1. Daiichi Stroller ALLEE

I am a mom who travels A LOT. From 1-2 years old, my daughter has flown 15 times. Yes, we made full use of the Infant discount (below 2 years old). We are Malaysian but we are now based in Bangkok for work. We don’t own a car in Bangkok. So, having a good stroller is a big WIN! Considering the rocky roads and paths that we have to walk a lot on!

I have tried 4 different strollers and this Daiichi Stroller has won this category, hands down!

The MAIN reasons I love this stroller:

• Easy maneuvering – can turn 360 degrees in one spot & can be handled with one hand
• Sturdy – chrome frame helps keep the stroller in shape and not easily compromised
• Stable – due to 6 suspensions to safely absorb vibrations and noise from pavement
• Sleek & Stylish – All black and nice finishing all round

Other Features

• Age: Suitable from newborn to 36 months (approximately 20kg)
• One-hand folding system
• 5-point harness
• Peekaboo window
• 4-step expanding canopy (UPF50+)
• Double-sided baby inner seat provides steady comforts (Airy Mesh material on the back side)
• Adjustable for both rearward & forward facing

Not-so-loved Reasons

• Weight ~ 9.8kg, can be heavy to lunge up/down a long flight of stairs (but the sturdiness outweighs this disadvantage)
• After Folding, unable to stand without leaning (need to find a sweet spot)
• The push button to collapse the stroller blocks the top part of the entrance to the High capacity basket
• The chrome frame will be scratched if scrapped on the road

So, how much does it cost to have this beauty? It ranges between RM2,099-RM2,499 depending on the store and what kind of free gifts/attachments they give you.

It has other attachments that you will have to purchase separately:

• Mosquito Cover
• Rain Cover
• Baby Bag – can be attached to the stroller (Highly Recommended)

If you invest in a good quality stroller, you will be so thankful for it! It will last you a really long time. Even kids at the age of 4-5 still use them when they are tired of walking. Saves the parent’s back when the baby/kid is riding/sleeping on it when they are at the zoo or even at a really huge shopping mall!

During our trip to Sunway Lagoon, I managed to fit 2 flat-out-sleeping toddlers at 11kg each, baby bags, and other swimming stuff all in this stroller and still maneuver with much ease. I could still turn it 360 degrees with one hand, in one spot. So, was it worth my money? Hell YES!

If you think you can just wash baby bottles or items with normal dishwashing liquid and just dry them on their own? Sorry to burst your bubble! Because babies are so delicate and their immune systems are still developing, they are very prone to bacteria and infection. The microorganisms that are ingested can cause the baby to have diarrhea and vomit.

Back in the olden days, boiling hot water was used to sterilize bottles. Then, came Steam Sterilisers. Now, the revolutionary UV Steriliser. I have tried both Steam and UV Sterilisers. I used to think that UV Steriliser will turn my bottles yellow and that it was too expensive. But when I was waiting for my steam-sterilized bottles to dry so I could keep them away, it took too long (3 hours under the fan) and I realized that the bottles were exposed to microorganisms that the naked eye cannot see.

After that one try with the Steam Steriliser, I told my husband we need to invest in a UV Steriliser. So, a good Steam Steriliser would probably cost you RM250 and a UV Steriliser would probably cost you at least RM450 (depending on functions, style, and brand).

These are some of the factors you would want to consider when buying a UV Steriliser:

• Effectiveness – Dual UV Lamp & stainless steel interior
• Drying Time – the shorter, the better!
• Size – the bigger, the better!
• Storage System – does it keep your items continuously sterilized?

After considering all of the above, researching, and consulting fellow parents who own other brands of UV Sterilisers, I decided to go for Spectra UV Steriliser. Price RM1,199.

Why I chose this over others?

• Shorter Auto function (Dry, Sterilize & Vent) – 20/30/40 mins
  • Upang ~ 40 mins
  • Coby ~ 45 mins
  • Supermama ~45 mins
  • Philips Avent ~ 40 mins

• Storage – Large internal size – realistically can fit 8 baby bottles after detaching all the attachments like the nipple, cover. If you are using Dr. Brown’s bottles, you’ll have even more attachments!
  • contents stay germ-free for up to 10 hours

• Style – minimalist design
• Outer material – easy to clean and maintain!

