Layette as you go: Part 3

After the clothing pieces, I've bought a few more essentials that will definitely come in handy and are really quite needed but of course, since I'm trying to be as practical as possible, I scoured SM Department Store for the practical, affordable but items that don't sacrifice quality.

Baby Company Baby's Day Out Organizer - Php269.75
I was looking at nursery and bottle organizers and most of them were open or exposed and since I don't want any creepy crawlies or dust (no matter how many times you clean your house, they're there) on my baby's feeding items, I opted for a closed organizer and was happy to find this! Cheap but spacious enough and good for travel as well.

Baby Company Bathing Basin Set - Php79.75
Soft edges, handy for bath bath stuff and easy to clean. My first born still has her set in Pink.

Munchkin Bottle and Nipple Brush Set Php279.75
It's a good brand, plus I used this for my first baby. Though I suggest changing brushes every 2-3 months as they do accumulate bacteria and of course, wear out. I find this brand sturdier yet affordable than the other ones I've tried.



Set of Kiddie Hangers Php59.75 (6's)
Since most baby clothes are either too small, stretchy (because of they are usually cotton or cotton stretch), my Yaya Eli suggested that we buy these. Clothes are dried properly and less deformities are made than just clipping them on the laundry line.

I'll be canvassing items in the next weeks as well and hopefully I can share another list soon. The good thing about work is that when I inspect my products, I get to pass by the baby areas too since they are usually housed in one location. :)

Layette as you go: Part 2

THE ESSENTIAL STUFF: Clothing

There are so many choices out in the market. During my first pregnancy, my mom and I decided to go to divisoria and check out the items there.

Yep, they were really cheap and more or less, the same quality with what you see in the stores.

That was 3 years ago.

Before I got pregnant (mid last year), I gifted someone with a few baby items that came from divisoria. Landmark department store and SM department store. I was surprised because department stores were starting to offer their own branded lines close to divisoria prices.

But today, I was even more surprised to see that the prices are actually the same and the quality, obviously better PLUS less the travel time, crowd and inconvenience of not having enough places to rest while you shop when in divisoria.

So, below are my finds which I'm quite happy about.

CLOTHING ESSENTIALS FOR NEWBORNS (0-3 months) - our second baby is a boy! (do pardon the background, I used his ate's pink polka pillows)

FROM SM Department Store (Megamall - infant section) and Babyland in Glorietta Makati

SM Baby Basics 4 pcs Sleeveless Tie-sides
Bought in pairs at Php84.75
I bought 4 pcs.
Babies actually like the cold. From all my nephews and nieces and my first born, they tend to take off their blankets when they can. I also want to have these but in small quantities in case the weather won't be so cool in June. Plus these are good to use during the day time when you get to go out early in the morning to expose them to the sun for a few minutes.

SM Baby Basics 4 pcs Short Sleeved Tie-sides
Bought in pairs at Php84.75
I bought 4 pcs.
I only buy around 4-6 pieces of these for newborn as they do grow quite fast. I'm giving birth in June so I'm considering that the season will be rainy or a little bit colder (than what we are experiencing now! it's so humid). I might also buy 3 pieces of the long sleeved ones.

Cotton Stuff Garterized Mittens - 2 pairs at Php69.75
I bought 4 pairs / 2 packs
Mittens to protect my lil one from the scratchies. I tend to get a dozen of these as pair do get lost along the way plus you use it until 3 or up to 4 months, dependent on how soon you can trim baby's nails.

SM Baby Basics Garterized Booties - 3 pairs at Php49.75
I bought 1 pack
Booties as I do not like seeing babies barefoot especially when going out. Plus like mittens, there seems to be a black hole for these. So I get at least a dozen.


Cotton Stuff Cap & Booties - Set at Php89.75
I bought 2 packs
My first born hated wearing caps so I only bought 2 and It came with a matching pair of white booties. These were the softest I could find. I believe I still need them for this new baby especially on his first days out.

