Calling Bonsoir Anna and other ladies in France of impeccable taste....

[thereistheball]

My lovely neighbour has just had a baby girl. She already has a daughter who is the same age as DD. I want to give her daughter a small present - nothing too extravagant but something lovely nonetheless. A while ago I bought some things in the sales for such eventualities (many friends in the UK were having babies and French clothes are always gratefully received there) and still have a small "cashmere" (ie 95% cotton, 5% cashmere) cardigan from Monoprix. Is this acceptable or should I find something posher?

Sorry, meant to add - thanks in advance for your advice!

They sells nice stuff in Hyper U, Geant, leclerc etc..if you want to go posher I'll suggest Catimini ? Not as posh but nice, du pareil au meme ?

Sergent major is nice too

Monoprix children's clothing is very chic indeed among Parisian yummy mummies who make something of a show about demonstrating quiet, tasteful restraint in their manner of bringing up their offspring. The anti-designer logo sort of maman will chat about Monoprix's new Autumn range at a park picnic, for example.

Fine to give Monoprix clothing, for a baby, if it's nice quality, and it sounds as if it is.

I find the clothes in Tout compte Fait very pretty and reaonably priced. We have one in the Carrefour shopping complex.

I didn't realise Monoprix clothes were seen as chic.

Remember though, a small doo-doo type toy will last a lot longer than a newborn item of clothing. What about a nice sleeping bag? French families go for those and you get nice ones in Kiabi.

Monoprix children's tights and socks are however infra dig. Only DD (Doré-Doré) will do .

I saw a little girl on the bus with fabulous purple suede sandals yesterday and her father told me they were from Du Pareil au Même.

Du Pareil au Même has nice stuff.

kaloo make really soft toys, covers and things. Make you want to snuggle them yourself.

But your cardigan sounds nice!

I always used to find Monoprix baby clothes went down well, even amongst my better off friends (the ones who generally dressed their children in Catimini for everyday and Ralph Lauren for parties...).
Must admit, I'm a fan of DPAM as they always fit DD if I buy one size up from her age - otherwise by the time the trousers are long enough the waists are too big. She has lovely long legs. I'm jealous as it comes from DH and not from me!

Thank you all very much indeed ladies. I am now tempted to venture into Paris to find a selection of everything you suggest, for DD if nobody else. There is a Tout Compte Fait in my town so I will try here tomorrow for starters. Also the sister shop to Sargent Major, I forget what it is called.

(I didn't make it clear in my OP, but your answers have made me see that one of my concerns about the Monoprix cardigan was that, had I been quite pregnant at the time of the sales, I would have snapped up everything locally available cheaply then, and would therefore appreciate something specially bought now.)

Generally speaking, aren't French childrens' clothes lovely (Monoprix socks aside - totally agree there :-)?

Oh I agree, French children's clothes are fabulous! Though there are also some pretty great children's clothes in Belgium, too.

However, I do like a nice Start-Rite English classics shoe. Or a Pèpè.