Travelling with Baby (under 6 months)

TammyB · Post by **TammyB** » Wed, 18 Feb 2009 8:57 am

I will be relocating to Singapore in April from Perth and am hoping for some help regarding car seats / travelling with baby. Whilst I'm planning to use public transport when in Singapore (thank you for the stroller tips) I'm concerned about the initial taxi travel to/from the airport with my son. Any suggestions are welcome.

Also, whilst I've read past chats about the strollers - can anyone recommend the best place to buy them in Singapore?

Many thanks

bub · Post by **bub** » Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:20 am

Hi

About the taxi ride- not much advice. I would not take my baby without a car seat anywhere, especially not in taxis, but it is very acceptable here.

About where to buy strollers- there are many options. I'll name a few that will be easiest for you in the first days in singapore, just know that there are more shops out there:

1. Major department stores- Takashimaya, tangs, robinsons, john little etc.- all have children departments (on Orchard road).

2. Mothercare shops- they have outlets all over the place, not the cheapest option-
http://www.mothercare.com.sg

3. Kiddypalace- big outlet in Marina square shopping mall. Fair prices.
http://www.kiddypalace.com.sg

4. Motherswork- expensive (carry brands like bugaboo and stokke). One outlet in Great world city mall, another in Tanglin mall.

5. Baby kingdom, Baby hyperstore- two warehouse shops located in kaki bukit ave 1 (no websites, just google the name). Should be cheaper, I made the trip down there twice and did not buy anything- couldn't deal with the bad service and "warehouse" feel.

6. Babytown singapore- online shop. kind service, prompt delivery.
http://www.babytown.com.sg

Good luck!

mortlock2005 · Post by **mortlock2005** » Sat, 21 Feb 2009 1:13 pm

I've been living in Singapore for about 18 months without my own car. The trains are terrific and very easy with a stroller (I highly recommend the McLaren strollers). I'm not so keen on the buses as they insist you fold the pram (even the wheelchair buses). There is a terrific baby shop for carseats and strollers on Ballesteir Road called Baby Avenue.

A very popular option for travelling with babies in taxis is the Maxi Cosi Cabrio Fix capsule. You can fix it with just a seatbelt and it is quite safe. Also quick to put in, which is important with a taxi. These capsules aren't legal in Australia, but are quite suitable given how safe the roads are in Singapore. If you do have your own car, there is a base mount that you can install. I have seen these capsules on sale on Ebay in Australia, so you might be able to pick one up before you get here. The Maxi Cosi capsule can be used in conjunction with a variety of strollers/prams. The Quinny option is fabulous, but it's a very expensive pram (at least I think it is). You can also use the McLaren Techno XLR, and a bunch of others. We have the McLaren because you can also attach a skateboard to this one, which our toddler uses.

Once your baby is a bit older, the Joeysafe harness is a really good option. We bought ours directly from the importer in Singapore (Angela, [email protected], 92776519). It is a padded, full body harness that you put a regular seatbelt through the back of. It is suitable from about 18 months. It's not as safe as a carseat, but it is certainly better than putting a little person in an adult seatbelt, and can be easily stored under a stroller once you get to where you are going.

I hope this is useful. If you'd like to discuss more, send me a PM and we can email or phone. I've been in this situation for a while and know what it's like! Cheers, Katie

Thaiclan · Post by **Thaiclan** » Sun, 22 Feb 2009 5:34 am

I have a Quinny Buzz and that is great for lifting the chair part and strapping into a taxi whilst the base goes in the boot.
However I suppose you best bet is to use a baby carrier such as the Baby Bjorn whilst in the taxi from the airport, that way baby is securely fastened to you and you can wear the seat belt.

carolynW · Post by **carolynW** » Sun, 22 Feb 2009 7:33 am

I checked in the car seats into the plane, and then buckled it in the taxi when we got here.

rluk · Post by **rluk** » Sun, 22 Feb 2009 9:09 pm

When travelling by taxi I strap our bubs into a Baby Bjorn, nice and tight, facing me, with the neck support up. I then put the seatbelt around me. Saves lugging a questionable quality car seat around and feels quite secure.

mules · Post by **mules** » Tue, 24 Feb 2009 8:03 pm

hi,
don't disregard the maxi cosi because it is not approved in australia. it is a popular car seat in the US and UK markets, and meets their stringent tests. There is demand in australia for it, but many car seat manufacturers don't release their products in aust as the costs for testing and going through the australian standards doesn't make sense given the [comparatively] small size of the market.
i've seen heaps of maxi cosis being used in aust, by people who have purchased them overseas.
i agree they are a suitable option for travelling safely in taxi's here. better than a baby harness/carrier, as at least there is side impact protection should there be an accident.
hope that helps.

TammyB · Post by **TammyB** » Wed, 25 Feb 2009 7:59 am

Thank you for all the suggestions. They're greatly appreciated.