SM Baby Basics Soft Cotton Stretch Triangle Binders 3 at Php44.75
I bought 2 packs
I don't like the stiff cotton types. I feel that they burn the skin. So I was happy enough to find these as they were so hard to find before. These are a little bit stretchy and are really super soft. You can get as much as a dozen because sometimes, wee-wee or poo-poo creeps up the diaper and these often fall as victims to those natural baby elements...hehe.



String tie-type binders, mittens and booties at 3 pcs and pairs per pack at Php60.75 from Babyland
I bought 2 packs each
This is another binder version that i like. It's adjustable and the fabric is soft. Plus I got it on sale at Babyland which is great.

Though I prefer garterized mittens and booties, sometimes, the baby tends to get a little fuzzy and you have missing mittens and booties here and there. It's handy to have these as you can regulate the fit.


Cotton Stuff hooded receiving blanket - Php189
I bought 1 piece
I bought one because you get these as gifts most of the time plus I've been making my own recently. :) I've discovered really nice flannel cloth and 100% cotton fabrics which I'm making into blankets for the new baby.


Cotton Stuff tie-type bibs - Php49.75 each
I bought 3 pieces
I only bought 3 pieces because he won't be eating till he's 5 or 6 months plus, you will almost have a set or two of these as gifts, if not, they're quite affordable. These though are really nice because the cotton is really soft. I want these handy when breast feeding and while giving vitamins to avoid staining the baby's clothes.

Cotton Stuff Terry Washcloths at Php49.75 each
I bought 3 pieces
I only bought 3 pieces because I normally get these as gifts and these are easy to get anyway. Mhy daughter still uses hers during bath times. I find that terry washcloths last longer and clean efficiently but gently

Curity Gauze type diapers Php399.75 for 1 dozen
I bought 1 pack
I'm planning to use disposable diapers because we are currently in a condo and there is not so much space to air dry. I also don't want to have baby clothes laundered outside. But these are really really worth it because up until now, my daughter still uses hers (and relies so much on them that she asks for her "lampin" if she's sweaty or to wipe her hands and all). Gauze types also get to become softer and softer after every wash as long as they are washed properly.

Faded Glory Preemie Frogsuit - on sale at Php120! from Babyland
This is going to be our baby's going home suit
I bought 1 piece
I only bought 1 frog suit because I want to have something to use when the baby goes home or when he goes out that's not purely white. The cotton of this is quite soft too and for the price, having this for 1-2 months isn't that bad. I'm planning to save this as a keepsake later on.




NBA Onesie - from SM at Php199.75
This is a novelty item for me and will serve as our baby boy's first day-out outfit
it's also a plus because it's the hubby's favorite NBA team
I bought 1 piece
It's good to have at least a piece of clothing that's not purely white but still looks clean with a little quirkiness to it. Most gifts are also statement onesies and there are a lot available so I'm in no hurry to buy so much.


Ducky Terry cloth hooded towel - on sale at Php175 at Babyland
I bought 1 piece
This is more for quick washes and clean-ups because I prefer to buy big white towels, also, the older sister still has a few pieces of this type that are still in good condition. I also usually get these as gifts

I used to buy each in like 1-2 dozen (excited mom...but not practical). As you get to see how your baby behaves, you can buy an additional piece of two later on. When you see the rate he/she grows as well, you'll be able to prioritize what's most needed and what you can do without.

I'd rather invest in his health care like up to date vaccines, natural or organic care products and some furniture that I know he and his sister can use until they're 6 or 7.

Layette as you go

There are A LOT of lists online and at almost every baby store. All of them have common things in the list, they usually vary in terms of the quantities.

For my first born, the hubby and I had limited budget since I had to quit for health reasons but we had very supportive grand parents from both sides who pitched in.

But usual mistakes of first time parents (in my case) would be to splurge on:

1. Excess quantities of items the baby most likely grow out of easily - things that sometimes, they don't get to use at all

2. Unnecessary items that either the parent or the baby can't use much or can't use at all - usually these things are the "newest in the market" or "the one I saw this celebrity or other parent using" or "the sales lady said it's their best seller", etc. etc. etc.

