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The Complete Guide to Online Shopping: Children's Clothes & Toys
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Slogan T-shirts, stripy romper suits, cute knotted hats, Cheeritoes socks and knitted toys are this shop's stock in trade, but it also does great retro toys so you can relive your childhood. If you can resist its range of toadstool moneyboxes, spinning tops and old-fashioned ABC cards, you've got more willpower than me.
020-7739 4737
Bonniebaby
One for children with deep-pocketed parents, this recently opened online shop specialises in designer knitwear for small people. The range includes motif baby sweaters, striped cardigans and hoodies, playsuits, bootees, hats and baby blankets, all of which are cuddly soft. Jamie Oliver and Gwyneth Paltrow are fans.
01273 227 779
Couverture
The online version of this cult lifestyle store consists of a small but well-formed selection of nostalgia-laced toys and children's clothing. If you can't find something to suit among its suitcases, books, musical boxes, knitted animals and scarves, there's a bigger selection in its mail-order catalogue, or in the King's Road shop.
020-7795 1200
Early Learning Centre
A good fall-back for children's toys and gifts, this is a reliable hunting ground for presents. As well as own-brand items designed to improve hand-to-eye coordination and hone motor skills, it sells big brands such as Lego, Fisher Price and Playmobil.
08705 352 352
Great Little Trading Company
Fun for all the family on one site. For parents, it offers road-tested toy storage, car essentials and home-safety products, and, for children, toys, games, playhouses and imaginative pieces of bedroom furniture.
08708 506 000
Joharo
Almost as much fun for grown-ups as it is for children, this site fills the gap for products that sprinkle a bit of make-believe into boring old furniture. Buy a beautifully made table-top tent and turn supper into a beach-hut picnic, or splash out on a bunk-bed den and transform bedtime into a trip to the farm.
01803 857 153
Letterbox
A superstore for children's gifts, games and toys; there's nothing pretty about the layout of this site but it makes up for that with a wide range of stock. Whether you're looking for anything from a sledge to a kit for making kitchen volcanos or a trampoline, you'll find it here.
08706 007 878
The Little Experience
If the thought of Blue Peter and sticky-back plastic makes you misty-eyed, this is the site for you. Specialising in prettily bagged kits designed to stimulate imaginations, products range from make-your-own-party-crown sets to bath-friendly boat kits.
01903 889 500
Mamas and Papas
A useful alternative to Mothercare - though the latter's booming online store is well worth a mention, too - this site stocks everything from pushchairs and toys to romper suits and unscary maternity wear.
08708 307 700
Nordic Kids
Not twee but not wearyingly hip either, the Scandinavian baby-and-toddler clothes site Nordic Kids stocks classic togs with a contemporary twist. It also boasts great, personal customer service. Look out for its quality stripy T-shirts, quilted jackets and camouflage-print Peacemaker dummies.
020-8386 0054
Not On The High Street
If you're fed up with trawling through the same old mainstream merchandise, log on to this website for items made by small, independent producers. Its current children's stock inventory includes cute peacock coats by Vanilla Moon, trendy Army Kids jackets and knitted carrot rattles from Lapin & Me.
Please Mum
How big do you have to be before you start getting into designer togs? Tadpole-sized, according to this posh children's clothes store. With brands including Moschino, Evisu, D&G, Armani, Roberto Cavalli, Nolita and Versace on its online rails, this proves that a passion for high fashion isn't just for grown-ups.
020-7486 1100
Tulip and Nettle
www.tulipandnettle.co.uk
This small Northumbria-based business does a nice line in nostalgic, home-spun children's clothes. If you like your nippers to look like members of the Famous Five then this is the place, with smock dresses, gingham shirts and babies' bloomers all part of the charm.
01434 673 961
Twisted Twee
Nothing on this site is old hat, not even the page layout, so it comes as no surprise that the clothes it sells (for children and parents) are original to the point of silliness. Where else could you get a Ride-a-Dad top, a pair of racing pants for a baby, or an ID T-shirt emblazoned with your child's name and your phone number?
07939 257 409
VIP Kids
Despite the icky name, this site covers plenty of sensible children's toys, furniture and accessories. For junior connoisseurs, though, there's always the Spider sports car bed, Retro Racer children's pedal cars (inspired by Ferrari F2 racers from the 1950s) or child-sized faux leather armchairs.
01482 831 563
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