Anyone living in Singapore?

[TheCatsMeow]

Hey guys!

Looks like I'll be living in Singapore for a few months because of DH's work. Can anyone hit me up with any info about it - particularly access to child friendly areas, cost of living, cultural attitudes to breastfeeding in public (I am very particular about respecting others cultures), safety, and anything else important?

I'm looking forward to going, but just want to do a bit of background research so I know what to expect!

[MummaFug]

You are going to LOVE it !!!

Best place to stay would be near Orchard Road or Newton/Novena Aqua area. Most apartment buildings have swimming pools and playgrounds for kids. If you stay in an apartment you will prob be paying anywhere from 1500 - 4000 sing dollars. You can also hire a helper to do all your cleaning and cooking :) for a resonable price (not sure whether it is worth it for the short time you are there but you can get part time ones)

There is SO much to do with kids in Singapore - The Zoo, Bird Park, Night Safari, East coast Park, Universal studios, Sentosa Island, botanic gardens. Its also great for quick weekend trips to Malaysia (look up Rawa Island)

You can live VERY cheaply in Singapore but things can also be quite expensive. Cold Storage supermarket has all the same stuff you can get in Oz but just a little more expensive.

Some good child friendly shopping malls are United Sqaure, Forum, Great World City - these places have activities and stores for kids :)

Breastfeeding is OK, Singaporeans are very open to other cultures and I could not think of a more Safe place to live. If you are not getting a car, public transport is safe and efficient.


Let me know if you have any other questions - I lived there for 7 years and am DESPERATELY trying to get back :)

HtH

[TheCatsMeow]

Oh wow! Thank you so much!

I'm really looking forward to it now! How hot does it get in the middle of the year? Just so I know what clothes to get for DD!!

[TickTock]

Ahhhhhh Singapore..... (insert wistful longing look here)

Mummafug.. your post just made me homesick for Singapore... which is funny considering I'm now back home in Australia after living in Singapore for nearly 2 years.

Well Mummafug is absolutely right. You will love it there. I was nervous heading over there with a toddler (DS was just over 1 yr when we moved there), but there was no need. I have never lived anywhere so safe and clean and the people are lovely. Boy do I really miss the hygeine of the place. Everything is sooooo clean. The shopping is amazing and there are soooo many things for kids to do there.

We never bothered with getting help with cleaning, etc., but it sure is cheap if you do want it.

We lived near Orchard, and walked everywhere.

Kid/Baby-shopping centres - best I found were the Forum (which has crazy expensive kids boutiques along with more regular kids stuff - toys r us, ELC, etc) and Paragon (which has the top floor dedicated to kids/baby shops and even has a small playground which was good for us as our apartment building didn't have a playground and there really aren't many outdoor playgrounds which I guess makes sense given the heat). Paragon also has a Mothercare store in the department store there. Also Tanglin Mall was great for kid-stuff and has a Gymboree and Kindermusik there (not that you will probably get too involved if only there for a few months). Oh, yeah and Great World City shopping centre is also great (didn't get there much though) .... Other babystores I can remember (if you are after anything baby) are at Centrepoint, Tanglin Mall.

Groceries - yep, Cold Storage has the best range of Australian products. Carrefour (at Plaza Singapura) is a bit cheaper if you are after some better prices. Groceries aren't cheap in Singapore - especially if you want to stick with brands you know - but really, they aren't that great here in comparison anymore.

Restaurants - off the top of my head I can recommend Din Tai Fung for dumplings, etc... (branches in Paragon and Wisma Atria shopping centres) - quality and service is always excellent and the food is so yum. But really, it's Singapore and the food everywhere is fabulous - and if you want cheaper options - try one of the local outdoor Hawker centres (e.g., at Newton Circus) or the indoor alternatives like the top floor of the Wisma Atria shopping centre.

Breastfeeding - hmmmm, I'm pretty sure that it is fine "culturally". I believe some of the maternity hospitals are very pro-BF, so I guess that that could be an indication. I never breastfed in public in Singapore though, so I can't say if it attracts strange looks or anything though. I did BF my DS until he was 2, but by the stage we were in Singapore, it was only feeds first thing in the morning, pre-nap, and pre-bedtime, so they all happened at home. I'm sure if you just use discretion, you'll be fine. Public nudity is very frowned upon in Singapore, so although BF doesn't exactly involve getting naked obviously, I would use discretion - Just my opinion! There are parents' rooms in most of the big shopping centres - including a good one up the back of Centrepoint shopping centre.

Cost of living - not great. Rent is expensive! Utilities are expensive (especially if you use a lot of air conditioning). Groceries are expensive. Most things are on a par with here, but some things are more, some things are less. Cab fares, for e.g., are very cheap., as is food at the hawker centres.