3. It's really cute or it looks cool - period

4. I "MIGHT" need It or the baby "MIGHT" need it

5. It's a steal! Super discounted!

Hard lessons I've learned:

1. Babies to grow really fast and up to 7 years old (mine is at 3 years old now and I'm still catching my breath)

2. Not all of the cool stuff are the good stuff - certain baby items nowadays are marketed in a way that makes basic consumers just grab it and go without looking at the fine print. Let's face it, in this fast paced world, who wouldn't want do have everything done with a press of a button. Consumers are also more brand conscious just because PRICE = QUALITY. Better think again. Not everything so highly priced is as efficient. effective or SAFE as it seems. But there are of course exceptions to the rule which are items considered as INVESTMENTS.

3. Saving items for later is a craft that every parent should learn - you'll never know how much you need it until you can't find that item anymore or how much you could have saved if the things your first baby had was properly stored and kept for the next one. These range from basic infant clothing used with care, toys that can be cleaned and sterilized, furniture you should have kept and restored, etc.

4. Buying items as if you were in a marathon - it's exciting to buy baby stuff, they are obviously cute! who can't resist? But most parents tend to buy in one or two trips and with stuff that the baby (inside the tummy) will use until he/she is like 3 or 4 years old! Obviously, everyone is unique and you will start to see that from DAY 1 of each person's existence. One baby likes those wide neck bottles while the other only wants the regular thin bottles. Some babies like to sleep on the bed while other babies like to sleep in their cribs. There are now several options on how to allot things for babies, that you can buy them one step at a time or at least buy items that are dual purpose see: http://mommygoestomarket.blogspot.com/2010/02/crib-hunt.html

It's a matter of getting to know your baby for the first few weeks before you go on overspending on items you may not use later on or just yet.

My next posts will be mostly about my second baby's layette items. This time, I'm TRYING to be a smarter shopper. I'm buying things a few pieces at a time. It's making sure that I'm getting what I'll be needing at least for 1-3 months and focus on the more important stuff to budget on.

I've found really nice and cool stuff which for me, are quite affordable based on serious window shopping during my first trimester and from my previous experiences as well as prices I've found online.

The Crib Hunt

For my first born, my dad bought a dark blue crib/playpen (newborn - 2 years old) from SM department store, 3 years ago. It was somewhere around Php4k.

But it only took a little over 12 months before we knew it couldn't hold our baby and she really did prefer to sleep on a bed. Maybe she also felt too claustrophobic with all the netting around her.

So a few days ago, I scoured the internet for crib types and thought that it might be more practical to get a wooden crib that can be used from newborn to toddler and even up to 7 years old as a child's bed or even as a day bed.

But since it's wood (most of them are cherry wood as per the sales associates), it means investing more than a regular playpen type.

I found the 2 most acceptable crib designs with high consideration to budget at SM Megamall.

Php10,999 for the frame
Php1,499 for the mattress by Uratex
TOTAL: Php12,498 + Crib Bedding Set (more or less around 2-3k) = 15k total investment


Php12,999 for the frame
Php1,499 for the mattress by Uratex
TOTAL: Php14,498 + Crib Bedding Set (more or less around 2-3k) = 17k total investment

Yep, quite pricey but if you think about it, it's practical. Also, our goal is to be able to have the second baby used to sleeping at his own crib / bed. My first born refuses to sleep in another bed and since she's growing and quite all over the place (imagine bruises on my thighs and back..hehe) plus we all can't fit into our queen sized bed. The hubby is already thinking of getting his own cot..haha. We're still living in a condo and it's probably going to take a year before we get to settle into at least a 3 bedroom house in the south. I don't really like to move a lot so we are still looking for better options. So it's also very important that stuff around the house become dual purpose or are not so bulky.

I'm on my 6th month and hopefully I can settle all the stuff before my 7th month ends.

I'm making a list of the layette and the corresponding prices I saw in SM's baby section. Will be posting those soon. :)

I'm quite happy I'm having a boy. Now we'll have a girl and a boy, but what's important is that congenital scan shows the baby's healthy. :)

Urban Survival: The Budget Condo Project

It's my nesting stage.

