Beanstalk is the kind of toy store I wish is around when I was a kid. They carry a variety of toys…read moreand educational activity games. The store is clean and organized and I must mention the friendly staff on duty this past Saturday morning who offered to put a ribbon on a stuffed animal I purchased. There are plenty of street parking in front and around the store. It's a unique treasure for kids of all ages. Instead purchasing toys from of big box stores or Amazon, give Beanstalk a try!

This is an adorable toy store for the under 10 set. I am not in company with many youngsters…read moretheseadays, but I imagine this store is the kind of place they'd love. There's a train track that runs above the store with a train toddling along. I saw moms sitting on the floor while their kids explored. I was looking for newborn stuff, the store is more geared to toddlers and up, although lots of baby gear here too. I didn't stay long as I was looking for infant stuff but I imagine I'll be back when said newborn gets a little older.

New large fabulous store in Highland Park. Went today, great selection. The staff was all…read moreincredibly helpful , assured us if anything didn't fit we could return. Not sure why some say they are difficult about returns. Have shopped with them for years and have nothing but great experiences. Terrific selection for new baby or growing child. Highly recommend

The store's return policy is terrible, they won't let you exchange or return even if you buy an…read moreitem that is defected. I will never come back again.

Highland Park has a surprising number of baby and kid stores. I stopped here since I was looking…read morefor a coming-home outfit. There's a carousel outside the store on the sidewalk, which I think is kind of an adorable touch! The employees didn't notice at first that I had even come in... they greeted me when I wandered into the other room. The shop is large and clean and carries mostly baby clothes but has a few other items. They have a larger gender-neutral selection than another store I was at but still somewhat surprised by how heavily stores/manufacturers are still leaning into pink and blues for kids, or gendered cuts (ruffles, bows, etc.). I did see a few gender-neutral sorts of items but either had the item already or decided against it. I would probably not make a special trip to Highland Park to shop here, but that's not really a knock on this store because I don't know of any store that I'd head out to the suburbs for. Parking can be tricky because this is essentially downtown Highland Park, and you'll really only find street parking. However, the Metra station is only a couple blocks away. If you're looking for baby clothes you'll certainly find something here because they definitely have plenty of cute things.

Stopped in to Sprout Kids just to browse during the art fair and found the perfect gift with the…read moreassistance of Lisa. The personalized rocking chair was exactly what we were looking for. Lisa guided us through the options to select the material and lettering for the personalized gift. She then coordinated the order and delivery which was being shipped out of state. She assured us she will be on it and communicated with us each step of the way until the chair made it to the final destination. The family we sent it to loves the chair for their baby daughter. Would highly recommend stopping in to Sprout Kids when you are looking for children's gifts. Plenty of clothes and accessories to choose from.

This store was cute. I was greeted by multiple staff members when I entered. But I'm surprised how…read moredifficult it is in 2023 to find gender-neutral clothing. This shop didn't really seem to have much that was gender neutral, at least not for newborns. Even if I knew the sex of my baby I don't believe that there are specific colors for gender so I am not interested in having a closet full of just blue or pink things or otherwise gendered things. A couple of the staff greeted me but that was it. I wandered around and didn't really find much that piqued my interest. Parking is all on the street, and this is maybe just on the outskirts of the more active downtown area of Highland Park, so I imagine it can be difficult to park here (I think I had to circle the block once to find a spot that opened up). It's only a few blocks from Highland Park's Metra stop so that could be convenient if you need to make your way here.

It's been a while since I had to purchase a baby gift so I don't really know what's in anymore but…read moreI knew I could find an appropriate gift for a newborn here. They are very friendly and I found really adorable items for both genders for sizes tiny to toddlers. There were personalized blankets, hats, etc but I wasn't sure of the spelling so I went for an adorable onesie with tacos and guacs and a teeny tiny rainbow tutu which will be great for photos (imho). It is a little pricey but this is high quality and OOAK merch that will be appreciated. Also wrapped for me, a plus!

