Mama La Vida Lanka: Baby Shopping La Vida Lanka Part 2

Armed with a comprehensive list and a budget to keep you from going astray, you’re now ready to Baby Shop La Vida Lanka!

These are the shops we have discovered and those that have recommended to us.  Enjoy!

If you want lovely linens, go to Elegant Smockers.  The pictures will just make you swoon.  For a time there I wanted to live in their store!  Thanks to M, my workmate who suggested this place.

You may have your whole nursery and smockers for baby (clothes in non-Brit English speak) customized!  Aside from the wonderful design (so absent from La Lanka unfortunately), they also have excellent customer service.  Their manager, Ms. Ksharma is lovely, lovely, lovely! 

Elegant Smockers Contact Details

www.elegantsmockers.com

25 Pamankada Road

Colombo 6

To get a wide array of Philips Avent products, check out MILK.  The owner I believe is the official distributor of Philips Avent in Sri Lanka so they have a good selection in the store.  They also have linens, toys and a huge selection of books!  If you want to take a break from your shopping, they have a vegan cafe that serves really nice pastries!

MILK Contact Details

12 Barnes Place, Colombo 7

(011) 2696286

Mondays - Saturdays, 10am - 630pm 

For general baby product needs, you have Bambino, Baby Mart and Kids Unlimited.

Bambino and Baby Mart would have more aesthetically appealing options as they mostly import from abroad.  They have a wide selection of Mothercare products.  Even Baby Mart has a nice selection of organic products such as organic top-to-toe wash and wipes.

We bought most of our stuff from Kids Unlimited because it was the first place that we saw.  It’s more “mass market” so the stuff are not exactly “nice.”  But you’ll manage.   

Bambino Contact Details

83 Galle Road

Bambalapitya, Colombo 4

0771 319 613

Baby Mart Contact Details

6 1/1 Visaka Road

Colombo 4

011 2500004; 011 4517765

Kids Unlimited Contact Details

Their biggest store is in Kohuwala but they also have an outlet along Duplication Road

75B Dutugemunu Street

Kohuwala

011 4202824

Unfortunately you really can’t find everything here.  But fortunately, we were able to find a way!  Some are blessings literally as these were gifts.  Like the digital ear thermometers!  Thank you to Tita A for sending over some cute baby clothes together with the Braun Ear Thermometer.  My dad also offered to give us a nice stroller – the brands here are pretty limited or brandless.  We had a hard time finding a Medela Breastpump (we eventually found one in Bambino but it was not the one we wanted) so I contacted Medela Moms and Beng was so nice to answer my queries and helped when my dad made the purchase (thank God for involved Grandpapi’s!).    It’s also hard to find Diaper Covers but luckily I chanced upon Sunshine Babies and will be ordering from there.  There are no “decent” baby carriers here as well so we ordered from One Love Baby Carriers (a Filipina based in Thailand owns it!) and will have it delivered to Manila.  Luckily my mom’s coming over so she can bring these stuff for us.  Thank god for an involved and excited Lola!

At first when we started shopping, I felt a bit “depressed” as we couldn't seem to have a lot of options here.  But eventually we found these different places and realized you just need to look closer.  Some really will not be available locally but if it’s really critical, you will find a way to purchase it!

Shopping Baby La Vida Lanka was all about creativity and discovery! Enjoy! 

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)