I need to get rid of all the clutter.

Organize the house before the baby arrives and even before I start getting the baby stuff.

Hubby will be away for 5 months.

Since I'm quite depressed as well that he won't be here when I give birth, my consolation is that I'll get to fix the place without someone nosing around (hehehe) and I can surely do away with the snide remarks (that don't help!)...excuse me, pardon my raging hormones, I do love my hubby but I need my creativity and thriftiness to flow without my complete design opposite.

We met at school, we took up interior design. Our place doesn't look like interior designers live here. I will make sure that will change, whatever it takes!

But I do also believe, you don't need to spend a lot nowadays.

With the age of design consistently evolving, anything goes.

You just need to consider your options carefully and work around what you have and what you (really) need.

So in the next weeks, I'll be posting (hopefully) the project updates until hopefully, the project completion.

For phase 1, I have made steps for me to follow based on what I learned from school and from what my schedule can permit.

STEP 1: Assess the Space (will post pictures soon)

Step 2: Decide on a general theme, based on the majority of the items you have

STEP 3: Draw up a Floor Plan (that works best with the space and existing furniture and fixtures)

STEP 4: Execute the floor plan with the current items on hand (this will include taking care of the clutter and organizing stuff as well...it's nice to work with a clean palette)

STEP 5: Determine the most important items you need to purchase

STEP 6: Check the budget

STEP 7: Go to market

I'll end it with step 7 first and see how it goes from there.

Goal is to do a before and after with very little budget, recycling and up-cycling and creating a totally new look for the place.

Goodluck to me

Urban Survival: Mini Greens

Fact 1: I like living in Manila because it's near work, places I need to buy materials from and it's basically got everything...almost.

Fact 2: I love living in the province because my parents house is closer (which means free food, stuff and baby sitting..hehe) plus the air is fresh, my kid (soon to be kids) can play outside, food is great and fresher and most of my friends are there.

Fact 3: I USED to like living in a condo. Less space to clean, cozy therefore I will not get so lonely when the hubby is out. Easy to pay bills since admin is in-house (no bayad centers or banks to go to), security is tight, 24/7.

Fact 4: I have a growing kid with growing needs and another one coming this June. I also have A LOT of stuff, some are still in boxes since we moved last year. I need a third bedroom. I feel that our current place is so cramped though it's actually larger than other places we've seen, having kids and a crafting hobby needs more space.

Fact 5: The best I can do is figure out how to redecorate on a very tight budget and make the space work and bring in stuff that will make it more "organic", hence: PLANTS.

Fact 6: Several small plants have died in the condo. SEVERAL. Despite the fact that we water them properly, expose them to a whatever sunlight we can get here. They DIED. Apart from the occasional fumbling over (which causes such a mess!).

Fact 7: Leave it to Japanese technology and Filipino ingenuity to provide you with awesome and cool stuff.

MIURA HYDRO CULTURE PLANTS

No need for sunlight
Water them every 2 days with little water
No messy soil to worry about
Cute little mini greens that will leave people asking you: "Are they real?"

Oh, and yes they are very much real.

Prices start at Php130 each and they already come with nice, cute pots / planters and they place them in nice boxes if you wish to give them as gifts. The boxes also make them easy to carry around the mall while your shopping.





Got my 2 mini plants and 1 midi plant at SM Megamall 4th Floor Bldg A while looking for a stall that makes rubber stamps (my hubby needed one ASAP and the ones in National Bookstore and SM Department Store will take 10 days).

I want to get the big ones called MAXI and there were also bigger ones even.

I have this in Midi Size.

PRICES PER SIZE:

4.5 - Php130
6.0 - Php180
9.0 - Php300
12.0 - Php500
and the largest ones I believe are at Php1,000

I'm planning to buy more later on so I can place something at the office and bigger ones for the house (probably after my home make-over at a very tight budget package - working title..ehehe)

Anyhoo, 5 Green Thumbs Up! =)

VISIT THEIR SITE ON MULTIPLY: MIURA