I'm still feeling a tad sore as I'm typing this post because I'm someone who prides herself for doing ample research before getting the things she wants, especially big ticket items that will save me a lot of money and heartache. I blame it on inexperience and can only hope that I'll wise up next time.
We went to the baby fair at Expo on Friday hoping to snap up some great deals for Junior. The baby fair was surprisingly crowded on a Friday afternoon and we spent the next 2 hours jostling our way through the crowd to look at strollers and beds.
We have shortlisted 2 stroller models that we were very keen on and we pretty much set on either of them.
1st up is the Combi Miracle Turn Premier
Research on forums has shown that Combi is a popular choice amongst mummies because of it's make and affordability.
Here are the Combi Miracle specs taken off the internet:
Features:
- Auto 4 swivel wheels
- One-touch folding and opening
- Self-standing when folded
- Adjustable Handle - Handle can be adjusted according to mothers height
- Dacco seat cushion used to absorb and disperse impact evenly. (Comprises of a head support, back support and hip support)
- Egg Shock Alpha provides additional protection to a baby’s head by absorbing and dispersing impact evenly
- Extra long seat provides extra growing space and additional comfort
- Mesh canopy window maximizes ventilation
- Mesh seat-back along with rear ventilation window
- Large canopy offers maximum sun protection
- Shock absorbing structure -
- One-touch 5-point harness with one-touch release buckle
- Sturdy wheels smooth out bumps and make pushing easy
- Equipped Weight: 7.8kg
- Angle adjustment: 125 ° ~ 170°
- Opened: W479 x D860~1010 x H843~1075mm
- Folded: W479 x D370~560 x H858~950mm
- Available Colours: Green Leaf & Purple Leaf
- Recommended for ages 1-36 months.
- Price : S$559
We were pretty attracted by the price and decided to try out the stroller. It was easy to navigate around and there was no problem switching directions from front facing to back facing. I hogged and rolled the Combi Premier around and meddled with it for a good 15 mins before making a mental list of a few features that I do not like in my head.
1) I do not like the colour choices, really not a fan of the purple and the green.
2) The 2 knobs to change the direction of the handles are located pretty far down which means I have to bend my body 90 degrees over the handles to attempt to change the direction of the stroller.
3) The ventilation window at the back of the stroller is gawd-awful ugly. It looks like an industrial air-con vent and my idea of a comfy stroller equipped with ugly aluminium window strips just doesn't mesh.
4) The one hand fold feels a tad flimsy, likely because Combi used to use the 2 fold technology before the one hand opening and closing became more popular.
All in all, we felt that the Combi IS a good enough stroller and is priced very reasonably, but we wanted to check out the Soraria before deciding.
We walked over to the Aprica booth and zoomed in on the Soraria immediately. There were many parents crowding around the Aprica booth, touching and caressing the strollers but not many were actually trying them out. I strongly believe that the price factor is the reason why many parents were reluctant to give Aprica a chance.
Aprica Soraria 2014 Model
Here are the Aprica Soraria specs taken off the internet:
- Weight 6.98 kg
- Seat recline angles: 120-170 degrees
- High Seat of 55cm from the ground
- Full range hood with 99% UV protection
- One hand folds and unfolds
- Multi-positions reclining seat
- Solid belt pad in 5 point to avoid compression of the abdominal area
- Reversible and adjustable handle
- Ventilation seat system
- Medical Growth Mamol, the cushion to support proper position of baby. Consists of four layers - 1-Cool Max, 2-3D-Mesh, 3-BreathAir,4- Soft 3D Mesh
- BreathAir seat
- Easy Wash
- Auto 4-caster wheel function
- Ideal product frame designed with pursuit of manoeuvrability
- RECOMMENDED USE: Newborn to 3 years of age
- Weight Recommendation: Up to 15kg
- Stroller size:
- Open W48.5cm x D69～ 950cm x H86～103.5cm
- Close W48.5cm x D38cm x H85.5～96cm
- Available colours: Holy Purple, Midnight Black, Global Red
- Price: S$859
Oh man, how I love this stroller. I love the colour choices, it handles like a dream, the ventilation system doesn't look like an air con vent, it is lighter than the Combi Premier but feels surprisingly sturdier and I love the fact that the seat is 55cm above the ground, which means I'm closer to my baby when I'm sitting down and that makes it easier to see and feed him. The direction changing knobs are located near the canopy so it makes switching directions a breeze without bending over. The cushion feels really really plushy and I so badly wanted to sit on it to try it out...
There was only 1 thing is didn't like about this stroller. I really don't like the price.
With both prams, I have no problems closing and opening them with 1 hand but the Aprica Soraria, although lighter, closes with a "thud" instead of the Combi's "piak".
Both strollers have front wheel steering which makes them really easy to maneuver.
After much delibration and bargaining, we manage to get the 2014 Aprica Soraria at the 2013 model's price. We were over the moon and thought we snagged a really good deal. But it just so happened that Takashimaya was having a storewide 10% over the same weekend and after the baby fair, we headed to orchard for some kitchen shopping and was curious at how much the Soraria was retailing for. Our hearts fell when we saw that Taka was selling the same pram for S$839 plus an additional 10% for Taka Amex cardholders. The only thing comforting us was that the colour we bought at the baby fair wasn't available.
But anyhoo, here it is! Junior's very chio stroller! :)
We managed to get Junior's playpen / bed at the fair as well. I fell in love with this playpen as I was browsing through a celebrity's Facebook page. We got it in a bundle deal together with the pram and got some discount off the mattress as well, and now Junior has a place to sleep!
Here are some features:
Only 2 items and $1000 poorer. Man oh man...
We also purchased the silk baby sling from The Birth Shop at more than 20% discount. It doubles up as a nursing shawl when Junior needs to feed when we are out as well.
My thoughts about the baby fair is that, because all the vendors are consolidated there, it is a one-stop shop and definitely easier to figure out what you need and for parents to do direct price comparison between brands.
BUT, if you already know what you want, then I'd suggest calling up other places in Singapore such as Kiddy Palace, Baby Kingdom or Baby Hypermart for a simple price check before you commit at the baby fair because sometimes, these places may be running some promotional offers due to the baby fair as well. The Takashimaya incident was one of them, but we couldn't possibly have anticipated Takashimaya selling a stroller cheaper than the baby fair. But we did manage to call up Kiddy Palace and they happened to be holding a storewide 20% off that weekend and got Junior's bathtub, mattress casing and pillows at a cheaper price than the baby fair. Not everything at the baby fair is worth getting. But the cheap diapers were definitely worth queueing for.
The next up will be the Phillip Carnival Sale which will hopefully happen soon! Junior needs milk bottles!
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