Let’s face it; you will have to buy a lot of things when you step into the world of becoming a parent. It’s one of those simple facts of life. While many of these things will be useful to an extent, others will eventually be collecting dust. That’s why we wanted to prepare a simple and very small list of essentials that we thought were necessary to make life post pregnancy more convenient. While some things were omitted from the list like baby clothes, which we recommend not to purchase too much of as your baby will be growing very fast over the first couple of months, others like diapers and baby bottles are way too obvious to be included. Also, keep in mind that there are plenty of online resources in Beijing to pick up these items secondhand like WeChat groups or even thebeijinger.com classifieds. Without further ado, here are our favorite essential baby items to get you geared up and ready for your new Beijing baby.
Pigeon Baby Lotion
Where to buy: Various online stores
Price: Starting from RMB 80
This often overlooked item is essential. During the first couple months, the baby’s skin is very sensitive, particularly in the diaper area. Buy a good foreign brand baby lotion like Pigeon, from Japan, and apply liberally after baths on the entire body and even after diaper changes to prevent those unwanted rashes that can make early life miserable for your baby. We recommend foreign brands, especially those from Japan as they are a little bit cheaper, safer, and can be easily found through online platforms like JD.com or Taobao.
Lansinoh Breast Pump
Where to buy: Baby Land, Mother Care (both in Indigo Mall), various online stores
Average price: RMB 1,000 (includes pump, bottles, and other accessories)
While you can’t always be certain if whether you’ll need this right away after giving birth or not, as there’s no way to guess how much milk you’ll be producing. With this being said, if it isn’t extracted immediately through natural means or mechanically then you run the risk of getting mastitis. You can look up the details on what this is, but it can be easily avoided with quick access to a quality pump. Some international hospitals provide one as a parting gift, but this and other brands of a similar quality can be very portable, used with batteries, and fit easily into a bag if you need it on the go.
Chicco Basinet
Where to buy: Mother Care, Chicco website, JD.com
Price: Starting from RMB 1699
These are great for new, recovering mothers because it allows you to sleep next to your child and for the baby to have easy access to momma for late night feeds. Many couples use their basinet for the first six months or until the baby has gained the strength to roll or even crawl out this small containment. When this happens, it’s time for an upgrade to an actual crib and maybe even a room change, but until then, this comfy enclosure should get the job done and make those midnight tasks slightly easier.
Lululemon All Day Tote
Where to buy: Lululemon
Average price: RMB 1,360
We know what you’re thinking, and yes you’re right; any bag will do. It doesn’t have to be Lululemon, but at the same time, it can be hard to find a bag that’s suitable for not only bringing the baby out for a little yoga session but also a little romantic dinner when the time comes. We just found this bag very stylish and great for traversing the city or rushing through airports. Though it’s an obvious accessory, at the same time you are going to need something that fits not only your own personal items but also the many things that are required to keep your baby fed, clothed, and diapered throughout the day and this All Day Tote does the trick.
Goodbaby Baby Bath with Seat
Where to buy: Lijia Baby, Taobao, JD.com
Average price: RMB 169
There’s nothing better than that new baby smell, but in order to preserve it over time baths will undoubtedly be needed. That’s why we recommend Goodbaby and others that have this very convenient attachable seat that puts baby in a comfortable reclining position. The baby simply hovers over the water as mom and dad take turns cleaning each part with care. Goodbaby is one of those better quality Chinese brands making affordable items for infants and are slowly gaining ground with their lengthy line of products. They are definitely worth checking out for this and other essentials you may need.
Quinny Moodd
Where to buy: Baby Land, Quinny Moodd website, JD.com
Average price: RMB 6,500
While we recommend purchasing most baby goods at a cheaper price, a good stroller is something that you don’t want to skimp on. We’ll tell you why. First of all, Beijing streets and sidewalks aren’t the easiest to navigate, and it often requires the use of bigger wheels if you do a decent amount of walking, along with having the ability to fold down to a pretty decent size so that you can fit it in the back of a cab or Didi. The Quinny Moodd does this and more. The Moodd part of the name indicates that that the stroller is modular. This means that you can fit a variety of baby holding apparatuses to the top of the stroller, the most convenient of which is the car seat. This quickly dismantles allowing you to throw baby into the back of a taxi with ease.
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This article appeared on p. 46-47 of beijingkids July issue.
Download the digital copy here.
Photos: courtesy of vendors
