Kids Allowed: Toronto Shopping with Families in Mind

Kids Allowed: Toronto Shopping with Families in Mind

Published: 03/08/2010 by Deanna Lampert

Shopping can be a chore when the kids are in tow. To avoid whining and public limb flailing, check out a few spots and malls around Toronto that make taking the kids out less stressful.

Ikea
Ikea, the go-to for trendy and put-it-together-yourself home furnishings offers kids a supervised playroom. Once a new coffee table or PAX wardrobe system is picked out, the whole family can head to the cafeteria for a well-priced meal -- where else can you get 15 meatballs and fries for $2.99 on Mondays? Jars of baby food free with the purchase of an adult meal and there’s a special children's menu. Strollers and baby care rooms are available.

Indigo
Kids can grab a book from the children’s section, while parents flip through mags and books and grab a hot beverage from the in-store Starbucks. (Downtime is maximized when reading side-by-side with your child.)

Lil' Bean n' Green
Café meets daycare at Leslieville’s Lil' Bean n' Green. Adults sip on fairtrade tea or coffee, while children can play in the indoor tree house. The playroom ($3 entrance fee) has eco-friendly toys, a colouring area, a chalkboard wall, slide and more. There are also classes and special activities available for an extra fee. When hunger strikes, there’s a kids menu with brekky favourites like grilled cheese, pancakes, scrambled eggs and French toast.

Little Bird Fly
The Junction’s Little Bird Fly is a consignment store for kids with clothing, gear and toys. Locally made clothing and accessories, as well as gently used nursing and maternity clothing are also on hand. The store offers a large play space where little ones can play with all sorts of toys on soft, colourful mats. Family programming, workshops and private functions also take place.

Naturino Children's Shoes
Take the kids to Woodbrige for some new shoes and an area to play. Naturino Children's Shoes offers footwear for all -- from babies to teenagers. Italian shoes come in hundreds of different styles. There’s a play area with a slide, toys and a table for colouring. Parents are asked to watch their children, as shoes have become colouring books in the past.

NASCAR Speedpark
The NASCAR Speedpark is an indoor playing field where kids can play one of 70 arcade games, take part in laser tag, jump around in the playground, climb the rock wall and compete on the Junior Speedway or Silicon Motor Speedway. Parents can also go go-karting with (or without) the children. It's located in Vaughan Mills, so make it a full day of entertainment by combining the activities with shopping and food.

Malls:

Before heading to the mall, check out this list of shopping centres that offer family services.

Vaughan Mills
The mall offers family washrooms and nursing lounges, which include emergency diaper change kits ($1), changing tables and play areas. Stroller rentals are available for a fee and there are prime parking spots for families. Guest services offer a baby bottle and food warming station.

Yorkdale Shopping Centre
There are vending strollers ($5 with a $1 return), family change rooms and reserved parking for customers with children and expecting mothers.

Sherway Gardens
Sherway offers family washrooms and parenting rooms with clean areas to feed infants. Strollers ($4) are also available and the machines take credit cards, as well as cash.

Shops at Don Mills
Staff members at guest services will warm up bottles for wee ones. Emergency baby change kits ($2) are also available and include a sanitary liner, diaper, wipes and disposal bag.

Promenade Shopping Centre
Promenade has 25 new strollers available to shoppers at no charge. Representatives at guest services assist in bottle warming and complimentary diaper kits are on hand with a medium-sized disposable diaper, wipes, disposable bag and sanitary bed liner. Expecting mothers and families with young children can take advantage of the family parking areas.

Scarborough Town Centre
Scarborough Town Centre offers these complimentary services: strollers, lost children find/help, family washrooms and an infant feeding area.