The Verran Family Blog

During the build-up of bringing a child into this world, the one core function of parents-to-be is the preparation stage. Not only the emotional preperation of becoming parents, but making sure that everything that you need before the baby arrives is in place.

When do you start getting ready? 2 months before birth, 3 or 4 or perhaps 5 months? Well, our adventure has started and it started today. Today we decided to start seeing what is out there and what ideas we can gather for our nursery. As for starting to make purchases towards that baby room? Nope, definately not yet. Today was a huge fact finding mission and to start finding out what baby retailers in Cape Town have to offer. If you do know of any other retailers, please post in the comments section.

We headed into the city. Bridgitte, with her list, addresses and directions in hand was ready to direct me where we needed to go.

First stop. Kids Emporium

Located in Greenpoint, just behind the Primedia building, A small store with many surprises. The first thing that caught Bridgitte’s eye was a cot, finished in mahogany, large, wide, it was exactly what she was looking for – except that mahogany is not our colour scheme. But we saw the style that we liked and that was going to be the benchmark. The shop stocks a wide variety of designer kids and baby accessories of which Tom and Bella was our favourite for linen and accessories. Just loved the embroided hedgehog and other Tom and Bella characters. Very cute and ideal. A definate option on the list.

Second stop. HammondKids

This was on recommendation from Lourens and Dankia and we had to go and see what all the fuss was all about. Finally finding the store at The Palms designer centre in Woodstock prooved successful – second time round. But we got in and our jaws just dropped in awe as we strolled slowly through the store.

Now when we decide to buy baby furnature, having furnature that can last long, but also be multi-purpose comes in as a HUGE selling point. I think it was that selling point that I realised today. HammondKids’s PJ cot and chest of draws / compactum falls into that category. The cot has a 2 level height adjustable base (is 2 levels enough?), with removable sides, so at a later stage, the cot can be turned into bed or a bench to sit on. The cot style makes it possible to even move it into a sun room and become part of the furnature. The website doesn’t do it justice, just pop in and see what I mean.

The compactum was amazing. It is basically a chest of draws with a removable top, so once you’re not changing baby on top of the compactum any more, remove the top and it is a chest of draws! No need to sell and replace for something “non baby”.

We have seen many compactums at other retailers that are made for being compactums only and if we can buy something that is so multi-purpose, then why not spend the extra doh?

Then finally, the piesta resistance! The rocking, breast feeding, confortable, sleeping chair. I don’t think I am going to get away from not gettong one of these for the nursery. Imagine those 3am morning stunts, sitting and rocking in the baby chair, listening to light music with baby falling asleep on your chest as you fall into a slumber. Ahhhh, the life!

Their furnature comes in a variety of painted colours, but rock solid and the quality was outstanding.

I’ve gotta say that HammondKids is pricy, but I think the “investment” is well worth it. They get a huge tick on my list. The new benchmark is set.

Third Stop. Kiki and Lala

A drive from the city to Tygervally. After having a quick bite at Tygervally Mall (not sure why we went there in the first place – crowded and a huge lack of baby retailers, well, not that we looked very hard) we went to the next shop on our list. Located in the sough after High Street shopping complex, prams and cots and other accessories and friendly staff greeted us. I can also say that we got our first pram demonstration here too – managed to see how well these things fold up.

Fourth Stop. Baby Room

Next door to Kiki and Lala, this little shop has an amazing array of nursery linen which Bridgitte was totally sold by. Linen in different colours and patterns, elephants and other wild animals adorned her and again, another huge tick on the list. This ia a great place to get some really good linen indeed.

Fith Stop. Baby City

Well, this was not on the list since we have one down the road from where we stay, but how can we not go in right? It is virtually above the 2 stores mentioned. Baby City is a super-store for all things baby – this is not going to be our last visit to one.

After an exhasting and fun day nevertheless, we headed home.

Purchasing anything for a baby is what is considered an emotional purchase. I felt that emotional pullstring while in HammondKids and it just became so easy and believe me, if we were going to buy right there and then, I would of handed over the credit card with ease. You as the parent-to-be, want the best for your baby and coupled with that emotion, making that purchase just becomes … so easy? We are still in the research mission stage and enjoying every minute of it.

Just some stuff that we learnt:

• If you want furnature, start looking now (4 months+) because there are places where you have a waiting period of 4 to 6 weeks and lets give it a 2 weeks extra just in case.
• Make lists and blog like me about these in detail. It is a great reference point – well, I can only believe it would be.
• Prams – there are so many of them. It is like walking into a used car dealership and having to figure out what make and model to buy.
• Control your emotions. Make sure that you’ll be able to afford all the nicey stuff.
• If you have any tips, let me know.