Mama La Vida Lanka: Baby Shopping La Vida Lanka Part 1

photo borrowed from sonalikagroup.com

Mr. and Mrs. O have been Baby Shopping since hitting the start of the third trimester.  Well actually except for the crib which we purchased waaaay before because it was such a bargain!  A second-hand small crib from one of my co-Mums in Colombo members (an Ikea one I think!) for around Php2,000!  Hubby and I are happy with our loot!  So this post comes in 2 parts: first is all about the process in coming up with the Baby Shopping List and the List itself; and the second talks about where you could actually buy stuff in La Lanka!  Hopefully both will be helpful to you – if you’re also contemplating on a baby shopping list or thinking of where to do your baby shopping in La Lanka!  So let’s start...

First, as I mentioned in Mama La Vida Lanka Book Review: What To Expect Series, What To Expect The First Year offers a good run down of what you should include in your shopping list.  I used that as the primary basis for my baby shopping list.

Then I had to check some items with my mommy friends regarding which were critical.  You see our assignment here did not come with shipping allowance (don’t ask me why) and I wanted to be my practical self.  I got some great tips and awesome feedback.  Like, you really don’t need those food processors!  Car seat – well they said not really but hubby and I decided that it would be safer to put baby in one.  Plus Baby L’s Ninang A gave us her list so we also have a good reference. 

With those inputs we came up with our list.  It was also useful to assign a budget for each item.  Since we did not have any idea on the pricing, I checked out Amazon.com for benchmark prices then entered that into our Excel Sheet.

We then scheduled our shopping days – one day in September, one day in October and one day in November.  The reasons are for practicality.  It’s hard to shop for everything in one day!  Then you have to clean the stuff you bought.  Or some you have to customize – we customized some beautiful linens.  So you have to factor in some waiting time there.  Plus since these are major purchases, you have to be wary of your cash flow as well.  One smart tip is since you have 9 months to prepare, as soon as you know you’re expecting, might as well start saving up for it!  That’s what hubby and I did.  Because there’s no such thing as Baby Wal-Mart or Baby SM here, you really have to search for shops here and there and you can’t just do it in a day.  Along the way we also met people who gave us “leads” as to what and where these baby shops are!  Then there are those that are totally unavailable in La Lanka, so I had to make advanced arrangements for these to be bought elsewhere (mostly in Manila, for my mom to bring over when she comes).

So here is a snapshot of our list – which is by now almost complete!  If you want to check out our pending items, check out our Amazon Baby Registry.

The list below contains the basic stuff we need.  Different families would have different needs.  Hopefully these will help though!  But a word of wisdom, just like Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) of Shopaholic and Baby, Baby Shopping can get addictive.  Too many cute stuff!  So shop with a purpose and start with a list tied to a budget!

Happy baby shopping La Vida Lanka!

Wardrobe

Diapers (both disposable and cloth)

Nappy Liners

Mittens, hats, bonnets

Shorts, shirts, dresses

Diaper pins

Onesies

Socks / booties

Pjs / Sleepers / Gowns

Bibs

Baptismal Attire

Travel

Car Seat

Baby Bag

Carrier

Stroller

Nursery

Crib

Crib Bumper (use with caution!)

Changing Pad

Baby Tub

Mackintosh (rubber mat)

Nappy Bin

Play Gym

Organizer

Mosquito Nets

Baby Toys

Trash Cans

Medicine

Jar of Hope

Jar of Love

Shoo Fly Don’t Bother Me

Ear Thermometer

Nursery Care Kit (Nasal Aspirator, Medicine Dispenser)

Linen

Crib Linen

Bath Towels (with hood / without)

Baby Blankets

Receiving / Swaddling Blankets

Burping Towel

Mouthwipes

Learning

Books

Home Care

Bottle Cleaner

Baby Laundry Soap

Grooming

Brush / Comb

Nail Scissors / Clippers

Powder

Baby cologne, cream, soap

Toothbrush

Sleep Like A  Baby

Moonshine

Sleepyhead

Wipes

Cotton Balls

Alcohol

Baby Lotion

Baby Shampoo

Feeding

Breastpump Set

Electronic Steam Sterilizer

Starter Bottle Gift Set

Feeding Pillow

Boncho (Breastfeeding Poncho)

Bottles with Teats

Nursing Pads (disposable and washable)