When we were preparing for our baby we started looking around for all the essentials at stores. What we weren’t expecting was to find so many of our favorite series now featured on items on our checklist for our new family member. These weren’t just any old designs of Pikachu or Hello Kitty placed on baby items though. No, these were all carefully crafted and designed not just to please our new little one but also our own aesthetics. Here is a short list of some of our favorite otaku baby must have brands!
monpoke (Pokémon)
This brand has been blowing up more the past few years and we swear by its cute designs and fan favorite mascots Pikachu and Eevee. They haven’t quite caught on yet to the baby chooses their starter Pokémon trend but there is an adorable little lineup of monpoke styled Pokémon for your little one available. Monpoke has one of the more extensive collections of baby essential items from clothes and other basics all to way to branded diapers. There are also quite a few essential items for parents like baby books and tote bags and even some maternity wear. Recently they’ve also launched short animations on the Pokemon Kids TV YouTube channel.
Spoilers but this has become our favorite brand so far so expect a lot more deep dives write-ups and product reviews in the future!
Dragon Quest Baby & Kids
Dragon Quest Baby & Kids may have the game name in the title but it almost exclusively features Slimes these days. This makes it the most niche of the brands we’re introducing but also the one that hits a lot of otaku parents right in the nostalgia. Nothing beats the iconic smile of the Slime especially on your baby. The brand also has tote bags and pouches to help you match your little Slime when they appear. There’s also a free to play application for kids featuring cute slime artwork with classic Dragon Quest music so parents can also take a walk down memory lane.
My Mario
My Mario is the newest brand having just launched in 2025 and rolling out with a large array of products and tie-ins including exclusive app that also works on the Nintendo Switch. As expected of Nintendo they did not spare any expense in creativity and reach when it comes to this collection. Though we still await the day that they include Daisy too. The most unique part of this brand is how much attention is dedicated to interactivity between the animated shorts, app/game software, toys, and books.
Sanrio Baby
Sanrio Baby is the oldest of the brands we’re listing here. As such that means it is also the most established with the widest selection of baby essentials. Their designs are very well thought out and have a pleasing rainbow of pastel colors that are soothing to little ones and adults alike. While they do not have as many products geared toward parents and nothing for maternity there are licensed items aplenty. They also offer name embroidery which is a very sweet and personal touch to any baby wardrobe.
None of these brands are fully available outside Japan however there are some items that may be available in your country through official stores. For those visiting Japan or looking to check out any of these brands or items in person we recommend checking out baby centered stores like Babies R Us or Nishimatsuya, department stores like Aeon, Takashimaya, or Isetan, or official stores like the Pokémon Center, Sanrio Store, or Nintendo Store respectively. There are many other places you may bump into these brands like Bic Camera so be sure to keep your eyes peeled. Sometimes there are limited runs of other otaku focused IP, especially anime for younger children, at big box stores like Shimamura and Uniqlo but clothing, accessories, and toys that ranges from ages 0-3 aren’t as readily in stock.
Have you tried out any of these brands? Which is your favorite? Are there other brands out there you want to shoutout? Let us know in the comments!
