WHAT TO BUY AND WHERE IF YOU'RE HAVING A BABY IN DUBAI?

When I started to prepare what I needed for my baby, I didn't know where to start and what to get! I researched a lot, asked all my mama friends but still, I felt it was not easy as everyone was advising different things and most of my friends don't live in Dubai so not the same climate and a lot of things are different : what is provided at the hospital for example. So here is MY list of what to buy in Dubai and where to get them. Now my baby is 7 weeks I know what is essential (for me) and what is not. Hope this will be useful for you Mamas to be!

FURNITURE/ EQUIPMENT

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• Moses Basket plus Stand. I bought mine on Preloved baby stuff Dubai on Facebook for very cheap and in very good condition but you can find one at Mothercare or Mamas and Papas HERE OR a Crib with bumper and a cushion like Babymoov/Cosymorpho/Sleepyhead.
• Changing table. I found one exactly how I wanted, with 3 drawers and nothing visible. You can change it into a normal chest of drawers by taking off the top part when you don't need the changing table anymore. Ordered on Homecentre website.
• Changing pad for the changing table Ikea Don't buy the cover for the mattress as there will be pee accidents all the time so you will end up having to wash it every time.
• Pushchair BabyZen Yoyo Bundle Newborn O+, 6months+ until 20 kgs. An ultra compact pushchair, super easy to fold and unfold. The only one you can take on the plane as a hand luggage + super light 6kg. I am very happy with my purchase! The only negative side I would say is a small basket. I'm going to buy a hook at Virgin to hang the diaper bag on the pushchair. Yoyo ordered in Ginger colour on Babysouk.com HERE
• Car Seat. Maxy cosy cabriofix at Mothercare
• Yoyo Adaptors to attach the car seat on the pushchair, bought at Mothercare MOE. However I don't think this is easy to do with the Yoyo.
• Isofix Base. Optional, to attach the maxicosy easier and faster with just a click. If you don't have it, you will have to attach the car seat with the seat belt every time : what we do at the moment and it's ok, just easier with the base I guess.
• Mirror for the car I think it is very reassuring to see your baby when you are driving, especially in Dubai because we are driving quite a lot. Bought at Babyshop MOE
• Bathtub. Ikea
• Swing Chair. The best thing we bought so far! Perfect to have a few minutes to yourself, with different musics and levels of speed. As soon as we put her in, she gets calmer and falls asleep in it . Bought on Preloved baby stuff Dubai on Facebook for very cheap. You can buy one at Babyshop.
• Diaper Bin. Tommee tippee bought on Preloved baby stuff Dubai on Facebook + special bin bags bought at Babyshop, those bags are super expensive, 50 aed for a recharge that lasts a week. I think it is better to use normal bin bags for the beginning as the smell is not that bad until they eat solids.
• Baby sling like Boba wrap. I was given one but personally It makes me hot and because I had a back surgery I can't carry weight for long, but I know some mamas who love it. So I don't think this is essential but can be convenient. We bought another one Bjorn carrier from Mothercare and Daddy loves it.
• Diaper bag. Personally I don't think it's absolutely necessary to buy one. If you have an old big bag that can be zipped, you can use that. We are using a Converse bag that we had before with different compartments. Just make sure your bag is not too heavy to hang it up on the Yoyo because the pushchair could flip over. As most of the time I don't take bottles with me as I am breastfeeding, I just take a small pouch that fits in the Yoyo basket and it's just perfect. If you really want to get a proper diaper bag, there is the backpack Sunveno HERE recommended by lots of mum with lots of different compartments and some for the bottles,
• Portable Changing Mat so handy when you go out. To change your baby anywhere. Sometimes you can't find a changing table & when there is one, the changing table is cold, hard and not always clean.
• Bottle warmer Bébé confort bought from Carrefour
• Steralizer Avent bought on Preloved baby stuff Dubai on Facebook
• Biberons 0 month Avent x3 plus bottle brush Bought from Carrefour.
• Bottle dryer Babyshop
• Pacifier 0-2 months Waitrose
• Baby Thermometer. Bought from Pharmacie
• Baby Nail cutter. Bought from Mothercare
• Baby Brush. Bought from Mothercare

