Having a baby is an exciting time, but being away from home can make the experience feel overwhelming. With concerns that range from finding a pediatrician to getting baby to sleep through the night, the last thing new parents need to worry about is being able to find quality products. Fortunately, there are many options in Beijing. We outline a few of our favorite shops so new parents can spend more time on what really matters – like when they can fit in a nap!
3, 2, 1, Shop!
Co-founded by a beijingkids board member, Counting Sheep is a go-to source for maternity and baby gear. The store stocks products for baby and mom, including BabyGanics safe laundry detergents. Brands include Stokke, Bloom, Boob, Baby Bjorn, Ergo Carriers, Hotslings, Bravado, Chicobello, Fleurville, BamBam, Big Bobby Cars, and Trunki.
Mothercare is a British chain specializing in clothing, home and travel, and toys for babies and young children. The shop carries its own brand of clothes for kids 6 and under as well as a wide range of nursery furniture and equipment. Find maternity clothes, strollers, bedding, car seats, playpens, baby monitors, and everything you need for nursing, including nipple cream, bras, and nursing pillows. Brands include Britax, Maclaren, and Cybex.
baby international is a three-in-one family restaurant, play center, and baby retailer. The parent-owned shop stocks essentials such as strollers, car seats, cribs, and toys. Moms who pump their own breast milk can find BPA-free bottles for storage and feeding as well as sterilizing equipment. Imported formula is also available. International brands include Happybellies, Bugaboo, Ergo Baby, Ecobibi, and Medela Purelan.
Buy, Buy Baby
Not a fan of in-store shopping? Not a problem. Shop online at Leyou instead. This Chinese online store has toys, furniture, thermometers, breast pumps, diapers, spoons, bottles, formula, baby food, and more. Prices are competitive, but the website is in Chinese only. Toy brands include Chicco, Koochie, Play Doh, Playwell, and Ravensburer.
Taobao, Amazon China, and JD.com are also invaluable resources for parents-to-be. A quick search turned up essentials for mom and baby at heavily-discounted rates. There’s everything from nursing necessities to diapers, wipes, baby furniture, toys, and items to babyproof your home such as corner safety bumpers. If your Chinese is limited, enlist the help of Chinese-speaking friend or use a Taobao agent. turn to p46 go learn how to set up online banking.
Taking Care of Business
Split pants are still the norm for toilet training in Beijing, but parents won’t have trouble finding cloth or disposable diapers. Most foreign supermarkets like April Gourmet and Jenny Lou’s will carry disposable ones while BHG Marketplace has its own brand of disposable diapers at good value. You can also order disposable or cloth diapers in bulk online through Amazon China or Taobao. International brands include Huggies, Pampers, Nature Babycare, Seventh Generation, and Rumparooz One Size Cloth Diaper.
Resources
baby international 国际宝贝
Daily 10am-7pm. 2 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District (8450 1189) www.baby-international.com朝阳区将台路2号
Counting Sheep Children’s Boutique 洋洋宝宝店
1) Sun-Thu 10am-7pm, Fri-Sat 10am-8pm. 17 Gongti Beilu,
Chaoyang District (6417 7622, ask@countingsheepboutique.com) www.countingsheepboutique.com 朝阳区工体北路17号; 2) Daily 10am-10pm. L3-38, Indigo Mall, 18 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang
District (8420 0451) 朝阳区酒仙桥路18号颐堤港3层38店铺
Motherswork
Daily 10am-10pm. Store L-VDM-20, Block 2, Solana Lifestyle and Shopping Park, 6 Chaoyang Gongyuan Lu, Chaoyang District (5905 6905) 朝阳区朝阳公园路6号院蓝色港湾国际商区2号楼L-VDM-20号店铺
Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us 玩具反斗城
1) Daily 10am-10pm. Rm 52, B1/F, CapitaMall Taiyanggong, 12 Taiyanggong Zhonglu, Chaoyang District (8429 7072) www.toysrus.com.cn 朝阳区朝阳区太阳宫中路12号凯德广场B1层52号; 2) Daily 10am-10pm. Rm 10, 5/F, Joy City Chaoyang, 101 Chaoyang Beilu, Chaoyang District (8552 2898) 朝阳区朝阳区朝阳北路101号朝阳大悦城5F-10
Mothercare, Leyou, BHG Marketplace, April Gourmet, and Jenny Lou’s have multiple store locations. For a complete list of addresses, visit our online directories at beijing-kids.com.
This article originally appeared in the 2015 beijingkids Home and Relocation Guide. Click here to read the issue for free on Issuu.com. To find out how you can get your own copy, email distribution@truerun.com.
Photo: Sathya Tripodi (pixababy)
