giving birth in london...can't figure out what to buy there and what to keep in dubai....how much can i bring back in 30kgs!!

I've done some research and I seems BA does the best deal... They allow free stroller AND car seat check in. Emirates only let u bring stroller OR car seat. Even though BA baggage is 23kg as opposed to EK's 30kg, you can purchase an extra 23kg suitcase for £34 (with BA) so that gives you 46kg baggage plus stroller, car seat and the infant allowance. Emirates charge 110aed for each extra kg!! So it seems BA offer most baggage although I'm not a fan o their service....

I remember when BA were doing that 35gbp per suitcase thing. That's how I moved to dubai! Me plus 4 suitcases in 2008! Not anymore I imagine! am guessing EK is the best airline to travel with a baby with regards to allowances? If anyone knows anything different, please share!

I did this same thing, flew to uk and had dd there and flew back when she was 5 weeks old. we bought the quinny buzz and used the maxi cosi cabrio with it. which is great for travel, in and out of cars etc. we bought a very cheap bassinet from sainsburys for about 40 gpb (straw one) to use for few weeks and then just gave it away when we left and bought a nice cot when we arrived back in Dubai. we flew back with BA because at the time they you bring extra cases for 35 gbp each, done per case rather than on weight. we bought back 5 suitcases between the 2 of us and baby! I think most airlines let you bring back the buggy and car seat as separate. all airlines always let us keep the car seat with us and put it in the overhead on the plane. the hardest thing is getting through to people in the uk that you are flying back to Dubai, as they buy really nice presents for the baby that are completely unsuitable for, too big, too heavy for you to bring back with you! large teddies, nursery pictures etc. had to leave some lovely stuff behind!

P.s. I have heard bouncers are invaluable. I figured baby won't need it first month which is why I've bought and will keep it in dubai. A lot of people suggested getting the cheaper ones with vibrations but I just felt they all looked tacky and just didnt like the idea of vibrating my baby :SSS sooo what I liked about baby bjorn is it doesn't need batteries, the baby bounces it itself with his own movements. I loved this idea! I think it will become very useful after 1 month ( they can use them from birth) <em>edited by Cca713 on 20/02/2013</em>

Happy to have helped, I know this topic for me was the hardest to figure out but once you get organized its much more manageable :) With regards to crib, after ALOT of research I went for the Sundvick crib from ikea and the matching Sundvick changing table. They were 475aed and 375aed. Amazing value for money and fantastic quality which is what I was scared of initially. But after visiting every furniture store in dubai I felt assured that these were as good as any other if not better as Swedish standards are a bit higher then the rest of the world. I also liked the fact that the Sundvick is a 60 by 120 size, slightly smaller than the standard 70 by 140's. It will be in my bedroom so the smaller size was better and thought baby would be more comfortable in it. I bought the mattress from mothercare its a spring mattress, was on sale from 1000aed to 90aed!!! If I didn't pick up that bargain, I would have gone for the latex ikea one. Cribs with the bar that lowers have been banned in USA so do not get one of those! Although I am still seeing them in dubai and ESP in babyshop (they have no idea about the ban which is worrying) most other stores have stopped selling the banned type. If you will be buying cot bumpers please make sure you buy the breathable kind, BeSafe in Times Square mall sell them in blue or pink for a reasonable 135 AED. All the others are unsafe and can pose SIDS risk. I have bought the baby bjorn babysitter balance bouncer. They sll them in Bumble Bee for just under 800aed but I paid £80 from amazon and used shop and ship to get it here. They charged 247aed for shipping, although that's STILL cheaper than bumble bee's price! If you go for the baby bjorn bouncer, be sure to buy the wooden toy attachment also. Sold for £20 on mazon or 219aed in bumble bee. Hope that helps! :)

