a child in a toy storeOutfits and Toys from Chic to Cheap

By Elise Prouix
Photography by Lori Eanes


Oakland’s Ground Zero of children’s gear seems to be the trendy Rockridge neighborhood, which swarms with stroller and baby slings on any given weekend day as parents peruse the offerings up and down College Ave. But Montclair, Lake Merritt and Piedmont Avenue all have great offerings, too. The range and variety

SHOPPING ROCKRIDGE
Good spots to bet on in Rockridge include the lovely family-owned Berkeley Kid’s Room, which despite its name is not in B-town. Kid’s Room stocks lively furniture and colorful accessories for big kids’ rooms—no cribs here—from beds to bedding to computer hutches. Some prime picks are a wooden “study loft” featuring bunk beds with built-in shelves, drawers and a desk for $999; a toy trunk ($159) with a lid that’s built to stay up once opened, saving little fingers from being smashed; and whimsical drawer knobs shaped like butterflies, lady bugs, trains, footballs, backhoes, snails and more ($2.99 each).

Just down the block is the luxurious Cotton and Company, filled with adorable infants and kids clothing from brands such as Baby Lulu, Sophie Dess, Naf and Isabel Garretón. The prices can be prohibitively steep (for example, a beautiful silk baby dress with ribbon and beading for the 12-month-old market is $228), but it’s a wonderful spot to purchase a special baby gift, a christening gown (there’s a large selection) or a dress-up outfit (even little navy blazers for toddlers, complete with brass buttons). The shoe section is full-service—a great spot for buying Lulu her first Mary Janes—and Cotton and Company has a nice selection of maternity wear, including nursing bras, bathing suits and exercise gear. Little ones can play in the kid corral while parents shop.

Child’s Play, located kitty-corner, offers a less expensive alternative to keeping those little tykes clad in fashionable duds by offering resale fashions for infants, children and moms-to-be. The selection isn’t quite as fashionable, and you may be hard-pressed to find French designers among the racks of baby couture here, but onesies start at $1.99, which is a relief to almost any parent’s pocketbook. Child’s Play stocks resale gear such as cradles, bassinets, strollers and car seats and new and used toys.What’s available varies widely, so shop often. Child’s Play also buys: Buying hours are 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday- Friday and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Berkeley Kid’s Room, 6022 College Ave., (510) 420-0811, www.berkeleykids.com; Child’s Play, 5858 College Ave, (510) 653-3989 and Cotton and Company, 5901 College Ave., (510) 653-8058, www.cottonandcompany.com.

OFF PIEDMONT AVENUE
Crackerjacks, a wonderful little shop just off Piedmont Avenue, also carries mainly resale goods, but also has a delightful stock of funky, handmade baby wear for the hipper infants out there. Must-have offerings include Oakland Tshirts and onesies (both $18.50) and toddler hoodies in cool color combos with killer graphics (like headphones for the DJ-to-be) for $39. The resale gear veers toward designer, with one recent visit turning up a Ralph Lauren dress for the 12-18 month old crew for $7.50. Crackerjacks also has a slew of high-end resale Baby Bjorns and strollers—including a sporty Maclaren on a recent trip—and maternity gear, including a whole selection of jeans for under $20. Again, inventory varies widely, so you’ll never know what bargain you’re likely to find. Crackerjacks buys goods, too, and buying hours are 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday- Friday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Crackerjacks, 14 Glen Ave., (510) 654-8844.

AROUND LAKE MERRITT AND MONTCLAIR
And, just to satisfy the kids at heart, not all Oakland kids’ stores focus on clothing. The Magic Lamp Toy Store at Fairyland has a wonderful shop that will make both children and those who are merely young at heart happy. Appropriately, the shop focuses on fairytales, fairies themselves and all things King Arthur-ish, including enchanted fairy figurines, picture frames and snow globes; picture books based on tales including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rumpelstiltskin and Goldilocks and the Three Bears; a cornucopia of tiaras, magic wands and princess sparkly shoes and skirts; “King Arthur” sword and shield sets ($11.95); an extremely elaborate medieval knight’s castle play set ($18.50); and our personal favorite, friendly looking plush dragon puppets by Emeryville-based Folkmanis. The store is officially inside Fairyland, and while you can nicely ask if you can visit the store only, you may want to make it a day with the kids and take in the whole park ($6 admission, no adults allowed without a kid; hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, unless there’s inclement weather).

In Montclair, the narrow Toyhouse is stocked to the gills with all sorts of goodies for infants through junior high-schoolers, including old staples like Etch A Sketch and Hi Ho! Cherry-O and newcomers like the brightly colored, pop-art-design Stim Mobile by Manhattan Baby.

The Magic Lamp Toy Store at Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave. at Lake Merritt, (510) 452-2259; Montclair Toyhouse, 6115 LaSalle Ave., (510) 339-9023.

If you’d like your shop to be included in this column or have a favorite shopping destination to recommend, please contact Retail Therapy at retailtherapy@oaklandmag.com