Other features

• LED display to check settings or operation time at a glance (even in the dark)
• Triple fan system
• Microfiber pre-filter – to ensure clean air circulation
• Chemical-free UV method
• Advanced hospital-grade technology
• Sterilize other products like cutleries, toys, smartphones etc.

3. Joie Stages Car Seat

What is the next big-ticket item you need when it comes to preparing for a baby? A useful car seat that lasts you through the different stages of your kid’s life!

I am currently using Daiichi Carseat First7 Plus Premium Black and I love it! However, I have decided that whilst First7 is great, the price may not be as valuable. Hence, my recommendation for Joie Stages is because it does the job (keeping your child safe) and at half the price! I have used and am still using Joie Stages for my nieces (passed down from my first niece, from newborn to now, age 6 to my second, from newborn to now, age 2.5).

What to consider and why I would recommend Joie Stages

• Age Suitability – From newborn to 25kg (usually up to 7 years old)
• Rear-facing & Reclining Positions– For newborns where necks are not supported yet to kids sitting upright
• Isofix Safety – Most cars come with Isofix now, but do check if your car has it! It keeps the seat and baby more stable (does not move, affixed to the Isofix lock/hook)
• Harness – 5-point harness. So far, I have realized that ALL baby car seats are difficult to latch on. But its design is as such, to keep your baby/child safe at all times. So, get something that is you find easier to work around with because you’ll feel the pressure when you are in the carpark and 5 cars are waiting for you to buckle your baby/child in.
• Other Safety Features – Tri-Protect headrest, three layers of protection including side wings plus Guard Surround Safety™ side impact panels.
• PRICE – value for money! You can get it for as low as RM899-RM1,199 (depending with or without Isofix)! RM899 divided by 7 years is only RM129 per year! Daiichi is approximately RM1,899 – RM2,199 depending on the material (normal/organic/premium black).

Other Aspects to Consider

• Breathable material – your baby might be sweating especially if they are in the rear-facing position
• Antibacterial material (Daiichi Premium Black only)
• Colour – the darker the better, it will bound to get dirty whether your baby does a big poo and it overflows (trust me it will happen), baby snacks & dirty little fingers
• Cleaning – based on the above point, you will need to regularly clean it, so is the padding easy to remove to wash?
• Detachable – is it easy to take in and out if you need to share one car seat between two cars?

*BONUS Tip* – I would not recommend getting a car seat that doubles as a Carrier. You might be thinking, “it’s easier to bring the baby around especially when they are a newborn. Like when they are sleeping in the carrier, you can just carry it into the car, and it is a car seat too!”

Nope, you will just be wasting money. You will be changing to a proper car seat after your baby outgrows the carrier which is usually 6-8 months in (depending on how fast your baby grows). It is not easy to lunge a carrier with a baby inside wherever you go, be it in a restaurant, shopping mall, or anywhere really. A carrier that doubles as a car seat is not light for sure! So, imagine a weight of 4-5kg plus your baby of minimum 3kg, that’s already 7-8kg AND you walk funny because you don’t want the carrier to hit your leg and wake your baby.

4. Spectra S1 Breast Pump

If you are a guy, scrolling through this post, you must be thinking why is this part of the Top 5 Must-Buy. This will evidently be the mother’s bestfriend for as long as the mother intends to breastfeed. Let me break it down for you.

Initially, when the baby is born, they will be fed every 1.5-2 hours. So, that means, the mother will be either pumping or latching the baby every 1.5-2 hours. Even if the mother decides to directly latch the baby for feeding, mothers like myself have used the breast pump to empty my breasts to avoid mastitis and to stimulate more milk production, AFTER directly latching my baby. This means that my baby is full and I have more milk in my breasts.

My baby is a fully breastfed baby. Even at 2 years old, she doesn’t like drinking from the bottle. So, I have donated a total of 472 packets of breastmilk (2-4 ounces each) to mommies and babies that need them.

