Tuesday, May 23, 2017

10 MUST Have When Going Out With Baby

Baby S is 4 months old and till date, we have been bringing her out quite frequently and have also traveled with her once to Bangkok already! (Read about our trip to BKK with Baby S --> here)

Being able to go out and travel with a baby is not something I take for granted, it is with much training and determination and exploration before I finally found the balance of not over bring or under bring what i need for her and myself!

So here is a list of MUST have when I am moving around with baby S!

1) Diaper Backpack! 

Not just any diaper bag, but really a diaper backpack! I have tried a tote one which is side carried and also a sling one, but I really find that the best is still a diaper backpack! Having a backpack allow for more mobility with the baby and also your hands can be free without fearing it swinging or sliding off. So yup not just any bag, but a backpack!

You can be fancy and choose one with many mummies chase after; the Ju Ju Be BFF or Minibe or BRB. Else a Skip Hop Diaper backpack is good also. If all else fail, you can simply choose a backpack which have many compartments and is waterproof! So really the choice is your!

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(Minibe for mummy who are breastfeeding; direct latch and a BRB for mummy who are bottle feeding; express or formula)

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2) SSC aka Soft Structure Carrier. 

Baby wearing has been around for ages, in fact in the olden days parents baby wear their babies and continue working in the farm after the child is born. In our modern days today, we see baby wearing becoming more common and trending in the recent years. To me, baby wearing is a life-savior! Not only does it give you the mobility you need after one whole month of confinement and staying at home, it also helps sooth the baby to sleep when they are all cranky! 

I shared about baby wearing in a post earlier on; Baby Wearing Baby S. In the post i share about how I tried different option and come to conclude that an SSC suits me the best. 

So yup when I am out, my SSC follows me wherever Baby S and I go! I am using an ErgoBaby 360 and ErgoBaby Adapt now. 

Image result for ergobaby 360

Image result for ergobaby adapt

Having a carrier allows you to walk around freely with the baby while the baby sleeps. It also give you the hands you need to shop, eat, and carry stuff! So definitely a must have! 

3) Diapers! 

You baby may poop when they are out, else on average a diaper change is due every 3 hrs or so. So having diapers for your trip out with your little one is a must! There are diaper changing station in many shopping areas! To locate nursing room at shopping malls search from bumblebeemum blog

Diaper is cheaper if you buy in bulk! Buying from Redmart or Qoo10 sometimes give good discount and cheap deals! 

I personally use Goo.n Japan Edition. Which can be purchase in cartons from qoo10! 

Image result for goo.n diapers
Buy From Qoo10 --> Link Here

4) Wet Wipes 

Wet wipes is super important, I can't stress enough how important it is and how I have regretted not bringing enough on soooooo many occasion.

Having tried soooooo many different brands of wet wipes including Huggies, Jeju Baby Wipes, Pigeons Wipes, Goo.n Wipes, ISOO Monster Wipes, L.E.C 99.9% Pure Water Wipes and more! My favorite is still the Jeju Baby Wipes which can be purchase from Qoo10 --> Here

5) Changing Mat

A must have especially if you are going to places which may not have changing station. Even with a changing station, you may wanna have your mat on before you put your baby on for hygiene purpose. Public changing station may not be as clean as we think!

I have a few changing mat, with a basic one given by Thomson Medical Center upon discharge. But my favorite one is the one below, one with compartments to store other diaper changing stuff.

Baby diaper changing mat Changing station ★ Portable changing mat ★Portable diaper changing station ★ Baby diaper changing travel kit ★ Baby clutch diaper mat ★ waterproof and foldable
Can be purchase from Qoo10 or Taobao 
Qoo10 Link --> here


6) Nursing Cover

An essential for direct latch mummy, and honestly I prefer doing so as i do not need to bring around bottles or warm water or whatsoever as I AM THE FOOD!

So in case there is no nursing room, or your little one is hungry right in the middle of meal, to save the trouble of having to find a place to nurse, just bring out the cover and nurse your baby there and there. But of cause baby are not cooperative all the time (there are times when they just dont want to be covered), but for most occasion it helps!

There are many types of nursing shawl. poncho and covers in the market, find one that you like!!

7) Extra Outfit; Socks and Romper & for mummy too! 

In case of emergency, your honestly never know when your baby will poop all over herself or when will their diaper leak all over you or when they will puke on you! So an extra outfit helps! 

8) Wash Cloth

Little towel to clean them up with! As you may not wanna use just wet wipes! It also helps to clean their face when they drool a lot during the teething stage! They are really cheap and can be purchse easily from Qoo10 --> Link here.

Also you can bring along a Muslin Swaddle which can also act as a blanket or a cloth. Also can be easily purchase from Qoo10 --> Link here

9) Water bottle (for mummy) 

I was never someone who brings water bottle out, but after I started breastfeeding, this becomes a must, cause sweet drink don't quench your thirst. And buying mineral water is lame. So bring your own bottle, trust me you will need it! 

10) Toys and/or Pacifier

Lastly, sometimes baby is just cranky and needed distraction from the stimulation around. So having her toy or even her pacifier helps to sooth her and keep her distracted or calm for the moment for you to devise a plan or take the next move. There are times when Baby S cry on the cab and I wish I really did remember to bring her pacifier; even when she really don't eat it and hates it.

But do not bring a huge toy, a small rattle will do!

