Once you have a baby, some of your shopping time naturally gets diverted from H&M and Uniqlo to baby supply stores like Mothercare, Kiddy Palace, Motherswork, and online store Pupsik Studio.
But is there really a difference between these baby stores, or do they all sell the same items at the same prices? Turns out, if you want to get good deals on your baby goods, you have to do some comparison shopping.
Cost of common baby items at Singapore’s top baby stores
| Mothercare | Kiddy Palace | Motherswork | Pupsik Studio | |
| Mustela Gentle Cleansing Gel (500 ml) | $24.50 | – | $22.05 | $24.50 (now $22.05) |
| Tula FTG carrier | $259 | – | $259 | $259 |
| Baby Jogger City Mini | $549 | – | – | $549 (now $380) |
| Britax B-Agile 3 Stroller | $599 (now $299) | $499 (now $333) | – | – |
Mothercare Singapore
Mothercare has been around in Singapore for so long that it’s likely your own mother bought stuff for you there when you were a baby. They’ve currently got 12 outlets at locations like Forum the Shopping Mall, Paragon, Causeway Point and Parkway Parade, with their flagship store at Harbourfront Centre.
Head to Mothercare website to see the full addresses of their outlets.
Mothercare also has one of the most comprehensive ranges of baby products in Singapore, which makes them a convenient one-stop-shop for everything you might need, from strollers, milk bottles and car seats to clothes for both babies and pregnant mums-to-be.
Prices at Mothercare tend to be on the high side compared to online, but you can save quite a bit by joining their Baby&Me Club. It’s free to join and you can sign up online. The catch is that you need to spend at least $300 within 3 months of registration to get upgraded to a VIP member for one year, so time your sign-up to coincide with a big purchase.
Once you become a VIP member, you get a generous 10% off regular priced merchandise, 15% off Mothercare branded home and travel merchandise, 30% off ELC toys and 30% off Mothercare-branded baby and kids’ fashion on your child’s birthday month. You also get invites to private sales, events and more.
View this post on Instagram
Kiddy Palace
You’ve probably seen more than your fair share of Kiddy Palace stores at neighbourhood malls.
Kiddy Palace looks more like a toy store than a baby supply store. While they do stock basic baby equipment such as strollers and carriers, usually on the more affordable end of the scale, they don’t have as comprehensive a range as specialist baby stores. Their strong point is that they tend to carry cheaper products, and are thus a good option for parents on a budget.
For instance, baby playmats on Kiddy Palace cost between $59 and $69, while Pupsik Studio stocks mainly Skip Hop and Parklon mats that cost anywhere between $110 and $355.
They’ve got 14 outlets right now, with the biggest one located at Toa Payoh HDB Hub. Visit Kiddy Palace’s website for the addresses of their outlets.
If you’re a frequent shopper at Kiddy Palace, consider getting their VIP Card which gets you 10% off all non-discounted items. The card costs $10.
View this post on Instagram
Motherswork
This rather upmarket looking baby supply shop has four outlets at Great World City, Tanglin Mall, 112 Katong and Compass One. They’ve got a wide range of baby products, which includes milk bottles, baby furniture, strollers and more.
Prices are similar to Mothercare’s standard prices, but the drawback is that they don’t have a membership entitling you to discounts.
One advantage, however, is that they also sell their items through RedMart. So, if you have a LiveUp membership, you can buy their items on the RedMart site in order to score 5% cash rebates on everything you buy.
View this post on Instagram
Pupsik Studio
Pupsik Studio is an online store retailing products for parents and babies. They have a wide range of branded baby products which are often sold at significant discounts. Before you head to a physical store to buy that new baby carrier or stroller, you might want to check if it’s cheaper on the Pupsik Studio site.
They offer free shipping for purchases over $60, which is quite a selling point because baby goods are usually hella heavy!
One of their strengths, other than frequent sales, is their product range, which is wide and includes strollers, carriers, bath and baby care products, diapers and wipes, toys and clothes. They also stock maternity products like clothing, dietary supplements and pregnancy pillows. They also seem to have a good selection of Japanese brands, such as Pigeon and Wakodo.
But when it comes to everyday products like baby wet wipes and laundry detergent, they don’t have the usual household brands such as Kodomo or Pigeon (regional). Instead, they stock brands such as Mustela, Goon, Pigeon (Japan) and LEC for wet wipes; and Seventh Generation, Dapple and Chicco Hypoallergenic ones for laundry detergent, which come at a premium price tag.
If you spend a total of $200 within 3 months, you become a VIP member at Pupsik Studio. This entitles you to 10% off regular priced products. Unlike Mothercare’s membership programme, membership does not expire (although Pupsik points do). If you’re an avid online shopper and love buying organic and premium brands, Pupsik Studio is one of the more cost-effective options for buying baby products.
View this post on Instagram
Conclusion: Which baby supplies store is better?
Well-known brands such as Tula and Pigeon (regional) have strict pricing control so there is usually zero difference across baby supplies stores. However, some products and brands may be cheaper at certain stores, so it is better for you to do comparisons before deciding on where to buy.
Generally speaking, Motherswork and Pupsik Studio are slightly more premium. Motherswork’s advantage is that it has a brick-and-mortar store where you can feel and see the items before you buy.
On the other hand, Pupsik Studio is online-only, but it occasionally offers steep discounts and you can also become a VIP member to score points.
Kiddy Palace, which is the most affordable of the four, is for the practical mum who is not fussy about brands. The barrier to their membership is also really low at $10, in comparison to the minimum spend of $200 and $300 for Pupsik Studio and Mothercare respectively. Their strength also lies in the extensive range of toys and educational items for young children.
In comparison to Kiddy Palace, Mothercare has a wider range for infants and toddlers and their British designs usually tend to be more tasteful.
You can also make use of the loyalty programs of baby stores to save. Kiddy Palace, Mothercare and Pupsik Studio offer member points and discounts on regular products, and Motherswork allows LiveUp members to leverage on their existing subscription.
Ultimately, where you should go depends on your parenting style, brand affinity and how much you’re willing to spend on your little one(s).
Where’s your favourite place to buy baby products in Singapore? Share your recommendations in the comments!
Related Articles
7 Prams and Strollers in Singapore Under $500 That Singaporean Parents Rave About
Baby Carriers in Singapore: Price List of Tula, Ergo, Baby Bjorn and Others
9 Baby and Toddler Activities and Enrichment Classes in Singapore
Infant Cares in Singapore 2019: PCF Sparkletots vs My First Skool vs Others