During my time of breastfeeding, my best option was Spectra S1 Breast Pump. Here are my reasons why:

• Effectiveness – Able to empty my breasts – after dragging pumping hours, rock hard breasts are the most painful thing ever! Worse than giving birth, some would say. So, you will need an EFFECTIVE one that helps empty your breasts especially if you are a busy mom.
• Hospital-Grade – stronger strength suction featuring more powerful motor, special wavelength, and programming that allows mothers to adjust according to their medical necessities
• Built-in Rechargeable Battery (3-4 hours when on full charge)
• Adjustable Suction & Speed Levels – 12 levels of suction
• 2-level Gentle Nightlight – super helpful! I didn’t disturb my husband or baby when I pump in the middle of the night. I even use it as my nightlight to sleep during initial stages because of the frequent feed. I just left it on till morning.
• Timer – automatically cuts off at 30 mins just incase mommy falls asleep while pumping – so not to overstimulate.
• Quiet Pumping – to be honest, it’s not like comparing a Gas car and an Electric Car. It will still generate the pumping sound, but quieter than most of the other ones out there. The vibration is also less likely to disturb you in an annoying way. This is especially important if you are an on-the-go mommy that needs to pump at the office. I have friends who are using other brands and I am pretty glad with this one!

Other Features

• Closed system to prevent milk backflow – safe and hygienic
• Bottle Holder Slot x 1 – can be pretty useful if you are handling the bottles on a soft platform (like a bed).

Not-so-happy Feature

• Heavier and bigger than portable compact breast pumps (but is more effective and can clear clogged ducts better)

So, if you are considering a powerful, reliable Breast Pump to help you with the following, you are on the right track!

• Building a supply
• Exclusively Pumping
• Re-lactation or inducing lactation
• Frequent daily pumping (heavy duty)

Do check out the most latest Breast Pumps in the market for newer technology!

As far as I know, there is a newer version of S1, called Spectra Dual S. The newer version of the compact S9+ is called Spectra Dual Compact.

5. Daiichi Louis 3-in-1 Baby Carrier

If you don’t want to bring a stroller out but don’t want your arms and back to kill you, this baby carrier will save you!

This is my go-to whenever I’m going to a crowded place and it would be hard to maneuver a stroller, I’d choose to wear this baby carrier to carry my baby. It’s wearable by both mom or dad, unisex.

In the olden days, mothers or nannies would use a “sarong” (large cloth) to wrap the baby around them. Thanks to research and technology, we have new and improved ways of carrying the baby without hurting the baby or the carrier.

Benefits of Daiichi Baby Carrier

• Safe Back System – Reduce bending of baby’s spine, maintains proper posture and spine development
• Curved Head Support – cushion baby’s head, keeping it stable and secure during movement
• High Density Foam in Top of Hip Seat and Waist Belt – provides cushion support that disperses weight evenly
• Ergonomic Design – fully supports bottom and crotch of baby. ‘M Position’ helps keep baby’s legs in a safe position and avoid hip dysplasia.
• Eco-friendly EPP Cushion –hardly decreasing in thickness and, hardly modified or bended after long term usage
• Double-lock Device – enhance safety use
• Wide & Thick Shoulder Pad – alleviate load on shoulders and minimize shoulder pain
• Storage Pocket
• Protective Pad against Leg Rubbing
• Airy Mesh – ventilate and circulate airy flow

Other Features

• 100% Pure Cotton
• 100% Twill Texture – resist friction causing, reduce loss of shape
• Available in 4 colours – Indi Pink, Khaki, Charcoal, Deep Beige
• Other accessories included – Shoulder Spit Pot, Sleeping Hood

Sometimes, I would prefer using a carrier when going to the mall as there are just too many escalators and waiting for a lift will take forever! Also, my baby falls asleep easier than just strolling around waiting for her to sleep (also because she is used to having skin contact to sleep and not sleep trained). My nanny uses this to put my baby to sleep while I’m at work.

Not-so-loved Reasons

• Can be hot at the belt after wearing for a long time and if you are in a warm/hot environment
• Proper outfit – I’d recommend wearing something comfortable and breathable. I’d usually be wearing something more sporty for its breathable material and a top that doesn’t crumple easily. As you will be strapped up, your clothes will be mashed up in the process of carrying your baby. So, I do not recommend wearing your favourite dress/top that needs major ironing!

My suggestion, planning is key! So, depending on your location, see if a stroller or a carrier works better for you. This will also help determine what your outfit will be!

*BONUS Tip: If you are going to use this carrier for a long time, like a whole day at the zoo, don’t forget to wear walkable shoes that can help support your baby’s weight so your feet doesn’t hurt too bad!