I’d like to share with the new parents out there this great place that I’ve been frequenting since March this year.
Dino & I love to go out jalan-jalan and go makan, window-shopping, etc. We’ve been doing this since we got together in 2000. Naturally after giving birth to Nardyne, we’d like to maintain doing some of things we do, with Nardyne.
Getting a stroller for her was a no-question asked decision. It’s necessary, full-stop. But getting her a car seat was something that we can’t come to an immediate decision. No doubt it’s an important item but it comes with a big price tag and she will outgrow it very fast. At the beginning, I was okay to carry Nardyne in my arms while Dino drove. But as she grew bigger, it can be difficult to keep her still or my arms were tired from craddling her.
I decided to surf the internet if it was possible to rent car seat in Singapore and I found this place called The Toy Rental Club (http://www.toyrentalclub.com). There were many things available for rent here, ranging from baby essential needs in the nursery, loads of toys for babies, infants and toddlers and you can also have a birthday party at their location. The people at TRC, Anita & Rose, have been very helpful.
First time I was there, I rented a car seat for a month (not knowing if Nardyne likes being in there) and a Baby Bjorn Active carrier for 3 months. She had a normal Baby Bjorn carrier handed down from her cousins but Nardyne, at 4 months, was bigger than other babies her age thus outgrew the carrier quickly. The Active carrier is bigger that the normal carrier and she LOVED being in it. Dino & I also took turns to carry her in it because it had longer straps to accomodate Dino’s size.
After a month of trying the car seat, I extended the rental for 2 months, seeing that she’s okay in it (most of the time). I also rented a Bumbo seat for her but again she was too big for it that she didn’t look comfortable. I wanted to get something that she can sit in because at 5 months, I don’t think she wants to lie down too much. With Anita and Rose’s help, I traded the Bumbo for a Safety First exersaucer. It quickly became her favourite place to be. She learnt to play with the toys on the exersaucer and bounced a lot. 
Now Nardyne is jumping in another exersaucer that I rented last week. And we exchanged Dino’s Smiles points for a bigger car seat, hoping this will at least last a few years. And we bought Nardyne a ’Jane’ high chair. That was a big ticket item but it should last for a few years too. 
I’ll probably go back to TRC for try a few things before buying, things like electronic learning system or blocks or a high-end stroller for the kicks of it 
D . Or rent for short term a playhouse, musical instruments, those large toy cars, etc
