What are some good reddit communities for those expecting in Japan?
I just want to read and become familiar and ask questions when needed. For now I’m solid on most stuff, but looking at large items now and it’s a little tricky.
So many different options on Amazon that it becomes a little overwhelming..
Currently looking into getting off Amazon:
Stroller
Car seat
Crib
Changing mat
Baby storage
Bouncer
I dunno, most of my reddit is filled with skateboarding so it’s not the most helpful haha
8 comments
First, congrats! Japan has some unique umm.. ideas I guess about pregnancy and child birth.
Second, while it’s not really about in Japan, but r/daddit is really the best community on reddit.
I’ve purchased all my car seats from overseas because the ones here just aren’t as well made (none of them had a chest clip while I was searching 6 years ago; not sure if anything has changed).
You can always DM me, just had our third. Japan is absolutely incredible when it comes to childcare both before and after birth, let me know if you’re worried about anything
Are either of you Japanese born and raised?
If you listen to this subreddit, you’d think that every child is dead, fathers are non existent, and a bunch of other old wives tales.
You can find “western” car seats and strollers at Costco for cheap. Japanese ones are fine as well, just more expensive. Great products if your in-laws gift them to you though.
By far the most helpful and tight knit community for me was my bumper group. This is a subreddit that is named after your baby’s projected due date, so if your baby is due May 2024 it should be named something like “May2024Bumpers”. Everyone else in the group will be expecting at roughly around the same time, so you’re all buying the same things, preparing the same things, learning the same things, etc etc all at once. Even two years later after my son was born they’re still basically my online mamatomos.
Congratulations! I had an amazing birth experience in Japan too. I would recommend to rent a lot of things first, since so many things are not needed, baby won’t like or you only end up using a few weeks or maybe months?
We rented our car seat through the ward office and it has all the international standards:) we also rented a bouncer, received a baby bed, that we never used lol so sold it. The only thing I wanted new was a stroller.
Facebook has: Tokyo Mothers Group (dads welcome too), TEG: Tokyo Exchange Group, Tokyo Nursing Circle, Tokyo Doula Support among others. Some groups meet up, I am an introvert so have my very few mom friends lol
These are not only for Tokyo, but great tips on baby related things in Japan.
I have also found https://www.thetokyochapter.com helpful!
We got cybex stroller and that seems to be extremely popular around Tokyo at the moment (just from my anecdotal experience)
No complaints it’s pretty great and super lightweight. Got their car seat as well as it can be hooked up to the stroller for travel system
Congratulations!
I’m late to this thread, but there’s a Line group for japanlife parents and parents to be, any nationality welcome! DM for the link!