Be Bright and Baby Your Baby Affordably

If you’ve noticed what babies are wearing nowadays, you might think they’re growing up too fast.

“Infant fashions have an almost grown-up look. There’s a lot of painted clothing, leggings and oversized shirts,” said Tammy Peloso, owner of the infant consignment shop Baby on a Budget in Orange.

Although you can still find traditional tailored baby clothing, especially in layette sets, infant wear has seen a lot of changes in recent years.

“People are moving toward bright colors for infants 6 months on up. Purple is really popular,” said Dee Dee VanHouse, administrative assistant at the Anaheim corporate office of Bergstroms Childrens Stores.

If you’ve got a little tyke to outfit, or know someone who does, high quality, affordable baby clothing is a necessity. Here’s a selection of stores that offer trendy and traditional clothes.

RETAIL STORES

BERGSTROMS CHILDRENS STORES

A popular item at Bergstroms this year has been its “Flap Happy” hats, which have a visor and material along the back to cover your infant’s neck. They come in a variety of prints and solid colors ($10).

Newborn boys and girls can keep warm in their Patsy Aiken three-piece separate sets with top, bottom and booties. They come in a variety of color combinations, including red and white, pink and white and blue and white ($40).

For those special occasions, put your little girl in a pink Rare Editions dress with lace collar ($26) or a Peek-a-Boo Zoo, one-piece party pant in a lavender, pink and purple floral pattern ($29). And when the weather cools, slip your baby girl into a hot pink and jade jacket ($19).

There’s plenty to choose from for infant boys at Bergstroms, including a Choozie red and royal blue jacket with lambs wool collar ($49), or royal blue coveralls with red suspenders by the same maker ($18). These coveralls complement a solid red shirt with a hint of royal ($18) and a royal-and-red print shirt ($19). They also have Weebok jean pants with trim ($29), jean jacket ($49) and matching hat ($8).

200 W. Alro Way, Anaheim, (714) 774-5050; South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, (714) 540-9090 and 16862 Red Hill Ave., Irvine, (714) 250-8080.

CHILDREN’S TIME

This children’s clothing store sells new and resale merchandise. Choose from a variety of new clothes, including a Bunny Love dress in orange and blue with a rabbit print and bows on the front ($15) and a Spencer sun dress in bright yellow, orange or green ($6).

For a really special occasion, outfit your little girl in an Isabella white satin dress with pink, yellow or white trim ($17). They also have orange or green Spencer toddler rompers with white trim and bright colored stars and seashells ($6).

For your little slugger, there are Spencer toddler tank-top sets in white with orange, green or bright yellow trim and shorts ($4 a set) or custom hand-painted romper sets, including a popular cow print with hoofs on the socks ($27). You’ll also find a blue-and-green sweat suit with a stoplight pattern ($13) and sweat suits in primary colors with bunny faces on the pants ($13).

10073 Valley View, Cypress, (714) 995-6090 .

MAIN STREET DOLLS AND BEARS

In addition to collectible dolls and bears, this shop offers infant clothes. The store has a lot of “cute” boys clothes, said manager and buyer Melissa Hecker, who notes that manufacturers make three times more girl’s clothes than boy’s.

For boys, you’ll find a LeTop 100% cotton red-and-blue coverall with a bear design on the front and matching hat ($20); a Petit Ami sailor romper in white with blue boats ($18); and Sea Urchin overalls in rain forest and jungle madness designs with matching shirts ($24) and hats ($6).

For christenings, there’s a set of Petit Ami white pants, shirt and hat for 3- to 6-month-olds ($18.50). Outfit your little girl in a long-sleeved Daisy Kingdom pink or blue dress with bunny designs and lace trim ($31). There are also LeTop 100% cotton tops with kitty faces in pink, white and black color combinations ($20) and black leggings. Or try the Petit Ami newborn dress in pink with matching trim and underpants ($17). The store also carries for newborns a pink Petit Ami bubble with matching hat ($17).

Buena Park Mall, (714) 828-5331.

RED BALLOON LTD.

Employees bill this store as a specialty shop that carries unique items generally not found in department stores. Common brands include Sophie Dess, Mousefeathers, Flapdoodles and Cal & Lizard.

Put your little girl in a Sophie Dess all-white sweater romper with lace and bows ($52), or try a muted green Mousefeathers dress with red cherries, a black collar and black bows ($64). There is also a navy-and-white houndstooth Sophie Dess dress with smocking ($56). Or for more casual occasions, outfit her in a short-sleeved Atlantis Underground antique vintage dress in white with ruffles ($42).

