Shopping for baby things in Chennai...

4gotoIndia

hi there,
Having been met by stunned silence when posting on 'other cities' re Coimbatore, I wonder if anyone can answer my question re Chennai. If I can get these things in Chennai that is a start... Shop names, addresses and locations would be much appreciated.
We'll be needing a cot or travel cot. And a high chair.
Those are the 2 big things, I'm sure there will be lots of other smaller ones, so any suggestions much appreciated.
Many thanks,
4gotoindia

nayan

Try Mothercare in T nagar, chennai.
I have heard good things about the shop from my friends.

Nick-H

Goodness, I didn't know that Mothercare was open in India!

However, according to this blog google found for me, it looks like they are pricing at the expat level .

Of course, this may not be a problem to 4gti, as it would still probably win over buying the stuff abroad and bring it with her.

We may not have a big Coimbatore membership, but we have lots of Chennai people on the site, and any shopping questions that have not been answered already should receive a quick response.

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nayan

Lot of new middle class young people can now afford those prices in India. And you know...... everyone wants the best for their child.... even if it doesnot make a difference to a new born child if the dress is 50 rupees or 500 rupees.

I see shops like "Justborn" or "Mothercare" doing quite good business in hyderabad.

4gotoIndia

Thanks for that! I had no idea that Mothercare was in India, but I just checked their website and sure enough they have shops in a number of cities. I appreciate that they are probably v expensive by Indian standards, but if the only alternative is buying them in the UK and shipping them out... then they'll probably work out comparable.
So then the only problem will be the amount of stuff we'll end up taking on the train...
Thanks again!
4

Nick-H

I would suggest that you get it shipped, rather than try to carry it on the train.

A lot of this stuff you are going to be able to get cheaper, if you can shop around for it, or even have it made. Restaurants usually have high chairs available, so they must be obtainable. Indian babies, in my limited experience, are more likely to roll around the floor, so a cot might be tougher.

I have thought that one of those harnesses that wear to carry a baby would be ideal. Actually, I've seen Indian women improvise them from a piece of cloth, but I guess that takes practice to be confident. It's good to have both hands free, not only for shopping, but for grabbing at something when you trip!

I wonder if this Mothercare will survive? Yes, the growing middle-class has people who think, in Western style, that it is clever to spend the most --- but I'd think them outnumbered by those who know it isn't! Even then they may spend Rs500, or Rs1,000 on a baby dress, but it will be silk for a special occasion. --- my theories, only.

(Not sure if I've learnt that lesson yet )

SAHM

Try Lifestyles at Citicenter mall. They have car seats, although I'm not sure about travel cots. There are high chairs at upscale restaurants, but I suspect they have them made. That would be cheap but would take time. Alternatively, if your child sits well enough (sorry can't remember his/her age), you could just buy one of the tiny little plastic children's chairs that are easy to come by, and get a low table for him/her to eat off.

Reading your other posts....think about getting cots rather than mats to sleep on - webbed cots are also sold all over. I'm not a snake expert but I did some research before I came over and if I remember right, Kraits (the most common venemous snake in Tamil Nadu) are nocturnal hunters that wander into homes and sometimes bite people who are sleeping on the floor. I believe, though, that they cannot climb, so sleeping on a cot is safer.

But do check this all out as I don't mean to trigger false alarms. I just know that snakes are very prolific here. We all find them occasionally...

SAHM

SAHM

Another thought - Indian cots are like US bassinettes - small cradles that rock. If your baby is quite small you could pick one of those up at Mani's furniture shop in Royapettah.

The orphanages hang their babies up in Saris. Quite a sight to see babies rocking happily in their cloth cocoons.

SAHM

Nick-H

You can see that sometimes where road or construction workers have 'hung up' their babies. Well, you could; I haven't for a while.

I'd say that anyone coming to central Chennai need not give a second thought to snakes --- but I'm sure there will be some where you live SAHM, we do sometimes see them here, although no poisonous ones yet.

I have no idea about the OP's Coimbatore destination. If doors are shut at night, and windows are closed (most likely if AC is in use) or netted (remember those small bathroom and toilet openings too) then snakes should not be able to get in. I never even think about them inside the house, but I wouldn't walk bare foot in the garden in the dark.

4gotoIndia

Thanks for all your input! We def'ly won't be bringing any of these big things out from the UK - but will rely on getting them out there.
Nick, when I first read your reply about shipping I thought you meant from UK. But re-reading it - do you mean get it shipped from Chennai to Tirupur? Hadn't thought to doing this. I'm still fairly confident of finding these things (or getting them made) in Tirupur or Coimbatore.
Interesting about the snakes... but actually I'm pretty relaxed about that sort of thing. (Might not tell Mr4, tho!)
thanks,
4

Nick-H

Yes, I meant get it shipped from Chennai, rather than try to carry it.

I wouldn't worry too much about the snakes --- the mosquitoes will be after far more of your blood than the snakes will! But, still, one has to take sensible precautions.