What to buy on trip the US ?!?

H

hkexpat2010

Registered User
I'll be in the US this summer and want to pick up baby things for a 1st baby. Any suggestions on what's hard to find and/or more expensive in Hong Kong than in the US?

Would appreciate any advice!

Thanks!
 
completely agree with carang. nearly everything is more expensive here by 20-30% or more, so buy your stroller, car seat, cot (if you can be bothered to cart it back), monitors, dehumidifiers........
basically as much as you can reasonably carry back. this is what I did before my first.
 
u should buy as much as you can! like the above post says - car seats, stroller(s), crib, bottles etc...everything basically gets imported from the US/Europe into Asia so it will be so much cheaper. Just buy a big army duffle or hockey bag and stuff it to the max. My mother just brought over our new car seat and checked it right through in its box. She didn't even unpack etc...was no problem!
 
Thanks for the advice! I have the car seat and a 'pack and play' that we brought back already. Will look into getting as much stuff as possible!

Mummymoo- For the dehumidifiers and monitors, are you using voltage converters then? Also, do you get the converters in the US or in HK? I need to pick up one in HK, but am not sure where to find it...
 
hkexpat2010 my husband somehow knows how to change the power plug to HK compatible ones but I suppose an electrician could do that for you (ask your management for an electrician they always have access to tradies of all sorts). We changed the plugs because we are not from the US so would never be using their power cycle, if we were and were likely to be going back we would use an adaptor. He bought the right plug, adaptor from an electronics place (huge, multiple floors) in Wan Chai that is right outside of the MTR entrance there, Hennessy Road Exit. I also think that jack of all trades store Japan Homes would have adaptors too.
Hope that helps!
 
And if you care for brand name outfits like Polo, Gap. Crib sheets, bumpers (I couldn't find nice ones here and there were loads of choices on amazon), American versions of baby books.
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car seats are not mandatory in taxis in HK (same in singapore), but if you have a stroller than can attach one, then that's definitely the better/safer option for traveling around with a baby.

honestly, whenever someone comes over to visit from the states they bring - something from the States for us - carters pjs, pottery barn storage bins, bed sheets, towels w/hoods, swim suits, wall stickers for kids bedrooms, kitchen supplies (cooking utensils etc..). Anything name brand - Cuisinart, Wustof, Pottery Barn, LL Bean, Lands End, Ralph Lauren etc...wil be so much cheaper in the States. Of there is Stanley Market for some of the children's clothing, but selection will be different etc....
 
Don't forget to buy stuff for when the baby is a bit older. 6 months goes by fast and then there's the whole new world of weaning, sippy cups, etc. It's soooooooo much cheaper there, and believe me, you will end up buying a lot of paraphanelia.
 
As everyone says, US is way cheaper than HK. Everything. I compared some specific prices and for some things the HK mark up is 100% of US price. Just an example, a JJ Cole swaddle wrap sells at Mothercare for HK$199. US price is equivalent to HK$90. Ridiculous. Definitely get the bigger things, but clothes are worth it too. You can shop at places like Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby that have many different things and brands in one location. Careful with electronics though. It's not as simple as changing the plug. The voltage itself has to be compatible. Some items will work in 120v only and if you were to change the plug an plug it in in HK they would fry. Others say 120v~240v (look at the box) and those will work here too with an adaptor (I always prefer that option than changing original plugs). Getting items that require an electricity converter/transformer are just more of a pain I think, and if ever plugged in directly... dead. The UK is a good alternative for electronics if you can get from there. Our monitor retails at $1800 in HK but got it in Amazon UK for $800. If there are things you already KNOW you want you can have them shipped to where you're staying and save you the trouble- we did that with the stroller and a bunch of Carter's clothes.

Happy shopping! :)
 
If you plan to breastfeed get everything you can in the US. I use lansinoh cream and my husband bought a tube of it at Mothercare and it was the equivalent of $21 USD here in HK. Guess how much it costs in the US. $7 USD/tube! My mom is here visiting and she brought me a few tubes.

Also, the selection and quality of nursing bras is much, much better than HK. Good quality electric breastpumps (like Medela) are cheaper and there is much more selection. Also other things to look into: nipple shields, breast shells etc. As well as nursing shawls like the Bebe Au Lait.

Also, I think that the US has a lot better selection of strollers and the baby clothing is nicer and cheaper. I also bought our pack n play in the States and brought it back in the box. I don't know how much room you'll have in your luggage but you can know that everything you buy in the States will probably be much cheaper than HK--as well as offer you more selection and possibly better quality. :) Have fun shopping!
 
Medela pump is good, its adapter is 110-240V. Same for summer infant baby monitor. However, Angelcare baby monitor's adapter can only be used in 110V.

Also bring a lot of baby clothes, they don't take much space in your luggage. For toys, the price difference is really large, but they are so big it ain't worth it.
 
I prefer to buy clothes here. If you go to local shops, markets and factory outlets, you spend very little. And for viand name too. In fact, I have been buying clothes here just to send back to Canada as we are moving there soon.
 
Thanks everyone for the tips! Especially helpful to know some of the electronics are dual voltage. Will definitely look into those items!

Not looking forward to trying to fit all of this in my suitcases :P

PS. Does anyone on this board meet up for lunches or anything?
 
Yes, definitely everything. I'd consider prebuying things online because that's often even cheaper than in stores. I usually make a big order on amazon and diapers.com before i go back. other things (ergo/baby carrier, books for you and baby, toys)
 
i would suggest buying a huge hockey bag (yes, i've had friends do this before) or an army navy duffle and packing it to the brim. I've had friends bring over baby swings and car seats - have just kept it entirely in its box and checked it through with no problems. definitely buy your breast pump if you are thinking of pumping as electrical dual pumps are are so expensive in Asia. would also suggest buying a digital ear thermometer. ours just broke and my mom sent a Braun one from the US which was a fraction of what the price was here at Mothercare which including her shipping costs. It's a joke how things are marked up here.
 
Since we do a lot of traveling and will continue to do so, we bought a suitcase for baby when we were there and filled it up ;-) Decided on a Tumi duffel style bag with wheels. It is so roomy! Also took it on other trips (empty) and filled it up again.
 
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