Your baby boy is sure to look at home in a Cal & Lizard romper that comes in bright kelly green with a little black lizard print ($36), or a knit Sophie Dess sweater romper in white with light blue trim and dots ($35), accented with a matching golfer’s hat ($16). The store also carries a Luli & Me navy-blue-and-white romper sailor suit ($52) and a Sophie Dess two-piece white button-down shirt with houndstooth pants and matching suspenders ($55).

Fashion Island Newport Beach, (714) 644-8808 and MainPlace/Santa Ana, (714) 542-9113. RESALE STORES

Because of the sluggish economy, infant wear consignment and resale shops are seeing a surge in business, said Sue Young, co-owner of Young Seconds in Corona del Mar. “We’ve had an incredible increase in business this year. Infants outgrow things so fast that people are now seeing consignment shops as offering a wise financial alternative.”

In many resale shops, you can find gently-used, name-brand clothing from 50% to 70% off the original retail price. They are generally current styles and are often unique garments that you won’t find in retail stores.

BABY ON A BUDGET

This infant consignment shop carries a number of brand names including Gymboree, OshKosh, Baby Dior, Baby Gap, Carters and Health-tex.

For baby girls, you can find a number of items, such as a two-piece Gymboree sweat suit in purple, fuchsia, green and yellow ($6.50) and a two-piece Health-Tex flannel floral overall and matching shirt in pink and white ($7). For a softer look, there’s a Baby Dior pink-and-white cotton romper ($6.50).

For boys, you can find a Nathan J. white-and-blue polka-dotted two-piece in 100% cotton ($6), or for bedtime, Little Me footed white pajamas with a train design ($3). Available only through catalogues is a Hanna two-piece, all-cotton romper in turquoise and white ($9.50).

For boys and girls, the store sells OshKosh jean overalls with a white shirt ($9).

2697 Orange-Olive Road, Orange, (714) 282-0622 .

CHILDREN’S EXCHANGE

Some common brands found at this store include Health-tex, Buster Brown, Guess, Quick Silver, Baby Gap and Gotcha.

There is a two-piece, mint-green-and-white diaper set with a little pink bow and lace ($7). For a special occasion, consider is a Bryan purple dress with a lace collar and white apron ($12).

For the 3- to 6-month-old, the store sells a Bebe Terrisique two-piece cotton knit white shirt with pink polka-dots and accompanying ruffled overalls in pink with white sheep ($8), or snuggle your newborn girl into a Disney Babies pink jumpsuit that pictures Minnie Mouse in sunglasses ($6).

There is a lot to choose from for boys as well, such as an OshKosh outfit for 3- to 6-months-olds. It has a white shirt with race cars on the sleeve and matching blue corduroy pants with red race cars ($11). For the older baby, try an Imp white linen suit with pants and jacket ($13). For active times, try the navy blue overalls with dinosaur appliques ($7) or cotton blue and white striped OshKosh shorts ($3).

23812 Via Fabricante, Suite A4, Mission Viejo, (714) 859-4397.

LITTLE ONES RERUNS

This store carries some new and many previously owned children’s clothing. It offers a good selection of brand names such as Good Lad, Gymboree, Nathan J., OshKosh and Buster Brown. Clothing comes from all over the United States, including New York.

For girls, you can find items such as a Good Lad red cotton dress ($5) and a pink corduroy jacket and pant outfit ($10). For dressier occasions, try the dark blue and white striped Good Lad sailor dress with pleated skirt. This has a matching sailor hat ($20). There’s also a new Childwise mint-green-and-beige sweat outfit ($10).

Boys will stay warm in a blue Good Lad sweat shirt with a truck design in leather ($4) or a Little Funky Knits cardigan in beige with a green and rust geometric design ($5.50). The store also has a yellow Baby Dior infant heavy sleeper ($8) and OshKosh denim overalls ($7).

7332 Center Ave., Huntington Beach, (714) 895-1508.

YOUNG SECONDS

At this shop, you can find a number of baby girl outfits such as a white Baby Dior jumpsuit piped in navy with red embroidered flowers across a sailor collar ($18) or an Absorba sleeper jumpsuit in white with pink bunnies ($4.50 on sale). For dressier occasions, slip her into a Sylvia Whyte Pinafore dress in blue and white stripes with a tulip applique in red, green and royal ($10). The store also has a Mousefeathers corduroy jumpsuit in black with pink and red trim ($18).

In boys’ wear, you’ll find light blue denim OshKosh shortalls ($7 on sale); a red and white striped Health-Tex jumpsuit with a race car print ($7) and Florence Eiseman red overalls with a matching turtleneck T-shirt in navy with red, green and royal trim and a car applique ($15). For nighttime comfort, try an Absorba sleeper in blue and white stripes with bunnies ($9) or a Health-Tex two-piece sleeper in light blue velour with multicolored stripes ($7).

436 Heliotrope Ave., Corona del Mar, (714) 673-2120.