Baby goods don’t have to be gauche. In the past, parents had to lug around diaper bags covered in tacky pink-and-blue prints and swaddle their little ones in stiff, heavy cottons. No more. Today’s baby goods are thoughtful and luxurious, made of premium textiles that coordinate with both personal style and home decor.
“In the baby world, Utah is the epicenter,” says Sean Hansen, owner of Babinski’s Baby, a luxury baby goods store in Salt Lake City. Many of the country’s most sought-after brands of baby blankets, clothing and furniture have started as Utah companies, he notes. “You wouldn’t be a baby store without one of these brands,” he says, sharing some of Babinski’s Baby favorite producers. Mountain has added a few of our own, making this an essential guide to shopping baby goods in Utah.
Logan-based Saranoni, founded in 2006 by Nathan and Emily Peterson, makes its signature baby blanket of minky, which is not a brand name but a soft, stretchy type of knit fabric that mimics mink fur. Saranoni also offers blankets in their own bamboo-minky blend called Bamboni.
Saranoni’s super-soft fabrics are used in plush blankets, stuffed animal “loveys,” upholstered play items and nursery furniture. Collaborations feature classics like Hungry Little Caterpillar, Winnie-the-Pooh and Peter Rabbit in gentle colors.
Supporting families, not factories, has always been a Saranoni value. The company oversees production of all its fabrics that are knitted in Chinese and Korean homes by small producers.
The standout detail for Little Unicorn, also based in Logan, is adorable prints that are designed and hand-painted by local artists. Whether a friendly herd of bison or a smattering of yellow roses, these watercolor patterns adorn everything from crib sheets to clothing.
Little Unicorn’s bags are made of wipeable vegan leather or washable polyester. “We like to make all of our products life-proof and family-friendly,” says Social Media Coordinator Allie Zundel. The Skyline Backpack and Red Rover Roo hold absolutely everything newborns need while the smaller Joey Belt Bag is good for short outings and toddler trips. Bags feature changing pads, strong magnetic closures, credit card slots and a cellphone safety catch.
Must-haves for summer concerts include a water-resistant outdoor blanket that folds into its own carrying bag and two models of cozy car seat covers. These quilted items are like sleeping bags for outdoorsy Park City babies and will keep them warm on chilly mountain nights.
Baby clothes and blankets by Mebie Baby are light and soft, trendy and classic. “I’m always finding inspiration from interior design,” says founder and designer Audrey Thompson, who operates in Logan. Mebie Baby’s fabrics include mud-cloth prints that speak of southern Utah’s desert landscape and lace-trimmed Venetian florals that bring Park City’s high meadow wildflowers to mind. “People are really loving our patchwork right now,” Thompson shares, “because it looks like an old-fashioned quilt.” Classic florals and ginghams also stand out in Mebie Baby’s swim and resort collection.
The coveted double zipper newborn footy can be found in a soft bamboo fabric, and the design allows for diaper changes without having to undress baby from the top down. Adjustable foot cuffs make sure the outfit can grow with the baby.
Copper Pearl in Salt Lake City is owned by Tyler and Anne Hillstead, who were won over by the brand’s quality when they were customers before purchasing the business in 2018. They were particularly impressed by a buttery-soft swaddle blanket made from Copper Pearl’s signature jersey fabric. “It was so much better than anything else we were using,” says Tyler.
Copper Pearl organizes product lines around daily routines like nap and bath times. For outings, they’ve produced a hip carrier, like a “ride-on” diaper bag with storage pockets and a water bottle holder. It shifts the child’s weight to the parents’ hips, taking strain off the arms and lower back. A child sling model allows for hands-free carrying.
The Women’s Everyday Robe is specially designed to accommodate mothers’ bodies and support nursing with strategic interior tie placement. Since all of Copper Pearl’s fabric designs pair with other collections, baby and toddler jammies can match Mommy’s robe. Popular collabs include Disney princesses and Pixar designs in muted tones.
Cade & Co starts with a baby’s foundation: his little feet. Every pair of these handmade leather baby shoes is sewn by Parkite Naomi Doyle, to the tune of about 30,000 pairs since 2003. The shoes come in dozens of fun designs, including Monty the Montage Bernese Mountain Dog. Doyle also is known for custom orders and corporate gifting.
Cade & Co. baby shoes are made of 100% natural leather cowhide that’s made to feel like lambskin and are lined in a thin pigskin. The soles are made from a non-slip garment suede. “I’ve got the whole farm involved,” Doyle jokes. Each element of her product has been thoroughly tested for comfort, breathability and colorfastness. The shoes can be worn without socks and feature gentle elastic around the ankle so they both stay on and pull off easily.
Soft-soled shoes help children learn to walk and stay on the most finicky shoe eschewers. “I’ve never had anyone disappointed,” Doyle says.
Sport Kilt’s founder, James Ansite, didn’t start with baby goods. A competitive cyclist as a teenager, Ansite wanted to wear a kilt when he was out killing it on his bike. He and his dad created a sport kilt made of a washable fabric geared toward an active lifestyle, unlike a dry-clean-only heirloom kilt. Sport Kilt garnered a cult following.
“A kilt is a great way to welcome in the newest member of the clan,” says Ansite. Baby and toddler Sport Kilts are a wraparound product that are easy to place over a diaper.
“This is an everyday kilt that you can throw in the washing machine when you get it dirty. If you wreck, stain and tear it, well, it’s not a $500 kilt that came from Scotland.”
More than once, Heidi Shadix-Pieros has seen Park City children point to a moose and shout, “That’s Gilbert!” As the creator of the beloved local children’s book series about Gilbert the Moose, Shadix-Pieros couldn’t be happier.
Since his debut in Gilbert the Park City Moose, where he discovers what it’s like for a moose to shed his antlers, Gilbert also has learned to ski and mountain bike. The three Gilbert books are a good start for any Park City baby’s library.
Baby can’t have candy, but Jolley’s Lollies come in the perfect flavors and colors for a baby shower bouquet. These sweet treats, made for the beloved Jolley’s Corner Pharmacy in Salt Lake City, are handcrafted in small batches by Sweet Tooth Fairy.
Try Bundle up Birthday Cake, Marshmallow Fluff and Salted Caramel for newborn vibes. Or gather some Salty Margarita lollies for the mom-to-be who hasn’t had a sip in months. Add a plush Gilbert the Park City Moose to complete the arrangement.