My best friend had to move up her wedding 6 months which lead us (as the bridesmaids) to have very…read morelittle time (6 weeks) to piece together some special surprises for her. I had a very last minute, very difficult embroidery project that needed done- low top shoes. Two other stores told me they could not do it. Initial Choice invited me in and told me they would find a way to make my project happen. I went in an immediately felt like these people knew what they were doing and really cared about making sure my friend got what she deserved on her wedding day. They made several suggestions and I basically told them I would leave the project in their clearly capable hands. I went back to pick up the shoes a few short business days later and everything was perfect. I could not have asked for better work and better customer service. On top of everything I found their prices to be extremely reasonable. I cannot wait to go back when I'm not under pressure to have more projects done!

What would we do without The Initial Choice? Lake Forest offers an abundance of choices for gift…read moreshopping, but this is my go to place. The small store packs a lot in without being cluttered. They have an excellent selection of tasteful accessories for ladies, kids, men and home - at reasonable price points. Monogramming is a focus and they do it well! There is practically nothing that can't be monogrammed and the expert staff does a great job advising on style/size/color. The Lake Forest/preppy motif is clearly represented in the merchandise selection. Need a 60045 needlepoint key fob? Look no further!

Wow is all I can say about this place. My husband and I had been to almost 5 different stores…read moretrying to look at strollers and either no one would help us or whoever did was too junior to know anything about them. Then we walked into Galt this past weekend. The woman who helped us was unimaginably helpful. She didn't sugarcoat anything and helped us pick a stroller that was right for our lifestyle. I just kept saying over and over, that visit put me so at easy (which is hard to feel during pregnancy). 12/10 recommend!

On the hunt for a stroller and car seat, which is an annoying task when preparing for a baby. But…read moreGalt & Buy Buy Baby are the two stores that I've heard of that carry a variety of strollers to compare, so off I went. This store isn't that large, though I don't know how it compares to other locations. They did have several strollers, all of the more expensive variety: Bugaboo, Uppababy, Cybex, etc.; you won't find a Graco or Chicco stroller here. I did appreciate that the woman showed me how to reverse the stroller, switch out the seat for the bassinet, and a variety of other features of the stroller. As I walked around she also told me about a couple of the gliders I was testing out, and showed me how simply one of the strollers worked with the carseat adapter. The employees here don't work on commission and that was good to hear, and were friendly enough making sure that I knew they were around if I needed help and then explaining things to me. She told me that if you purchase from them, they'll have someone put together the stroller, set up the car seat, crib and so on depending upon what you purchase. The cribs they had seemed to be of good quality and I'd like to take a closer look at them on another visit to some Galt location, since I know I'll probably make one.

I purchased the baby wrap with the panda design for a baby shower and the recipient absolutely…read moreloved it. It was a great gift and there were many more options. I highly recommend shopping at CocoMi as they offer a wide variety of products.

From the owner: We specialize in a selection of products designed to make parenting easier and more enjoyable. All…read moreour products are imported from Poland and are handcrafted. From our cozy baby changing baskets and supportive nursing pillows to the versatile baby nests and charming Moses baskets, we provide the essentials that ensure comfort and convenience. Our teddy bear accessory baskets add a touch of whimsy while keeping tiny items organized, and our mirrors and hanging baby organizers help create a nurturing environment that's both functional and delightful. With our range of thoughtfully designed products, you can feel confident and prepared for every moment of your baby's journey.

I am now 3 months postpartum and still successfully breastfeeding! All because of the help I…read morereceived at New Mother New Baby in the first few weeks after bringing my son home. I worked with Gail and I owe all my success to her! Walking into the office I immediately felt at home. Through the entire process she made both me and my husband feel comfortable. There was zero judgment. She listened to our concerns, worked with us to come up with a plan and taught us how to execute said plan with complete grace. She gave us tips and tricks in which I have continued to use each and every time I nurse my baby. Things I never would have known or tried if it weren't for her Knowledge. All of this.. and so much more in just two appointments with Gail. New Mother New Baby 10/10 would recommend.

If you are (or going to be) a new mom, this place is a must. The care, the classes, the…read moreinformation, and lactation consultants are absolutely phenomenal. I felt super isolated and lonely in motherhood (my mom, and MIL completely hands off and not helpful in the advice department) and I just felt utterly lost in being a new mother. As many new mothers do. I just didn't feel comfortable scouring the internet for answers. The new mom's class was super awesome! I learned so much and got to meet new moms just like me. I also was able to breast feed my son for 9 months (while working) Everyone is so kind, patient, and knowledgeable there. Gail and her staff care so much for the moms and families they impact everyday. Thank you!!