Why I Launched a Baby Boutique as a New Mom

I learned that I was pregnant with Alicia exactly 4 weeks after our wedding, a small ceremony, celebrated at our just-bought home in PA. I took a home test on Saint Patrick’s Day, after rushing my husband to drive to the pharmacy before the heavy snow got too thick. I couldn’t believe I was already pregnant.

How did that happen so quickly? Don’t they say it can take months? I am not a young mom, this was supposed to be difficult and take time, I was not prepared! In a matter of seconds, the previous weeks of my life passed through my mind: did I do anything unsafe? Was the food I took pregnancy-approved? Did I drink any alcohol? Could the baby have gotten hurt when I stumbled and fell while running? And a whole myriad of scary thoughts crossed my mind as I sat on the toilet and looked at the two pink stripes on that home test. I had never felt so scared, unsecure… and determined to take care of the life growing inside me.

When I learned that I was pregnant, a whole myriad of scary thoughts crossed my mind. I had never felt so scared, unsecure, and determined to take care of the life growing inside me.

Although pregnancy was an unforgettable experience, and I was lucky to have a really healthy and easy one, I was full of fear of doing something wrong or just something that was not the best for my baby. That applied to many things, including any products I used, what I put in the nursery or the clothes I bought for my baby.

Many parents share the same concerns on the products they buy for their babies: health and safety, responsibility, convenience and comfort, price and quality and distinctive style.

Health and safety

Same as I do not consume any products with artificial preservatives, colorants, or other chemicals that, even being legal in the US are proven to damage our health, I was deeply worried about buying baby products that would expose my baby to chemical substances. When I started doing my research, I was overwhelmed by the number of chemicals that are permitted to use in the United States while prohibited in Europe. Also, most of what the market was offering for baby clothing was imported from low-cost countries with less regulations.

Responsibility

I pay attention to where the products I buy come from and how they have been manufactured. Buying from responsible manufacturers and countries that respect Human Rights, where there are laws and controls against child labor or modern slavery, and environmental controls, is important to me.

All of our products are Responsibly Manufactured in Europe

The European Union enforces the most rigorous safety standards concerning chemicals in children’s products.

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Convenience and Comfort

I wanted to buy clothes that would be appropriate for a newborn, soft and snuggling, warm (Alicia was born in November), easy to put on and take off, clothes that would serve multiple purposes (I will give you a full dissertation about why cute onesies are the best thing ever for newborn babies), of course hypoallergenic, easy to wash, etc.

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Knitted Sets 100% Cotton

The most comfortable first outfits

Price and Quality

I value things that are well crafted and that show their quality at first sight. When I looked at the different options for buying baby clothes in the US, I found something surprising: either you buy really cheaply made stuff or you buy high end brands, with nicer designs, but sometimes ridiculous prices, not that well manufactured and, the most annoying thing of all, most of the time made in low-cost countries!

Our Clothing Ships from the US with no customs or duty fees

Distinctive Style

Pretty things make me happy and, although our babies are cute by themselves no matter what they are wearing 😉 I think that you can dress your baby in nicer outfits and still make them comfortable. Finding stylish clothes for babies and children was the most challenging task for building Alicia’s wardrobe. At the end of my pursue, you may be surprised to know that I never bought any outfit for Alicia in the US, except for pajamas and onesies.

While I was desperately looking to buy high quality, stylish and affordable clothes for Alicia in the US, my friends and family started shipping gifts from Europe and that made a whole difference on how I looked at baby clothes

At this point I have to make a pause to tell you something about myself, in case you didn’t know, I had lived my entire life in Europe, before I moved to the US almost 3 years ago. I was born and raised in Spain, that is well-known in Europe for the traditional children’s clothing manufacturing. And while all my life I had seen kids wearing really nice outfits every day, I didn’t become a mom until I was living in the US, so I didn’t have any experience buying baby clothes (only some gifts for my friends that had kids, for which, by the way, I have to say I was a terrible shopper because I didn’t understand at all how life with a baby was). I wanted to make this point because, while I was desperately looking to buy high quality, stylish and affordable clothes for Alicia in the US, my friends and family started shipping gifts from Spain and France to me. My mom flew here a few days before Alicia was due, bringing with her two whole suitcases of clothes for her. They were not all new, many of them where hand me downs from my friends or even my moms friends’ grandchildren, others were new gifts, but I will never forget when we unpacked those two suitcases, how impressed I was with the quality of all the garments, the new and the old, the details, the designs, the materials… they were light years away from what I had found at home, in the US.

That moment made a whole difference on how I looked at baby clothes. I was aware before that Spain and Portugal (our neighbor country), were famous around Europe for their baby and children clothing, but before becoming a mom, honestly, who cared? But everything changed once I realized that those were the kind of garments that I wanted for Alicia, because they were meeting all my expectations: they were responsibly made in countries with the highest safety standards, they were absolutely pretty, they were comfortable and appropriate, their quality was amazing, and the prices were reasonable!

The Suitcase That Changed Everything About Baby Clothing

Gifts and hand downs from friends in Spain, also some outfits from when I was a baby

Everything changed once I realized that those were the kind of garments that I wanted for Alicia: they were responsibly made in countries with the highest safety standards, they were absolutely pretty, they were comfortable and appropriate, their quality was amazing, and the prices were reasonable!

After that, all that I bought for Alicia was European made clothes. But I found that, although you have some options to order online from the US, their selections are limited and expensive. Shipping costs are high, returning is not worth it because of the cost (and every mom knows how it is almost impossible to buy the right size and fit), styles were extremely traditional and undifferentiated, and overall, I couldn’t find the same variety, quality, fun style and high quality while affordable options that I find when I travel to Spain. Luckily, we travel to Europe several times a year, so I was able to buy Alicia’s wardrobe for the season there. I cannot tell you all the compliments we get about her outfits. No matter where we are or who we are in front of, male or female, kids or elderly, people praise her outfits and ask me about her clothes. And I was glad but also sad to tell them “Oh, I bought this when we were on vacation in Spain, I am afraid you cannot get it here”, because as someone that likes pretty things, I wanted to share with you what I thought was the best option for my baby.

When I tried to buy European clothing from the US, I found that shipping costs are high, returning is not worth it because of the cost, styles were extremely traditional and undifferentiated, and overall, I couldn’t find the same variety, quality, fun style and high quality while affordable options.

I used to be eager to tell people that Alicia’s outfits were not only cute, but also good for her delicate baby skin, made with high quality standards, ethically manufactured, affordable and… they also washed so well from all the baby messes!

When I decided to start the adventure of Alicia’s Nursery, importing European-made children clothing into the US, I was so excited to share with other moms what I had learnt and discovered. And I dream about all your babies dressed up in our cute European outfits!

Our vision is to bring affordable high quality European baby and children’s clothing to America’s households.

Go to the store and check my selection for my baby and yours

Products Highlighted in this Post

Dusty Pink Dress Combining Knitted Top and Skirt with Printed Balloons (3M--12M)
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 1 customer rating
Original price was: $50.00.Current price is: $35.00.
Baby Boy Whale Sweater, Shirt and Shorts Set Original price was: $90.00.Current price is: $63.00.
Baby Blue Knitted Set with Striped Peter Pan Collar (NB--9M) Original price was: $65.00.Current price is: $45.50.
Blue and Red Mini Dress and Bloomer Set (3M--24M)
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 2 customer ratings
Original price was: $110.00.Current price is: $77.00.

Children's Fashion