The Inno department store on the Ave. Louise near you has baby clothes on the top floor, but they don't carry as many &quot;top line&quot; labels like Jacadi, etc. The covered shopping gallery around the Inno also has a few children's shops (Petit Bateau, for example).<BR>FYI, the Conrad lobby lounge/bar area makes a pretty good chicken club sandwich, in case you get in the mood for one. There is an excellent antiques shop in the Conrad shopping arcade, specializing in silver (nice window shopping, if nothing else); there is also a Pierre Marcolini chocolate store.

There is a line of products for both mom &amp; babe you can find in most pharmacies in Paris..Mustela. This is great stuff and most folks would probably like it. The products are available in some select stores(mostly upper end baby stores) in the US. Mustela makes great balm,shampoo,soap etc for babe and things like stretch mark cream for moms. They also have a gift pack chock full of things for babe.<BR>It will be much less in Paris than in the US.<BR>

Darphin makes wonderful skin care products for the mom. This stuff is available in the US however at Neiman's. I bought much of the line while in Paris for about 50% less than in the US. You can buy it at many pharmacies in Paris. I found mine in the 11th near the Republique.

Don't know where you live, but there is a Jacadi where I live, and Mustela products are pretty widely available. If you're looking for something a little different, but nice, I might suggest some Babar merchandise. You can get a Babar doll in the States, but at Portobello Road market (on a Saturday), I saw some wonderful antique Babar prints. I wish I had bought them for friends with kids or who were having kids (to put them aside). They're really special, and would look fantastic in a nursery. I grew up with some rare Brer Rabbit framed prints in my room, and I always loved them, and looking back on them I think they were very special.<BR><BR>That said, it all depends on what your sister-in-law is into. Sometimes cute baby clothing and bath products are just the ticket!