15 Cool Kids’ Stores in Ottawa

Ready or not, most growing kids will need new stuff for the start of the season. That's why we thought you should know about these 15 cool kids' stores in Ottawa.

Besides being our new go-to for eco-friendly and natural baby toys, furniture and supplies, 3 Monkeys has our parties covered with its wide selection of three-piece suits and sweet party dresses, plus pirate, fairy, robot and princess-themed party supplies. We're big fans of their Newborn Cloth Diaper Rental Program—a way to avoid over-investing in those quickly-outgrown newborn sizes. Or, if you're a bit unsure about cloth diapering, give their Diaper Trial Program a try. Rent a cross section of sizes and brands for a week, then get a full credit towards a cloth diaper purchase when you're ready to commit to the ones that worked for you and your baby.

Looking at old photos of our babies always makes us nostalgic. That's why we plan to hang on to our memories with a gorgeous, cozy and practical memory quilt from Kokobaru. Bring their old clothes, special blankets or even worn-out stuffies to Kelly Manweiler. She'll share design ideas with you before working your treasures into a true work-of-art quilt, featuring anything from an abstract pattern to a complete picture made with scraps. You choose the size, from a small snuggle blankie to a full-size comforter. Don't have a stash of fabric ready to go, but still love the idea of a custom quilt? Kelly will create a colour-themed piece from new pieces to match your decor.

The Papery is an elegant store full of delightful finds, the kind of place where you'll want to buy everything. There are gorgeous handmade cards for your friends, rich and unusual papers for your next party invitations, and beautiful notebooks for your most important thoughts. The kids will love it there too—pick up pirate plates, make-your-own-mask kits, or ‘train in a tin' pre-made loot bags for your next birthday party. They have a great selection of origami paper for your little artist, and the absolute best array of (rare!) Tintin-themed items in town.

Just barely miss out on snapping up a garage sale bargain? Soothe hurt feelings with a quick stop at toy shop legend Mrs. Tiggy Winkles. Maybe a Jellybean stuffie, a new LEGO set, or a Thomas the Tank Engine will save the day. We're going with an adorable, brightly coloured Crocodile Creek ball, perfect to chase the blues away.

Whether you're travelling across the country, across town, or just down the street to the park, Readi Set Go has all the gear you need. We love their GoToobs—flip-top squeeze tubes perfect for one-handed baths and diaper changes. You'll want to pick up an Easy Squeezy sponge-topped lotion tube that makes rubbing on sunscreen a breeze, and be sure to grab some eco-friendly Kleen Kanteens, Innobaby stainless steel snap-lidded food containers, and a Sling Sisters ‘wet bag' for on-the-go messes, too.

Boomerang Kids is a perennial fave for children's clothes, gear and toys. It's not a big secret, but what you may not know is that they have four locations across the city: in Orleans, Kanata, Westboro and Old Ottawa South. This place is famous for being picky about quality. You can usually expect them to refuse a solid proportion of what you bring in to sell, but the quality is excellent and they also stock new items.

Here's a pro tip: keep to the right. The left hand side of the Glebe Emporium has plenty of (lovely, but breakable) glasses, serving dishes, and pots. But the right hand side of the shop has the cutest little corner of kid-friendly goods—from the Curious Chef line of child-sized kitchen utensils to brightly-patterned Sugar Booger plate sets to adorable animal-shaped cold packs. Also awesome: their line of Jellybean indoor-outdoor mats, featuring bright patterns, flowers, or ladybugs, that are fully washable. You'll need one for each room in the house where spills happen – um, make that every room.

Chick Pea Children's Boutique carries lots of fun knits, including sweet little organic hats, dresses, sweaters (and sweater vests, so cute!) by a number of different designers, such as nui organics, Egg by Susan Lazar, and Lillybee. A few of their products are good for the home too. Check out Chick Pea's Siliskin covers—the fun and funky grippers for glass baby bottles.

Belly Laughs is one of our favourite children's shops in Kanata. There's really something for everyone here, from nursing mothers, to wee babies and even their 'big' brothers and sisters. We love the Kalencom Diaper Bags (stylish, roomy and easy to keep clean), the PEPPA bonding doll (a wonderful first doll), their line of miYim organic toys and, of course, Sophie the Giraffe (made of natural rubber and phthalate free).

Kaleidoscope Kids' Books has earned a reputation as a great supporter of its community, generously donating book baskets and gift certificates to local events. They regularly have interesting speakers and literacy-related events, and free weekly story time that children love. Search through quality books for children in English, French and Spanish with a parenting section and select gift items chosen by the Kaleidoscope moms.

AMH Style is just what's needed in that busy back-to-school season (but it works year round). Great styles that have been gently used mean even greater prices. Inventory changes all the time, so visiting often pays off. From brand names to fashion labels, you never know what you'll find in store.

From their super cute toys (we were looking for any excuse to take a Frank Fischer stuffed monkey home with us), to their made-in-Canada, sleek and modern, Tulip Piccolo kids' furniture—there's something to crave every time you turn around at Fab Baby Gear.

It's not just bedding and baby gear that can be found here—custom clothing is deftly tailored at lulu&coco. Favourite items can be recreated in a larger size, beloved jackets or snowsuits can be repaired or items from a magazine spread can be copied. There's an interesting stock of pre-made items by exclusive brands, like the Girl Gotch and Green Kids.

This online store based in the Ottawa area has tons of great eco-friendly gear for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. From the Goodbyn Bynto box, to the Planetwise sandwich wraps, your kids will be lunching in style. Eco Bebe also helps out local moms by offering a shipping deal with orders of just $40 or more.

Whether you're travelling across town or across the province, great gear from new Westboro boutique Baby enRoute can actually make travelling with kids easy, stylish and comfortable. Need to carry some restricted liquids in the cabin, like diaper cream or sunscreen? We love their Go Toobs—non-leaking squeeze tubes with a flip top in regulation sizes. And once you get to Grandma's, make everyone comfortable with toddler travel beds by The Shrunks.