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All in all, these are some of the essential items I bring along when I am out with Baby S now, hope this is helpful for mummies who are new and also hope this gives you the courage to bring your little one out of the house and continue an active lifestyle! 

Monday, May 1, 2017

Sawadee Bangkok with Baby S

It has been almost 5 years since we had a trip with Stanley's side of the family. The last time we traveled together was December of 2012. Stanley's dad suffers a heart attack during the trip and ever since it has been a struggle for him being in and out of the hospital and down with various illness and operation including a triple bypass. 11 February this year, he pass away peacefully in his sleep, he fought hard for the many years but his body give ultimately. It was upsetting for us as we were just beginning a new life together welcoming baby S, but the only thing, which we were glad about was the fact that he did meet baby S before passing.

To help Stanley's mum cope with the loss and grieve, we decided to have a family trip with Baby S and trust me, I was really please that we did!

Planning for the trip begins from getting Baby S her passport; believe me, it is not easy to get a baby to look front and smile for a photo! So that took us quite a bit of time. Then it was understanding the flight rule with regards to flying with a baby; seat no seat, bassinet and bringing breast milk and breast pump on board. Basically, we finally decided to fly Singapore Airline (SIA) as we know it is service oriented! Baby S will then travel alongside me on a bassinet for the trip.

Thus, our holiday with Baby S begins.

As Baby S have a routine, we decided to keep the flight time and the trip as near and close to her routine as possible. This needed detail planning and reading as we needed to know where to go and also read up on the availability of nursing rooms and all.

Grab taxi to the airport! 

Family photo with the grumpy baby! 

SIA plane meal! 

Baby S in the bassinet

Happily playing inside

mummy and baby! 

Day 1: [Singapore to Bangkok, Centerpoint Pratunam Hotel, Big C, T&K Seafood, Nam Sing Bird Nest, Yaowarat aka Chinatown]

Having been to Bangkok almost once every year since we were together as a couple, navigating the place was easy for us. T&K is a place we always must visit and Centerpoint Pratunam is a hotel that we had stayed for more than 4 to 5 times already and till today it is still a place we always visit and head to when we are at Bangkok. 

T&K Seafood

Yummy Seafood! 

Baby S ready to slp! 

Day 2: [Sabx Sabx Wanton Mee, Terminal 21, Neon Market] 

Sabx Sabx Wanton Mee is a must have for us when we are at Bangkok. Terminal 21 is an interesting mall and it is unique at which each level is a city / country theme. At terminal 21, don't forget to head to G Level for Number 1 Thai Ice Tea, super nice chai yen and also Cupcake Love! Also do visit Mr Jones Orphanage Cafe at Level 4. 

Like Airport? But is Terminal 21

Baby S Drama Face! 

Sumo Japan! 

Mr Jones Orphanage Cafe! 

Waffle Ice Cream!

Rainbow Cupcake from Cupcake LOVE

Mini Cupcake

Neon Market is a new Talad Market near the Pratunam area, to Stanley and I. the Artbox of Bangkok is an attempt to organize all the street food together in an orderly manner, but we would still prefer the chaos and randomness of street food culture. 


Pork Bone Soup! 
Super Nice! Must TRy! 

Tom Yum Omelette!

Ribs!


Day 3: [Platinum Mall, Central World] 

Platinum is a mall known to all tourist and local as the main wholesale market of Bangkok! So it is a must go for us! As we will be there to shop till we drop! 

After which, we visit MK Seafood which is a new food place for us, and after trying it is really nice and we would wanna highly recommend it! 

Baby S Cot
Complimentary @ Centerpoint Pratunam Hotel! 

Our Room this time round! 

Our Fav Fried Chicken Uncle @ Pratunam! 
After 9 years of eating it, it is still tasty! 

Baby S @ Platinum Mall! 

MK Seafood!

Great Food!

For mummy visiting Central World, Central World have Nursing Room aka Family Room or Lounge at Bangkok at Level 6 (near Zen Department Store Entrance and toilet next to Bar-B-Q Plaza, or at Zen Department Store near the Children area)

Day 4: [Siam Area; Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery, Siam Square, MBK]

Siam is like the Orchard of Bangkok. It is rather easy to find a nursing room here! 

Siam Center - No Nursing Room
Siam Paragon - Level 3, inside the department store near the baby area
MBK - Inside Tokyu Level 2 at the baby area

We also visited Som Tum Nua @ Siam Center Level 3 and After You @ Siam Paragon Level B. 

Som Tum Nua, Thai Food

After You! Ferreo Toast 

Mango Sticky Rice Bingsu

Must Try! 

@ Siam Paragon! 

Ready to slp! 

Day 5: [Shibuya Pratunam, Bangkok to Singapore] 

Tom Yum Ma Ma! 

Babywearing the whole trip! 

On the car to Bangkok Airport! 

Ah Pek with Baby S

Back in SG! 

Baby S is 3 months (13 weeks) old when we fly, many questioned my sanity when i said i was flying with my infant baby. But if given a chance i will do it all over again! Even at such a young age it was interesting to see her response to the various change in her environment and see her react to the things she see in a different country! It's like she is growing everyday and the trip makes it more memorable. At this age there is not much disruption to their life and they adapt quite well out of their comfort zone. 

So yes, we will be travelling with Baby S again real soon to make more memories and adventure together!