SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	May 04, 2013	Apr. 28, 2012	Feb. 02, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Percentage of entity-wide sales qualifying purchaser as major customer (as a percent)	10.00%
Segment information
Business Exit Costs	$ (1,023,000)	$ 834,000	$ 5,800,000
Restructuring Charges	500,000	2,700,000
Net sales:
Total net sales	423,164,000	438,508,000
Gross Profit:
Total gross profit	163,268,000	178,645,000
Gross Margin:
Total Gross Margin (as a percent)	38.60%	40.70%
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income (loss)	28,459,000	37,060,000
Operating income (loss) as a percent of net sales:
Total operating income (loss) (as a percent)	6.70%	8.50%
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization	16,824,000	17,218,000
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures	22,101,000	22,012,000
Total assets:
Total assets	905,072,000	873,385,000	923,410,000
internationalfranciseerevenue [Domain]
Net sales:
Total net sales	2,600,000	400,000
The Children's Place Canada [Member]
Total assets:
Depreciation		900,000
westcoastnortheastdc [Domain]
Segment information
Business Exit Costs	1,000,000	800,000
The Childrens Place US Member
Segment information
Asset Impairment Charges	1,300,000
Total assets:
Depreciation	400,000
The Childrens Place US Member
Net sales:
Total net sales	373,653,000	384,783,000
Gross Profit:
Total gross profit	143,936,000	156,407,000
Gross Margin:
Total Gross Margin (as a percent)	38.50%	40.60%
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income (loss)	27,935,000	34,454,000
Operating income (loss) as a percent of net sales:
Total operating income (loss) (as a percent)	7.50%	9.00%
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization	14,559,000	14,230,000
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures	17,974,000	19,160,000
Total assets:
Total assets	750,378,000	712,344,000	746,911,000
Number of Stores	980	937
The Children's Place Canada [Member]
Net sales:
Total net sales	49,511,000	53,725,000
Gross Profit:
Total gross profit	19,332,000	22,238,000
Gross Margin:
Total Gross Margin (as a percent)	39.00%	41.40%
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income (loss)	524,000	2,606,000
Operating income (loss) as a percent of net sales:
Total operating income (loss) (as a percent)	1.10%	4.90%
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization	2,265,000	2,988,000
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures	4,127,000	2,852,000
Total assets:
Total assets	$ 154,694,000	$ 161,041,000	$ 176,499,000
Number of Stores	131	125