Buying for Baby

Today I went by the one Japanese baby/maternity store that is in these parts.  It's a chain actually, and there are two pretty close by.  This was my second trip to Nishimatsuya (site is all in Japanese) but this time I went knowing I could filter out a decent-sized chunk of the merchandise.

I've also visited the baby section of Aeon as well as those in a couple of other supermarkets and small clothing stores.  There are some consignment shops around here that have baby things and I'll probably be checking out one of those later in the week.  And we've got a big trip to Ikea in our future as well. 

Update: I forgot to mention that there is a Babies R' Us pretty close to us but it's comparable to Nishimatsuya.  Lots of clothes, strollers and carseats but no cribs and way too much Mickey.

Baby merchandise is a little different here than in the US---mainly things are much simpler, especially nursery furniture and decorations.  Japanese people don't appear to go overboard like Americans in terms of baby things---they get just the necessities.  All these photos are from Nishimatsuya, but they're pretty indicative of what is available overall in a few categories---I didn't take photos of the grooming stuff, diapers, slings or swings but they are there (Pampers and Johnson & Johnson are popular brands).  Or baby food, because that is going to get a whole post by itself in the future. ;)

Nishimatsuya--the rabbit is always recognizable

mostly summer clothes right now

baby kimonos! (those are rabbits, not aliens...this is not
the best pattern)

I could dress her up like a ladybug.....

.....or a watermelon.  (also duck, cow or bumblebee, poor kid)

this is the ONE crib that is available in this whole dang country,
except for what you can get at Ikea---they don't use changing tables here either

mostly Winnie and Mickey for bedding, which I do NOT care for

on the other hand, there are bajillions of strollers and carseats to choose from--
as many as in the US

riding toys appear to be popular