I write this blog for the benefit of a visitor who asked a question about our pram. :)
I only realised that raising a child these days can be so costly when we looked into the various items required for Hannah’s arrival. These were our major purchases: cot, playpen (this item turns out to be not that expensive), car-seat, pram and breast-pump (optional). There’s one other item which is also on the expensive end but we got it as a gift. It is a latex mattress (cooling as Singapore’s weather can be so hot!).
Initially, we visited shops such as Baby Hypermart and Baby Kingdom for these items as I read from various forums that they have better deals as compared to elsewhere. However, we found out that their prices were not exactly competitive. As it turned out, Kiddy Palace was selling similar items at similar pricing. Their service was good and delivery prompt. Moreover, they have this membership card thingy which gives you 10% discount on many of their items. And during certain months, members get 20% discount! Imagine how much you can save if you buy big-ticket items! Since it is close to home, it has been our one-stop shopping outlet for Hannah’s needs. :)
Our Combi Urban Walker has been satisfactory so far. It is user-friendly; easy to open and close, light-weight and has a spacious basket for holding a big bag with baby things. The reversible handle is also easy to flip. As for comfort, the cushion and safety straps are reasonably soft. (Note: Initially, I deemed it important to get a separate seat liner to prevent baby from soiling the actual pram cushion. But Hannah didn’t soil on her pram at all – may be her diaper was very absorbent. Now I realise that letting Hannah sit on the original pram cushion is the best as its material is really cooling, easy to wash and dry. See my comment below.). Besides being a little costly (there are prams that cost 4-digits!), it is a good buy.
Hannah didn’t really get to use the pram within the first month as she hardly needs to go out unless it was to go for her check-up with her pediatrician. I was also not very keen to bring her out to shopping malls due to the recent H1N1 situation. So far, she has only gone on a stroll around our condo pool area and the nearby park. Although the pram was easy to push around, it can get a bit awkward if you reverse the handle (so that the baby is facing you as you push it along) as only one pair of wheels can turn 360 degrees. The forward push (baby facing away from you) is fine though. There’s another Combi model called Miracle Turn which allows for better mobility as all four wheels can turn 360 degrees. Of course, it will cost more.
There is another brand called Cappella which looks similar to Combi but when you feel the material, you know it is inferior. I think its cushion is less comfortable too (There’s one model with a horizontal bar beneath its seat. How uncomfortable for the baby!). A couple using this brand told us not to buy it.
There are many parents using Maclaren too. The reviews were generally positive. As for other brands, I can’t say much.
Come to think of it, these big ticket items are actually worthwhile purchases as they can last for a few years and even be used by the next child if they are still in good working condition. If you feed your baby with formula milk, gosh, it is going to be even more expensive leh. (Hannah can finish a $40 tin of Similac milk powder within 10 days. And the no. of days will only get lesser.) And if your baby ‘prefers’ expensive diapers hor, then greater monthly expenditure too.
Good thing that our government is giving out better baby bonus. But now I know it can run out quickly too looking at the stuff we spend on Hannah. Hee hee :) The moral of the story? Have more than one kid lah. Can recycle these items and get better baby bonus (3rd and 4th kid got $6k each wor). Aiyah, who am I kidding yeah? Now one kid already struggling here. Hee hee. :P
Oh my…and we don’t even own a pram or cot or playpen, and our baby has past his 1year old birthday. ;-)
But yes, the infant carseat is a must, and we’d requested it as a gift. And it has gone on to one of the moms who gifted it to me in the 1st place. Great! And of course we bought the 2nd stage carseat, but that lasts for about 4 years, so that’s really ok.
Our car seat was designed to last up to when she’s 4 years old. Hope that this will be the case :D
Oh, we decided it would be easier to have the smaller infant stage 1 (0-9mths) one instead as it’s smaller and easier to carry around if we need to take it out of the car (big family, lah). And that’s what we had for the older 3 kids as well. Eg. when we had the 2nd baby when 1st was only 3 years’ old and still in her carseat, we could use her earlier Stage 1 seat for the baby first, and then….the cycle continues. *hehe*
Wow, good planning! :D
Maclaren prams are a bit heavy, but their strollers are good – very hardy and value for money (only downside is the hood tends to get dusty cos when it’s in a closed position, the wheels touch the hood). In fact, our second one hardly sat in a pram, just straight to a stroller, cos he wanted to be mostly upright.
Hi Ling! Thanks a lot for the blog. and yes i agree babies are expensive! I’m in my 2nd trimester now so just looking around for things. managed to get a 2nd hand cot free but we’re looking for a new mattress. Heard abt the latex ones and how cooling they are. and i guess the next big ticket item would be the stroller. i love the reversible handle on combi and this urban walker is from the lower range of the reversible handled ones so we are considering it.
thanks for the help! and oh say hi to cute hannah!
Hi Raf,
You’re welcomed :D
BTW, need to also get a proper water-proof sheet for the mattress (put it beneath the bedsheet). Not those with polyvinyl (it’s very hot for the babies, latex mattress also can’t make a difference). Buy those made with polyurethane (PU) film backing. Kiddy Palace sells this item as well. I bought a few to go with the bed sheets as Hannah tends to wet her bed frequently. Sigh.