Hi there :) I am 19 weeks pregnant, also flying to London to deliver (prob around 32weeks) and will be returning to dubai when baby is approx 3/4weeks (as soon as I get his passport) I also had difficulty narrowing down what to buy there, what to buy here but I've narrowed it down like this... Stroller: I WAS just going to buy the stokke Xplory in London and bring it back to Dxb in the pram pack. However newborn cannot use the xplory without a bassinet. The unit that comes with it is only suitable from 6 months plus. And the prampack can only fit bassinet OR the 6 month plus unit - not both! So I've bought the xplory in dubai, and ordered the bassinet directly to my uk address. That way I can leave the 6 month plus unit in dubai, and travel back with the bassinet in the pram pack without having to pay excess baggage. Car seat: Ordered the maxi cosi cabriofix from babynest.co.uk direct to uk address. Most airlines will let u travel back with stroller and car seat. Get the isofix in dubai. No need for it in London (trying to reduce baggage here) Where will baby sleep the first few weeks?? Forget the Moses basket, u will have to pay excess to bring it back and they grow out of them sooo quick. I decided against a travel crib, again for excess baggage reasons and also I don't want to be bending down so much after deliver getting baby in and out. I'd prefer him closer to me but too scared to co sleep in case I squash him :S So after much research I have decided on the cocoonababy nest. Amazing reviews, baby can sleep in it for first 4 months, avoids flathead, colick and light enough to transport. I will order it online and deliver it to uk address. http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+red-castle-cocoonababy-nest-in-moses-baskets-and-cribs+B1090?source=webgains_jojo Breast pump: Order online, deliver direct to uk Video/audio monitor: Order online, deliver I react to uk Clothes: Taking newborn and 0-3months with me to London Bottles: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tommee-Tippee-Anti-Colic-Feeding-Starter/dp/B004GCJF9A/ref=sr_1_15?s=baby&ie=UTF8&qid=1360210277&sr=1-15&tag=10xxx10255-21 Ordered this starter set direct to uk address. I plan to breast feed but just in case I need to express or can't breastfeeding initially, good to have a few bottles handy. Baby carrier: Order online and deliver to uk. Those are the main things for London! I have bought a crib, changing table, bouncer in dubai and will keep it here for hen we return! Please feel free to ask if u have ny other questions as we seem to be in the same boat :)

Something else to consider....if you wish to save on the stroller/seat combo then yes, those travel systems like Graco etc come out much cheaper. Also, i found the moses basket a waste of money, if I have another baby I will either co-sleep for a bit (is that an option for you, they sleep so much better that way) or buy a travel cot which has a bassinet attachment and use it later on as a playpen. I just bought one for my LO and she loves it but she only uses it for play now, she's too heavy for the bassinet. These fold and come with a carry bag so you could easily travel with it much more easily than with a moses basket which you will most probably not use after your baby is 3 months or so. Best of luck:-)

I would buy organic skin care products for baby, especially Weleda products are much more expensive in Dubai .If you choose cloth diapering buy them from UK, even if you will wear disposables it is good to give baby skin a break from them. Personally i would skip moses basket as Dangerous Blonde said you can use pram bassinet for sleeping or else you might sleep with your baby in the same bed. :) What is more don't buy much clothes size 0-3, baby will grow out from them so quickly.For traveling you might need Moby Wrap or Ergo carrier with newborn insert, don't go for BabyBjorn ( it is not suitable for babies at any age). Emirates will take stroller free of charge. HTH :)

I gave birth in london - got the bugaboo cameleon - the bassinet is perfect for sleeping in. Also emirates will give unan additional 10kgs for baby I believe. U can check in the pram and take on cars eat to plane

Hi A1984. Just double check the airline website for baggage allowance. We went home at Christmas and brought a ton of stuff back with us including the stroller, bassinet, car seat and car seat base. Although saying that, we were travelling business so we had 40kg each. I know Emirates in particular don't count the weight of a stroller - and they also give you a little extra baggage allowance if you're travelling with an infant. So you may have a little more than the 30kgs. http://www.emirates.com/english/help/faqs/FAQDetails.aspx?faqId=391781

Make sure that your carseat and stroller and moses basket are securely wrapped for going in the hold. They really get thrown about and it would be doubly gutting to have something brand new broken on it's first trip. Plane holds are rife with bed bugs which is another reason to have them properly bagged up. I'd probably get the moses basket plastic wrapped at the airport for this reason. I've always found baby stuff to be much cheaper in London that here so I'd suggest buying what you can there and bringing it back, no idea how well to judge what is 30kgs though sorry! Soft things like slings or carriers shouldn't weigh too much. I've travelled a lot with children and never had bigger baby items like strollers or carseats included in the 30kg limit, other posters might have a different story though. Are you travelling on your own with your baby? If you are you also need to bear in mind that you need to be able to actually manage all your luggage and your baby. You can't count on help, especially at the London end. Good luck!