No tribe in Singapore?

[samantha546]

Maybe I'm not searching properly but is there a tribe in Singapore??

[samantha546]

Oh no! This has been moved to a board that doesn't have a lot of activity. :( Guess no crunchy moms in Singapore eh?

[schrocat]

I'm currently on vacation in Singapore but I guess that doesn't really count :)

I'm a Singaporean who lives in Texas most of the time. Wouldn't mind joining a Singapore tribe if there's one.

[Joyfull]

Hi, I live in Singapore. Not a singaporean though and not really crunchy. May I join your tribe?
Where do you live? I'm in Bukit Batok.

Tris

[schrocat]

When I'm in Singapore, I live in Serangoon Gardens. It's nice and quiet and pretty much self contained. I only venture out to bring my 2 year old for his chinese and bilingual play groups and to go to the gym.

I eat alot more organic food when I'm in the US because it's more affordable and tastier though I must say that it's easier getting organic food in Singapore and recycling in Singapore is alot easier than it was 6 years ago.

[rloeis]

hi!
we're thinking of moving to singapore. does anyone know what the vax laws are there? are there any or are vaccinations optional?

we are not singaporeans and would have expat status.

thanks!
reina.

[schrocat]

I'm not sure about vax laws in Singapore. I think that kids do have to be vaccinated to go to Singaporean schools but since your kid will probably be going to an international school or be homeschooled, you won't have to deal with that.

You can check http://www.moh.gov.sg to see if they say anything about it. I think it's probably the best place to find information.

There's also a forum for expats. You can google expat singapore and find that forum.

Hope that helps. I'm not an expat so I don't really know if things are different for them.

[jinkel]

I'm an American living in Singapore now for two years -- no real success in finding any MDC-type mamas, though. If any of you are actually living here at present, let me know! I live in a landed property off MacPherson Rd....

[nznavo]

I live in Singapore. Hi!

We had to show proof of vaccinations for pre-school, but mine were incomplete and a bit all over the place (we do vax, but selectively, and have had them done in a bunch of different countries) and the school didn't care. Or even really look at them I don't think.

[Gunter]

i will be coming to singapore in about two weeks. does anyone go to LLL or have experience with homebirth midwives? i would like the contact info for any of the homebirth midwives.

thanks!

[jinkel]

Gunter,

I'm not sure about midwives here in Singapore. But I have a *fantastic* OB who has attended some homebirths here. His name is Dr. Paul Tseng. His practice is TLC Gynaecology. Phone is: +65 62542878. He attended ds2's birth here in Singapore. He is very hands off, supportive of doulas, birth plans, etc.

I used a wonderful doula here - - I see you *are* a doula, but if you're interested in having one attend your birth (or if you want info on midwives, or more info on Dr. Paul) you can contact her. Her name is Ginny Phang and her website is: www.fourtrimesters.com -- you can tell her Kelli Kim sent you... :D

[Gunter]

Gunter,

I'm not sure about midwives here in Singapore. But I have a *fantastic* OB who has attended some homebirths here. His name is Dr. Paul Tseng. His practice is TLC Gynaecology. Phone is: +65 62542878. He attended ds2's birth here in Singapore. He is very hands off, supportive of doulas, birth plans, etc.

I used a wonderful doula here - - I see you *are* a doula, but if you're interested in having one attend your birth (or if you want info on midwives, or more info on Dr. Paul) you can contact her. Her name is Ginny Phang and her website is: www.fourtrimesters.com -- you can tell her Kelli Kim sent you... :D

Thanks, I just e-mailed her after looking at her website. I look forward to reading her blog later today! I want to volunteer/work with the homebirth midwives as a doula or an assistant. I am coming to singapore in about 10 days after spending 2 months volunteering in a birth center here in bali. i would really like to get involved in the homebirth community.

is there a birth center there, as well? anything else that you want to share would be gobbled up by me as i am on an info finding mission right now! TIA!

[nznavo]

I believe midwife attended homebirth here is technically illegal as no midwives are certified to do them. Paul Tseng (my dr, too!) will attend them, I think. Aside from that I know of women who've imported a midwife from home to attend a home birth (or who've birthed at home with doulas) but I think there's a lot of paperwork that needs to happen, as they have to be registered here.

My doula was from parentlink, you can check them out at parentlink.org

[Gunter]

I believe midwife attended homebirth here is technically illegal as no midwives are certified to do them. Paul Tseng (my dr, too!) will attend them, I think. Aside from that I know of women who've imported a midwife from home to attend a home birth (or who've birthed at home with doulas) but I think there's a lot of paperwork that needs to happen, as they have to be registered here.

My doula was from parentlink, you can check them out at parentlink.org

thanks, nznavo!

i have been looking at the parentlink website. i tried to call them but my connection was horrible so i e-mailed them and am waiting to hear back. i would love to be able to volunteer with them while i am in singapore.

do you know anything about playgroups or LLL there?

Thanks!

[samantha546]

Reviving this back up.. am in need of like-minded conversations! :thumb

Being that we've been here for a few months now, have sussed out homebirth and vaccination issues. :wink

[aliciahorsley]

i'm barging in :o sorry but there is no tribe in malaysia. i am often in singapore because my children's godmother ives there on admiral hill behind mount elizabeth i think.

at least you guys have a few MDC type people there. KL is dry as a dessert. still looking....but i'll just borrow you guys till i find some of my own here.

[schrocat]

I know that babywearing, breastfeeding and eating organic's pretty big in both Malaysia and Singapore.

