Infant
Cheaper
-
- Daffy’s
-
125 E. 57th St., nr. Lexington Ave. 212-376-4477
Extreme bargains (including the Clayeux dress, $20) are here for the digging; pieces are often marked down by 40 to 80 percent.
Spendier
-
- Petit Bateau
-
1094 Madison Ave., at 82nd St. 212-988-8884
The French retailer’s supersoft onesies ($16) can withstand as many washings as a newborn can throw down.
Toddler
Cheaper
-
- Old Navy
-
610 Sixth Ave., at 18th St. 212-645-0663
Funky basics like patchwork shorts ($19.50) look more expensive than they are. The 18th Street store is the easiest to shop.
Spendier
-
- Zara Kids
-
101 Fifth Ave., nr. 17th St. 212-741-0555
Excels at basics with a little added flair, like purple jeans and gingham tops for boys and flowy dresses ($32.90) with chic cover-ups ($29.90) for girls.
Grade School
Cheaper
-
- H&M
-
150 E. 86th St., at Lexington Ave. 212-289-1724
There’s no better spot for approximating the celebrity- scion look, starting with Hello Kitty tanks ($12.95) and party skirts ($4.95).
Spendier
-
- CrewCuts
-
1190 Madison Ave., at 87th St. 212-348-9803
The J.Crew progeny’s separates fit the full range of kid life: play, school, and okay-I’ll-wear-a-blazer special occasions ($138).
Tween
Cheaper
-
- Forever21
-
5100 Kings Plz., at Flatbush Ave., Marine Park; 718-252-2188
Their suitably funky preadolescent line, HTG81, just launched in January (zip-up jacket, $16.90) with pieces starting at $2.90.
Spendier
-
- Yoyamart
-
15 Gansevoort St., nr. Hudson St.; 212-242-5511
Splurge on well-made imports like Australia’s Munster Kids and Belgium’s BelleRose (top, $85, skirt $98).