Christmas may be for kids, but Christmas shopping is for adults. Get the best of both worlds at some of the coolest kids’ stores in the Twin Cities—which just happen to be located right here in Edina.
IN EDINA
Goodnight Moon is a one-stop outfitter for chic babies and toddlers. Offering tiny cargo pants, cable-knit sweaters and seasonal items like beautiful-yet-durable winter coats and adorable galoshes and rain slickers, this boutique focuses on “classically modern” apparel, according to owner Deborah Damian.
“I don’t necessarily follow trends; I buy things that I would have dressed my children in,” she says. Good thing she has amazing taste—her 20 years in the fashion business is a boon for customers.
Goodnight Moon also boasts a selection of shoes, stuffed animals and books, as well as gorgeous christening gowns, wedding attire and special orders.
Perhaps one of the biggest bragging points of Goodnight Moon is its location. With its own parking lot and two entrances, the shop is built for moms on the go.
5051 France Ave. S.; 952.285.5252
Many stores pay lip service to offering unique kids’ clothes, but Oh Baby! takes the claim to heart: owner Mary Lauer personally designs about half of the inventory, most of which is handmade right here in Minnesota.
“We’re dying the fabric, cutting it out, giving people unique things at the same price you’d pay for mass-produced items that everyone is wearing,” Mary says.
With a vast selection of clothes, hats, hairpieces, shoes and books, Oh Baby! appeals to punk rock tots as well as valedictorians-in-training. They also offer customized, handcrafted bedding and interior design services.
Shopping in-store is a delightful experience, but for those snowy nights when you just can’t face the cold, put on a pot of tea and shop their extensive website.
3509 Galleria; 877.417.9119
Once your child is clothed, head over to Pottery Barn Kids to outfit his or her bedroom. Offering mix-and-match bedding, furniture, lamps and accessories, PBK also features seasonal goodies like Christmas toys and the cutest, fluffiest Halloween costumes ever made.
Kid-sized travel gear (think luggage sets and sleeping bags) is popular around the holidays, just in time for those trips over the river and through the woods to Grandma’s house.
And always in style are the Anywhere Chairs, small foam armchairs with a variety of decorative slip covers, light enough to tow around the house but sturdy enough for preschool-sized kids.
3150 Galleria; 952.848.8705
If you’re searching for unique toys to keep kids busy for hours—and are sick of ubiquitous Nickolodeon branding—look no further than Creative Kidstuff, which specializes in truly distinctive toys, games and puzzles for kids of all ages.
Fun for the whole family are Quadro systems, huge Lincoln-Log-style playsets you customize and construct yourself --you get to unleash your inner Frank Lloyd Wright to create the playset, while your kids will love monkeying around on the finished product.
Creative Kidstuff even has something for the youngest babes (and their parents): check out the MamaRoo, a motorized baby swing seat that mimics five different soothing motions, such as “Car Ride” and “Tree Swing” and five gentle nature sounds. Or, plug in your mp3 player to rock your baby to sleep—figuratively and literally.
3555 Galleria; 952.926.4512
JUST AROUND THE CORNER
A sister store to the Uber Baby shop that formerly resided in the Galleria, Uber Outlet features funky kids’ clothes for 50 to 90 percent off retail. But don’t think the discount prices indicate low quality: “I work with manufacturerers around the world and I turn a lot away because people have an expectation of what Uber Baby is—funky, edgy, full-of-color clothing,” says owner and Edina resident Lynne Gonsior.
Plus, coming in January, look for Uber Baby Lifestyles, Lynne’s own clothing line that will be sold in boutiques nationwide.
6015 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls.; 612.869.0930
This well-lit, airy boutique is more like a gallery than a store. The Hopkins location (the original is in St. Paul) features an extensive collection of cribs, nursery furniture, high chairs, car seats and strollers, as well as funky diaper bags and accessories. Offering gift registries and a comprehensive website, Baby on Grand is a luxurious shopping experience, no matter how you access it.
1010 Main St., Hopkins; 952.912.1010
This funky little shop started out as a clothing consignment shop, but owner Pei-Lin Yap admits that “toys kind of took over.” Now, Something Safari specializes in distinctive toys, games, puzzles and books that kids ages 3 and up will flip for. Check out their selection of kids’ crafts, like face painting guides, stamp sets and all kinds of markers and finger paint.
1110 Mainstreet, Hopkins; 952.746.8927