I have thought about the Baby Bjorn as an option if tranporting the car seat can't be done for any reason. I will be visiting Singapore before the move (without baby) so hopefully I'll have the chance to check out strollers / capsules prior to needing them.

Any further travelling with baby tips either for on the plane and getting around Singapore are most welcome.

Tammy

amiee40 · Post by **amiee40** » Wed, 25 Feb 2009 9:55 am

Hi Tammy

I relocatd to Singapore when my baby was 4months old. I used the Baby Bjorn for the taxi ride from the airport. I did bring the Bugaboo stroller over from Australia but then realised it was not all that bus friendly here. So i bought a Maclaren quest.

I actually advise you to get the stroller in Australia as it is cheaper. I paid $300+ for the Maclaren Quest and i think its about $20 -50+ cheaper in Australia.

Most baby things are cheaper back home, especially the brands that you'd trust. For example, Belamy's organice rice would be about $3max in Aust but its about $7 here and that goes for Heinz products as well. So stock up on Belamy's organic rice, formulas and most important - fragnant nappy disposable bags.

mortlock2005 · Post by **mortlock2005** » Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:03 am

The advice to stock up on non-perishable baby supplies is a good one. They are definitely more expensive here, and there is no problem sending them with your shipment. We always stock up on nappy sacks, Huggies wipes, Heinz sticky fingers wipes, and now we'll be stocking up on baby dry goods. Formula is incredibly expensive here, so if you're using it, I suggest putting a carton in your shipment.

I also have a Baby Bjorn, which is my emergency backup for baby, but I feel much safer using the Maxi Cosi capsule. I think it is extremely safe - certainly much safer than a Baby Bjorn - so please don't be put off by negative comments.

As for plane travel, if you are travellig with Singapore Airlines ask for a couple of their travel bibs (large, absorbent and really good), take a change of clothes for all of you (particularly if you have a vomity baby like mine, spread a rug out on the seat just incase anything gets spilled, don't take too many toys on the plane (most babies are amused by everything except the toys you bring), keep your stroller up to the plane door and then hand it in (even if you hold baby, you can put bags on it), accept the offer of airport assistance if it is available, particularly in Singapore as it's a very big airport and the golf carts are great. Can't think of much else - except, don't take the whole house with you on the plane. I still take too much and end up using hardly any of it.

MinniMe · Post by **MinniMe** » Sun, 01 Mar 2009 9:36 am

If you're coming from Australia, why don't you buy Ergo carrier instead of Baby Bjorn? You can use it much longer than BB and it's better for baby's back and hips.

robin_lilac · Post by **robin_lilac** » Mon, 02 Mar 2009 1:51 pm

If you are flying via Singapore Airlines and purchased a plane ticket for your baby, be aware that Singapore Airlines does NOT let you use a rear-facing carseat on the plane - only forward-facing.

Before we moved here two months ago, I made sure we had a carseat that was approved for use in an airplane. We bought the extra plane ticket for my 4-month old baby so he would have his own seat, and just before boarding the plane, we were told that we would have to check the carseat planeside because it was only rear-facing and couldn't be used forward-facing. Instead, we had to hold our baby the whole plane ride (14 hours!) and the only thing they gave us to strap him in was a little seat belt to go around his waist that clipped onto my seat belt. I was appalled, and we didn't get a refund for his seat, either.

Good luck.

langkawi06 · Post by **langkawi06** » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 2:09 am

Hi, I am relocating from Switzerland to Singapore in 10 days, after reading all your comments and advice which were extremely helpful.... I was wondering if you have any other tips for newbies moving to Singapore with a young baby (mine will be 6 months old)..... by the way, Carolyn - did you check in your car seat or take it with you on the plane?And are baby dry goods really so much more expensive?? My shipment is leaving next week, so I still have time to add baby goods to it if necessary, I thought everything was readily available and not expensive in Singapore??? Thanks in advance for any tips!

robin_lilac · Post by **robin_lilac** » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 5:08 pm

langkawi06:

I think the two most common places for expats to shop are
NTUC Fair Price: www.fairprice.com.sg/
and Cold Storage: www.coldstorage.com.sg/

You can check their prices online. I think Cold Storage is a little more expensive. FYI: the only kind of formula I can find here is powder; no liquid concentrate, no ready-made.

As far as other tips, it may be obvious, but make sure your stroller has adequate protection from the sun and rain -- there is a lot of both here. I was going to buy a lightweight MacLaren, but when I went stroller shopping with an experienced New Zealander parent who has lived here several years, he took one look at the MacLaren shade and told me it was NOT enough protection from the sun. Hope this helps.

langkawi06 · Post by **langkawi06** » Tue, 03 Mar 2009 7:09 pm

Thanks robin_lilac for the tips. I will check out the websites... another question... is organic baby stuff readily available in Singapore? Also, I am still breastfeeding and was therefore advised to give my baby 'milk free' products only... not sure if they have this over there... but then they must have Nestle products... anyway, thanks for the input!

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Travelling with Baby (under 6 months)

Travelling with Baby (under 6 months)

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