Mother's little helper
Baby wears her new ultra-funky red dress, beautiful striped tights and red shoes. You're strolling downtown Athens, thinking of where to have a refreshment or snack, or maybe visit a museum or gallery, and suddenly, the all-too-familiar smell hits you! OK, you think, I have changed a baby on her stroller, in the middle of the street before, no stress, I can handle it. But wait: the baby has started eating fruit recently, pears in particular, they're sweet and yummie... When they go "in". Because when they go "out"... There goes the beautiful dress, and the beautiful tights, and the underwear, and you start swearing you're going to sue the diapers company for this...
In case you find that your baby is soiling clothes at a speed rate you can't follow, you may find yourself needing to do some baby shopping. In the center of Athens, you can find many stores devoted exclusively to baby clothing and accessories. Number one, Mothercare. With stores in Kolonaki (Omirou street), Ermou street (off Syndagma square) and inside Attica Department Stores (Panepistimiou sreet) and Notos Galleries (Stadiou street, off Omonoia square), it promises to supply you with fairly well-priced, excellent quality clothes and accessories (virtually for all baby activities: bath, meal, stroll, play, sleep). You can also check out Prenatal (Nikis street, Syndagma square) for a similar, although smaller selection. The great thing about Mothercare stores is that they also have a changing and breastfeeding room, where you can wash, change and nurse your child in peace. Check out www.mothercare.gr for more information.
Inside Attica Department Store and Notos Galleries, you can also find designer clothing for babies (such as Lapin, Alouette, Gant, Ralph Lauren, Benetton, Marasil), as well as Chicco products (in Notos Galleries only), who specialize in strollers and meal-related products (bottles, warmers, carriers, etc).
If what you need is more on the entertainment child, if suddenly baby is utterly bored with everything you have brought (they tend to do that!), you can find baby toys in both department stores mentioned above. However, if you are looking for more unusual things, try Imaginarium (Kifisias Ave, Ambelokipi or Stadiou street and Korai). We're talking about really original and creative stuff, specially labeled according to age but also according to different skills they require, you can see the collection at www.imaginarium.gr Also, if you're in The Mall (Neratziotissa train station, Maroussi), don't forget to visit Early Learning Center at the 3rd floor. Toys that teach and entertain, following the "let's pretend" philosophy, great quality but slightly overpriced. Who said kids come cheap?