Hannah said “woo woo woo” :P
HI
chanced upon your blog when i am looking for reviews on combi urban walker. not getting it for myself but for my cousin’s new born baby. he would like to have a stroller which is durable enough to last for a few years , i think till baby doesn’t need a stroller. do u think the urban walker is durable enough to last for at least 3 years? thks v much
regards
sp
Hi octopusmum,
My pram is currently used for about 5 months and so I can’t provide any info about its durability for at least 3 years. But judging from the feel of the structure, it is light yet sturdy. The quality of material is there, e.g. the metallic support and fabric seat and hood. It is a decent pram with a no. of good features (as you might have already read about it). The only gripe I have is its awkward maneuverability when the handle is reversed. But since the baby will likely prefer to see her world forward than backwards later, it is a temporal inconvenience. :) Hope this helps.
Here’s an update on the combi pram I’m using:
Some parents are worried over the toppling of this pram when their grocery bags are hung on the handle. In the first place, potential buyers should know that light-weight prams will give way to high CG. If they don’t want their pram to topple, then don’t buy light-weight prams or don’t hang weights on the handle.
After using the pram for a while, I noticed that it actually has little hooks on both sides of the seat to allow items to be hung there. I thought that’s a thoughtful design as the CG will remain low and the risk of toppling will be almost non-existent.
I’m happy with this pram so far. It is really easy for me to close the pram and lift it up to put it into the car boot. The basket provided at the base has been useful in holding Hannah’s diaper bag and some shopping bags. :)
Hi Ling,
Thanks for your feedback on the urban walker. Yes, we have also decided to get this pram. Before we decide to go for Capella S707, after seen the actual at shopping mall, the capella’s built finishing set us back. While the combi ones display side by side capella, LoL immediately by 2nd glance we decide look into detail function of the combi.
by the way, I suppose u use baby napkins instead of diapers when at home? Only when on-the-go then use diapers?
Hi hi Lao Jie,
You’re welcomed :D
One other thing which you might like to know is that with the urban walker, a seat liner is unnecessary. I bought one initially to protect the pram but found out that it has poor ventilation (i.e. my baby gets hot in it easily). Then I bought a bamboo seat liner instead thinking that it would be cooler for the baby but found out that although it is indeed cooling, it is too slippery for my baby to sit upright. So out of frustration I just let my baby sit on the original pram cushion. And guess what, it does not trap heat and my baby stays cool and comfortable. In addition, the pram cushion can be taken out easily for machine wash and dries quickly as well! Another great design by Combi!
My baby uses disposable diapers. :) Washing napkins is too much work considering that she chalks up other items for wash daily! To prevent diaper rash, I initially applied diaper rash cream at every diaper change. When she was about 5 months old, I tried to let her go without the cream and she didn’t get diaper rash. But whenever she poo poo, I will apply the cream after cleaning up as a preventive measure. :)
Hi Ling,
Really useful experiences shared on the seat liners, cool! And did you buy those clip-on fan for hannah? Is the canopy fully stretchable to shade away 3/4 of the infant?
oh….keke ok. B’cos u mentioned baby hannah wets the bed often, so I thought you used napkins (which I did intend to use). How would disposable diapers causes the leak? In that case, throughout use disposable diapers really sweats. =_=”
How much is the expense on diapers alone monthly?
Can share what cream are you using on preventive of diaper rash?
sorry for so much questions. =D
Hi Lao Jie,
I didn’t buy the clip-on fan as we visit air-con places most of the time. But I suppose it could come in handy for outdoors trips. The canopy can cover the entire pram, head to toe. :) And it has 2 mesh windows for ventilation too.
Ya, Hannah soiled her bed in her early months becos we got the wrong fit of diapers for her. It took us sometime to experiment and find the right fit for her. The expenditure on diapers really depends on the brand one uses. Some mothers recommend using cheapo diapers for the first few months as babies poo A LOT and we can change diapers like nobody’s business. Sometimes, Hannah would poo in her clean diaper a few seconds after a change! Always change the diaper when a baby poo poo. The combination of faeces and urine is the culprit for diaper rash. Urine is ok (as it is generally sterile) but not poo (got bacteria!). I found Mamy Poko a good fit for Hannah for her first few months but later found that Huggies Ultra is very good at absorbency but only suitable for about 5 months onwards due to fitting issue. Both are pricier.
Hannah doesn’t wet her bed by urination these days but by salivation! Hee hee. The washing never stop aye.
I find Pureen brand of diaper rash cream cheap and effective. Better than some other expensive brands. It’s about $3.90 per tube. I bought mine at Kiddy Palace.
Hope that the above helps :D
Hi Lao Jie,
Thought I might as well add on something related to the diaper rash cream in case you are not already aware of it. When applying the cream, it should be a semi-thick layer. Don’t spread and rub the cream thin onto the baby’s skin as it is meant to serve as a protective barrier between the skin and the faeces+urine. The cream should be applied within the folds of the genitals as well. Always apply it in the direction of front to back like the way you would clean the genital area with a wet wipe. I always squeeze out a small amt on the back of one hand and then use my fingers of the other hand to apply it. I wipe off any excess cream on my hand onto the clean diaper (extra protection hee hee). :D
combi makes great juvenile products. a very reliable brand, awesome designs.