[samantha546]

I don't know about breastfeeding as all the moms I've met or seen are formula feeding. Yes, I see lots of babywearers but not like it is in the states. mostly it's just the ring sling or crazy weird hip carrier. Eating organic.. well.. let's just say there's only a few shops that are totally organic but I still have a hard time eating a bag of $55 dried mangos. :dropjaw :yum

Ok, I really want to meet some moms who are similar minded..

ME: Proud homebirthin', BF, BW, down to night time CD, non-vax, co-sleepin' and all around natural, backwards movement momma.

[schrocat]

Actually, I know more moms who breastfeed in Singapore for at least the first 6 months. You don't find alot of extended breastfeeders there though. Most kids get switched from breastmilk to formula because whole milk/ 2% milk is so expensive.

I think the reason why most moms in Singapore use the ring sling is because of availability. There's a local brand called moms in mind that's really popular if only because it's easy to get. You'd probably have to import meitais and the like from abroad. The Ergos's pretty popular too but expensive. For what it's worth, I've seen more moms babywearing in Singapore than in Houston, TX where I currently live.

Organic food is more expensive in Singapore than in the US but it's because most of it is imported along with everything else. There's a place that my friend gets her vegetables from that seems relatively inexpensive. It's called growmax and they do free delivery for purchases over $25. The organic grocery store at Tanglin Mall is pretty pricey.

I don't know if you're into goat's milk but you can get that delivered from the farm too.

I hope you get to meet more like minded moms soon :) It's pretty ironic because I'm probably the crunchiest of all the moms I know over in Houston and my friends in Singapore are more into breastfeeding, eating organic etc than the moms I've met here. The only place I see babywearing moms over in Houston are at Whole Foods or the Farmer's Market. Pretty sad.

[samantha546]

To clarify my BW comment: I mean that I don't see Mei Tai's, other soft structured carriers, pouch slings, etc here. Yes, the local brand ring slings but nothing like the ones back in the US.

Yes, we love Brown Rice Paradise in Tanglin Mall but they're closed for now and so we're having to buy from SuperNature (which is more expensive, if that's possible!) but they have things that BRP don't, and vice versa.

[schrocat]

I've never been to Supernature but I've heard of it. It's just too far a trek :) Check out growmax dot com dot sg . My friend has been really happy with the vegetables she's gotten from there.

About possibly meeting like minded moms, I think maybe taking yoga lessons at Shambala or contacting the local LLL?

[samantha546]

It's alright, I have MDC for like-minded mommies.. ;)

[schrocat]

Another place to check out that looks interesting is bollywood veggies. They have farm visits and sell organic vegetables. There's also an organic restaurant in Holland Village called Bunalan. I've never been to either of these places but my friends like Bunalan.

[samantha546]

Eat Organic on Bukit Timah Rd is another option for groceries. Whatever Cafe offers a GREAT chocolate GF/EF/DF cake! :yum

[nznavo]

There's a vege store that stocks inexpensive locally grown organic veg at the Empress Rd wet market. I think you can probably find similar in many wet markets.

Bunalun is crazy expensive and kind of attitudey, I think. But I find Super Nature less expensive than Brown Rice Paradise, so it's all pretty subjective!

It's hard to get baby carriers here, aside from ring wraps. It's also really hard to buy much online if you don't have a credit card with a US billing address.

I'm sounding really defensive, ha! Not my intention. There are like minded mums out there, it just takes time.

[avalanchelynn]

hi ladies!!

i'm a singaporean mom and i wanna part of this tribe! :D

let's see i don't find myself real crunchy...but i'm a cd-ing, bw-ing, bf-ing, cosleeping, blw-ing, soon-to-be-cloth-padding myself mom to an active 7mo baby girl! :D

i'm staying in the east of singapore btw...

and i agree with samantha546 on how bw-ing is mostly limited to ring slings and pouches, and ssc's...i see lots of baby bjorns of late...very very seldom do i come across a fellow wrapper, or seeing a mt being used...

[avalanchelynn]

hi mama! i do all my shopping for baby carriers like wraps through paypal and vpost, which have been heaven sent! lol ;)



It's hard to get baby carriers here, aside from ring wraps. It's also really hard to buy much online if you don't have a credit card with a US billing address.
.

[samantha546]

Ohh, avalanchelynn.. what kind of wrap do you use here? I've been thinking of getting a Calin Bleu for baby #2 when he/she arrives-- it's been SO stinkin' hot lately-- or at least humid! :-o

[avalanchelynn]

Ohh, avalanchelynn.. what kind of wrap do you use here? I've been thinking of getting a Calin Bleu for baby #2 when he/she arrives-- it's been SO stinkin' hot lately-- or at least humid! :-o

oh, i have tried them all except for hoppediz ones lol...when's baby #2 arriving?? how exciting!! :love

and yes it has been stinking hot!! it's the true march weather man, wilting in the heat :angry and i've been doing the un-crunchy thing of using the aircon like erm the whole day :shy

and calin bleu's are lovely, i have 3 of them lol...very thin and airy really, straight out of the package :D vatanai wraps are great to use here too! love them as well!

i don't know if you posted before, but which part of spore are you staying? :)

[samantha546]

Ah yes, I think I've heard of Vatanai but never looked into them. Don't know about baby#2 yet.. chould be soon but I like to plan for things. :D

We're in the central area, by Newton's Circus.

[avalanchelynn]

hey samantha, are you by any chance the mom who wraps, with about 9 wraps, have been accosted by an australian tourist wanting to know more about wraps? :)