I've been living in Singapore for almost 5 years now. Many of my life's milestones happened in these 5 years: I got engaged, I got married, I changed career, I became pregnant, and I had a baby.
Living in Singapore while working full-time and having a baby is a very tricky thing. Infant care is very expensive, especially for foreigners who do not get government subsidy. Daytime nannies are also hard to come by. Stay-in nannies you can trust your babies with are even harder to come by. Because of all these, my husband and I are still very hands-on with our baby, juggling both our full-time work schedule with the care of our baby.
But once you have overcome this obstacle, having a baby in Singapore is actually quite good. Even if the country's fertility rate is very low, I would like to think this country is "baby-friendly". Why do I say this, you ask?
Well, I am still breastfeeding my baby full-time (yes, I am full-time everything) so the first thing I do when I go to any establishment is check to see whether there is a baby care area/mum's room/nursing room. I am glad that most malls I have been to, have very nice, cozy baby care rooms. I am comparing this to the countries I have brought my baby along with me on my business trips (we have been to 5 countries already, with the sixth one this coming weekend).
In most of these other countries, they do not have a dedicated breastfeeding room for nursing Moms. In those few establishments who do have such rooms, there is usually just one or two available in the entire establishment.
In those places where there are no nursing rooms, I had to resort to sitting on the toilet seat just so I can feed my baby while maintaining my privacy. In other places where there are no toilet seat cover provided, I had to nurse my baby standing!
Ramps are also another thing that some establishments and buildings have forgotten to add in. But these are the important things for anyone travelling with very young kids.
Nursing rooms and ramps may not be a big deal for some people, but once you have experienced having to nurse your baby standing in a very warm toilet cubicle, or having to carry the stroller on a flight of stairs because they do not have an elevator or even a ramp, only then will you appreciate those little things.
I have never appreciated this country as much as I do now. Thank you for being so considerate to all the parents with kids.
Living in Singapore while working full-time and having a baby is a very tricky thing. Infant care is very expensive, especially for foreigners who do not get government subsidy. Daytime nannies are also hard to come by. Stay-in nannies you can trust your babies with are even harder to come by. Because of all these, my husband and I are still very hands-on with our baby, juggling both our full-time work schedule with the care of our baby.
But once you have overcome this obstacle, having a baby in Singapore is actually quite good. Even if the country's fertility rate is very low, I would like to think this country is "baby-friendly". Why do I say this, you ask?
Well, I am still breastfeeding my baby full-time (yes, I am full-time everything) so the first thing I do when I go to any establishment is check to see whether there is a baby care area/mum's room/nursing room. I am glad that most malls I have been to, have very nice, cozy baby care rooms. I am comparing this to the countries I have brought my baby along with me on my business trips (we have been to 5 countries already, with the sixth one this coming weekend).
In most of these other countries, they do not have a dedicated breastfeeding room for nursing Moms. In those few establishments who do have such rooms, there is usually just one or two available in the entire establishment.
In those places where there are no nursing rooms, I had to resort to sitting on the toilet seat just so I can feed my baby while maintaining my privacy. In other places where there are no toilet seat cover provided, I had to nurse my baby standing!
Ramps are also another thing that some establishments and buildings have forgotten to add in. But these are the important things for anyone travelling with very young kids.
Nursing rooms and ramps may not be a big deal for some people, but once you have experienced having to nurse your baby standing in a very warm toilet cubicle, or having to carry the stroller on a flight of stairs because they do not have an elevator or even a ramp, only then will you appreciate those little things.
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| My favorite nursing room |
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| Who says Baby care areas should not be fancy? |
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| Chandelier over the changing table |
I have never appreciated this country as much as I do now. Thank you for being so considerate to all the parents with kids.
commendations to the woman who has an infinite amount of energy and who gives her best in her work--both as a mother and a doctor in the industry
ReplyDeletePF ko! hehe :D