TEXTILE

To be honest I didn't buy any clothes for Charlie as we got everything as presents! So don't buy too many as you will probably get a lot of clothes! Apart from bodies and pyjamas, nothing is essential but nice to dress your baby with something different sometimes, when you go out or just for a change. Personally I like to see her in body and pyjama or even just in body when we turn the air-con off.
Baby clothes can be found at H&M, Zara, Petit Bateau, Babyshop, Mothercare, Mamas and Papas, Marmarland.com, Carter's Arabia, Pottery Barn, Panpancucu, Allegro Baby & Child, Just Kidding, Babysouk.com, thebabyboutique.com, mumzworld.com....

• Bodysuits x5 (0-3 months) x5 (3-6 months)
• Pyjamas x5 (0-3 mois) x5 (3-6 months)
• ​Gloves x2
• Beanies x2
• Socks x5
• Shorts x2 Not essential
• Trousers x2 Not essential
• Cardigansx2 Not essential
• Swimming suit x1 Not essential
• Hat x1
• Bibs x10
• Muslins x10 from Ikea
• Sleeping bags x2 bought from Just Kidding HERE OR Swaddles Aden and Anais HERE x2 bought from Babysouk.com. Personnally I prefer the sleeping bag as baby can get out of swaddle if not done properly so I couldn't sleep properly with swaddles. No problem with sleeping bags!
• Baby towels x2
• Sheets pour couffin ou lit
• Cotton Blanket x2 Babyshop. We have a beautiful one so soft with her name on from Pottery Barn
• Personalised Baby Age Blanket I love that blanket to take memory pictures as she grows so fast from Notonthehightstreet.com HERE​

FIRST NEEDS

To buy from Supermarket OR Pharmacy

• Wipes Mothercare the softest
• Diapers Pampers Size 0 and 1. 2 packs of each to start with as it will depend on the sise of your baby.
• Swimming diapers Not essential straight away
• Formula Similac or Aptamil, apparently the best
• Moisturizer for baby, Mustela, Not essential straight away
• Physiologic serum to clean the nose
• Suncream for baby Not essential straight away
• Sudo cream for irritation, not used yet at 7 weeks
• Shower get for baby Seba Med ​from pharmacy
• Laundry for baby Persil

FOR MUM

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• Bio oil for belly, hips...and for the breast Palmers Cocoa butter formula to buy from a pharmacy or carrefour, to put every day from the beginning of your pregnancy to avoid any stretchmarks..
• Disposable underwear Babyshop not essential if you deliver at City Hospital, they will give you some and big panty liners.
• Nursing bras Babyshop or Mothercare
• Nursing nightdresses. I saw some at Oysho but finally I didn't buy any, I used the sleeping dress from the hospital and then an old t-shirt. At home I sleep with the nursing tops from H&M.
• Nursing tops H&M Very practical and comfy to sleep in as I don't like to sleep with a bra on, nice to wear during the day too.
• Nipple cream Lansinoh HPA Lanolin bought from mumzworld.com HERE. ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL to take at the hospital to relieve the pain and avoid cracks on your nipples.
• Nipple shields Medela en Pharmacie. I used them for 2 weeks as I was suffering, I had cracks and I was about to give up breastfeeding; they really helped me to keep breastfeeding and I could take them off after 2 weeks.
• Pantyliners Big ones are given at City Hospital but buy a lot of them as you will bleed for 3 to 6 weeks.
• Breastpads Pharmacie. I use the disposable ones but you can buy washable ones, a bit more eco.
• An electric breastpump If you breastfeed, you can pump from 3 weeks after delivery. I have the Medela Single Electric Breastpump and it's perfect to pump occasionally and let Daddy or someone else give the bottle while mummy can have a drink or leave the house for a bit.
• Breastfeeding cover Deer & Stag HERE Not cheap but perfect to breastfeed in public. The best, lightest and softest cover I saw.
• Breastfeeding doughnut cushion from Babyshop, ​Absolutely essential if you breastfeed, nice to rest your arms and back.

TOYS

• Play mat to put on the floor or Baby gym
• Tummy Time Mat Mamas and Papas
• Sophie La Girafe toy
• Lamaze toy