What’s best for baby

BUYING FURNITURE and must-have accessories for a young child is no easy task. 

The choice is bewildering in this mass-produced world and security is today a primary concern following the alarming reports both in Thailand and abroad of injuries to toddlers caused by malfunctioning pushchairs and the like.

Fortunately for Thai mums and dads, Siporn Phattaralugkarn has brought her Baby & Beyond outlet to downtown Bangkok and it is here that you’ll find the latest collection of top-quality baby products by many leading brands. 

A mother of four, Siporn Phattaralugkarn ran an office supply company for several years that involved plenty of foreign travel. She bought much of her kids’ gear during those trips and in 2012 decided to share her positive experiences with other parents, opening her first store at Mega Bangna.

Business was so good and the feedback so positive that she moved to All Seasons Place last June. The new store is small but still stocks an impressive range of strollers, wooden furniture, educational toys and tableware by popular brands from the US, Norway and Holland.

“Four years ago, we were the pioneers of premium accessories for tots and we wanted to educate customers about the innovations now available on the market. We target mainly young parents who are willing to pay for premium products and today we offer collections by 10 renowned brands that are ideal for the Thai lifestyle. We particularly focus on car seats, strollers, bouncers and high chairs,” Siporn says.

Among the highlights is the range from Norwegian-manufacturer Stokke, which is made up of simple but functional furniture that grows with the child.

The best-selling Xplory stroller comes with an adjustable tailored seat and footrest that are designed to keep eye contact between parent and kid and enhance the experience of moving. Detachable textile covers are available in six colours. 

Made from beech, the oval Stokke Sleepi nursery bed looks like a nest and can be used from birth to 10 years of age by adding additional parts. The Stokke Care table is also made with beech and can be turned into a student desk, bookshelf or TV stand.

The Tripp Trapp Chair, for which Stokke is best known, was first created in 1972 and literally grows with your child thanks to a depth- and height-adjustable seat and foot plate, which can take a weight of up to 85 kilograms. It’s available in seven colours.

4Moms from the US offers the MamaRoo automatic bouncer with five motions that mimic a mother’s movements. It also has a toy bar, built-in nature sounds, five speeds and Bluetooth to connect your mobile phone.

Folding in a two-step action, the Origami high-tech stroller is equipped with a safety sensor to ensure it will fold only when the seat is empty. It can also charge your cell phone, count the miles you’ve covered, tell the temperature and features an LCD dashboard that’s charged by generators in the rear wheels as you walk. 

Topfer from Germany offers organic skincare products extracted from plants and flowers, varying from face cream, dry skin balm, diaper rash cream, bran powder bath, hair & body wash, baby bath and skin oil.

The Zoo collection by American brand Skip Hop includes colourful melamine tableware, backpacks, umbrellas, aprons and stroller bar toys in lovely animal motifs, while SES from Netherlands has creative educational toys to help physical and mental development.

 

JUST BOUNCING

>>Baby & Beyond is on the second floor of All Seasons Place, Wireless Road. It’s open daily from 10am to 8pm. Call (092) 418 4774 or visit www.BaByAndBeyondStore.com.