Children's Stores in Coconut Grove: the BabyMama Rankings

Sometimes, when Elle and I need to get out of the house for a while but have no specific "plans", I head into the heart of Coconut Grove. There's plenty to do there with kids that doesn't involve shopping, like 3 playgrounds, the huge field at Peacock Park (great for running...and running...), the library, the fountain, the goings-on at Cocowalk, and a ton of places to grab a tasty treat at an outdoor table. We do like to do some shopping too, though! For such a small village, Coconut Grove has many shops that feature items for children. Here are my rankings and reviews of children's stores in Coconut Grove:

My Favorite.........Tula and Tupi: This store hits all the marks for me. They have both clothing and toys (lots of Melissa and Doug), and they offer many different price points. AND, they are really really friendly and helpful! A lot of the clothing is from their own Tula and Tupi brand, but they carry other brands too. One of their specialties is the ballet theme, so if you have a little ballerina on your hands, this is the place to go. The accessories are plentiful, too.

A Close Runner Up for Favorite....Brenda's Boutique: I really toyed with the idea of doing a "tie for first" between Brenda's Boutique and Tula & Tupi. Brenda's Boutique a tucked away little shop, and is sooooo warm, friendly and cozy! There is a resident cat sleeping inside at all times, and a resident toddler (Brenda's son) much of the time too. This store isn't exclusively a children's store, so the clothing selections are somewhat limited. On the other hand, she has so much cool, adorable "stuff" (accessories for all ages) that you'd be hard pressed to walk out empty handed. My nine-year-old looooves this place as much as my two-year-old and I do, and Brenda the owner is very sweet and helpful. No toys to speak of, though, so it can be a bit of a trick keeping the two-year-old from getting touchy with some of the jewelry displays that are not meant for little ones. I guess that's why Tula and Tupi wins by a nose--Elle heads straight for the toys when she gets there and I can browse without worry.

Third Place....BabyGap & GapKids: There is a two-story Gap store at Cocowalk, and the upstairs is a BabyGap, GapKids, and Gap Maternity. I actually end up buying quite a bit for the kids here--their sale racks are always full of good deals. That said, I find their regular-priced items to be a little expensive for homogeneous big box everyday kid's clothes--I usually hit Target or ebay for day-to-day wear. But the sale racks at this BabyGap and GapKids almost always have good finds.

Last Place.....Hippo: Honestly, I rarely go in this boutique any more because it really, REALLY isn't my style. First off, they are not very friendly and warm. Second, the clothes don't ever really appeal to me, and third, everything is quite expensive. If you're looking for a high-end children's boutique in Coconut Grove that carries a lot of European children's clothing lines, then perhaps this is the place for you. It's just not the place for me, and since these are the Babymama rankings, Hippo ranks last. They do have a wide range of sizes for different ages, though. And the sale rack at the back of the store sometimes has a few hidden gems.

Honorable Mention...The Bookstore in the Grove: This one gets an honorable mention, because it technically isn't a "Children's Store in Coconut Grove", but it has a pretty wonderful children's section. They have a nice selection of toys, books, and backkpacks, and if you're into Hello Kitty stuff, well, they've got an entire well-stocked display. They also have a cozy bakery and cafe area, perfect for sharing a sweet treat.