Um, I've probably blabbered on for too long now, but happy to answer any other questions you can think of if I can. Man, I miss that place, and rambling on about it now has me really homesick for my 'other home'!

Oh, climate - their 'cooler' months are around December - January, so the middle of the year will be hot hot hot and so humid. We moved there in September and boy, it sure hits you. You do get used to it though. So, I'm pretty sure you won't need any warm clothes for your little one.... well maybe a couple of things in case you go somewhere with extra cold air con.

Okay, that's enough from me for now. Have fun!!!!

[MummaFug]

OH !! DIN TAI FUNG ROCKS !!

We now live in China and eat there at least once a week .. best dumplings EVER !!!

You MUST eat there :) You will get addicted.

Most shopping centres we have mentioned have food courts at the bottom/top of them and the food there is ALWAYS good (some unique stuff but tasty). Food is pretty well monitored by the govt so you will see eah stall/restaurant is graded.

It can get really hot in Singers so you will only need summer clothes (when i moved to China it was 14 degrees and I had nothing but thongs and sandals). BUT you ALWAYS need a cardigan or light coat as they LOVE to aircon EVERYTHING !!!

OH I AM SO SO JEALOUS !!

[TheCatsMeow]

Thank you so much for the help guys!!! Just another quick few questions... do we need vaccinations? Esp for DD who will be six months when we go... also, how much on average would groceries cost per week? I know eating out can be cheaper, but if we were to do an equal mix of eating out and dining in, plus basics and a bit of extra fruit and veg for DD's solids, what would we be looking at? Oh and nappies! Must not forget nappies! :D

[TheCatsMeow]

Hi guys! Letting you know I've finally made it here and I'm loving it! I'm only a 5 minute walk away from Great World City, and I know what you mean about it! Loving the hustle and bustle of the place, and I can understand why you'd love it here!

[TickTock]

waaaah, just spotted this in New Posts and now I'm all jealous... again! hehe

and you're right near Great World City... sigh... you lucky thing! (btw, if you haven't discovered this already, there is a free bus between GWC and Orchard Road - it stops right outside of Tangs near the corner of Scotts Rd).

Sorry that I missed your other questions... you've probably figured out answers to the vaccinations and cost of food etc now, but I can recommend Mamy Poko nappies... funny name, but great nappies - very much like Huggies really.

Anyways, hope you have a fantastic time! :flowerz:

[MummaFug]

I lived 2 mins from GWC when I first moved there....
I LOVE the Cold Storage there.

I AM SO SO JEALOUS !!! I want to move back to Singers !!

[TheCatsMeow]

I lived 2 mins from GWC when I first moved there....
I LOVE the Cold Storage there.

I AM SO SO JEALOUS !!! I want to move back to Singers !!


OMG The Cold storage is fantastic! :D I always walk past the bun displays LOL!

I also discovered another mall not too far from GWC where its mainly all locals, and I've found some pretty cheap stuff there!

I love that people are so friendly to small kids. When DD cries, people either don't notice or will come up and say "Cheer up little baby" or something really nice. No one judges or looks at crying babies like they're a nuisance. Even grumpy old men smile when they see her!

We just had Singapore Day and I loved that I was out in the city, at 9pm at night, not the least bit worried about my safety. There's no way I'd go to the harbour with my 8 month old back in Sydney, especially at that time of night, but here it was so safe!!

I'm seriously loving it. I'm secretly hoping DH's employer ask him to stay a bit longer here.

[gizmoduckus]

:yelclap: Yay, I am glad that you are loving it.

My DH lived there for 18 months before we met and we still have friends there. I have loved it when we have gone to visit. I always said to DH that if we had to live anywhere else in the world, then it would have to be Singapore. I love how family friendly it is....

[TheCatsMeow]

Can you believe my three months in Singapore ends on Friday? :crying:

I've had the time of my life! I really don't want to go.

MummaFug and TikTok - thank you for selling Singapore to me, if it weren't for your posts I would still be hesitant about going over!

I've loved everything about it - the people, the food, the cultures, the weather! It's been an experience of a life time!

Back to dreary dry Melbourne for me :(

I'm already trying to work out how to come back here and I've not even left yet! :D

[MummaFug]

I am doing the same ... trying my hardest to get back there.

SO glad you enjoyed it - it is really a great place and a place that is hard to hate.

[lemongrass]

Hi ladies,

Could anyone tell me how's the day to day living cost in total per month?

Is it possible/affordable to rent townhouse or maybe a house instead of apartement? which suburbs/areas to look into. I am after family friendly, nice and safe areas

hope that makes sense.:D my english is bad:D

Thanks