Gerber Foods in Chennai

I am not a believer of processed foods for the li'l ones, but I do like to keep a few special treats for those dreaded times like air travel or dinner at a quiet restaurant. (Yes, I do resort to bribe in exchange for good behaviour!)

Now having said that, I do not like handing out snacks like Lays or Oreos, I would much rather stick to baby food. And based on a lot of first hand reviews from fellow mommies, I stick to Gerber products.

Not many shops stock Gerber in Chennai, and the ones that do have limited options. So I am not picky about the "Stage" specifications, I pick and choose the ones that seem flavourful and interesting. 

A few of the tried and tested ones are:

1. Puffs: cereal snack that in come many flavours. My baby's fav is Sweet Potato. These are tiny bites, and literally melt in mouth.

2. Li'l Crunchies: Baked whole grain snacks. I have tried the Cheddar Cheese flavour and boy oh boy! I seem to love it more than my baby!

3. Yogurt melts: Yogurt and fruit snacks if your li'l one prefers something sweetish. These come in a variety of flavours and I keep alternating between different ones.

Where to get Gerber Baby Foods in Chennai:

1. Maya Plaza basement baby shops - These guys seem to be the best stocked ones. (T Nagar)

2. Naidu Hall - They have limited options and don't always have enough stock. (T Nagar, Anna Nagar)

3. Baby Zone - Pureed fruits available, snacks - less options. (Nungambakkam)

4. Born baby - Reasonable range available. (Anna Nagar)

Best restaurant staff ever!

I am extremely finicky about taking my baby to a restaurant that doesn't have baby chairs. Not that she sits in through dinner, but it is good enough to keep her busy for a good part of the meal.

So with a lot of hesitation and apprehension, I agreed for dinner at Her Name is Ming, at the Clarion Hotel (erstwhile President Hotel). One reason being the baby chair and the other being, well, it is a renovated version of President Hotel, hello! Wasn't President always associated with adjectives like "sidey" or "shadey"?

However, I was in for a big surprise! The restaurant was done up really well. It was elegant and chic with giant huge bird cages adorned with lights ( I am a sucker for any thing bird cage!). And the staff! I have to tell you, they were possibly the most considerate and baby friendly staff I have come across in Chennai!

Food Factor:

- The menu has Malay, Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese dishes.

- Reasonably good Asian fare. Nothing that sent us over the moon, but nothing bad either.

- The dish that stood out for us was the Sichuan Chicken, it is a slightly fancier and spicier version of Chilly chicken.

Baby Factor:

- The staff were super baby friendly!

- They actually took care of my baby and let me enjoy the entire meal. I have never been able to do that! They carried the baby around, entertained her, showed her the live kitchen and pretty much managed with very little help from me.

- I couldn't have cared less about the restaurant not having a basic baby chair or even couch for that matter. The staff were just top notch!

- There aren't too many options in terms of food that you can give the baby except probably fried rice or dimsums. And yes, they do accept a request of no MSG, so its safe for the li'l one.

Formula Dispenser

The multi-level formula dispenser is a product that I just cannot do without in the baby bag!

You can carry measured amounts for formula in each level, and use it for multiple feeds. So if your baby drinks 180ml and you need 6scoops of formula powder, measure and store 6 scoops in each level. No digging through a bulky formula box and trying to scoop out the correct measure of powder when your baby is screaming in hunger!

It is available in many brands, I would however recommend Juniors and Farlin. The former is available at Lifestyle outlets across the city and Farlin is available on www.babyoye.com and www.firstcry.com. The price range is between Rs.250-400.

 

Air Travel?

First time air travel with your baby? The most important part is to be well prepared - make a checklist, organize your luggage well, pack your baby bag, make sure your baby is well rested and of course, pray to god that your baby isn't in one of his/her cranky highs!

There are multiple checklists available online to help you with the "travel baby-bag essentials". However, from my experience with our unpredictable airlines (and airports), it is better to be extra prepared to face the great Indian aviation standards!

So here are the essentials to carry in your Travel Baby Bag:

1. Cotton: Most domestic flights do not carry cotton, so make sure you carry some minutely rolled up cotton balls to plug in your baby's ears during take-off and landing to prevent ear pain.

2. Bottle: Keep a bottle with milk/water/juice handy and during take-off and landing, try feed the bottle to your baby as the sucking will help prevent ear block.

3. Sugar: This is a trick I learnt from an air hostess attending to a distressed baby on board. If your baby refuses the bottle for some reason, take some sugar on your finger tips and make your baby suck on it, as that will also help prevent ear block.

4. Sedation medicine: My doctor prescribed a few drops of a medicine to help my baby sleep through the flight and avoid any sort of discomfort for her. This is to done only if absolutely required and with the approval of your doctor of course.

5. Water and Milk: Carry extra bottles of milk and water. Always be prepared for a delay of at least two hours.

6. Same goes for food if your baby is on solids.

7. Toys: You MUST carry his/her favourite toy in case they get cranky.

8. Medicines: In case of a long journey like 26hrs, do carry fever and cold medicines atleast.

9. Cleaning: Extra diapers, extra wipes, cleaning pad, hand sanitizer.

10. Jacket, beanie and blanket: It could get very cold on the flight, so make sure you are geared up to keep your baby warm.

Mom & Me Program

Unless you have been living under a rock, chances are you have heard of the Mom & Me programs which are becoming super popular with Madras mommies. 

A Mom & Me program is basically a program offered by play schools for you and your li'l one aged between 9-18 months. It comprises a group of about 8-12 moms and their babies, with classes twice or thrice a week. Each class has a set of activities that has to be done jointly by the mom & baby, such as painting, singing rhymes, etc. All these activities are aimed at developing various skills and abilities of the baby such as fine motor development, co-ordination, vocabulary building, and many more. 

It's a lot of fun for the moms to watch their kids enjoy the activities as well as bond with other moms cribbing about their baby's tantrums and food habits! You can gradually see your child's development and also see him/her shed their inhibitions. 

My baby and I go to the Mom & Me program at Alphabet and we absolutely love it! My daughter loves it so much that on days we don't have school, she still asks me to sing all the rhymes and dances to them. Their campus is extremely well maintained, the staff very well trained and cordial. Additional features include a sand-play pit area and a splash pool.

The average cost for the program ranges between Rs.12,000 - Rs. 25,000 for 3 months. Listed below are schools which offer these programs:

1. Alphabet - No 178 B, Opposite Rain Free Hotel, St Marys Road, Alwarpet, Chennai - 600018. 

2. Vanilla - 89 Bishop Garden street, R.A Puram, off Greenways road, Chennai - 600004.

3. Kids Central - 246 Ranjith Road, Kotturpuram, Chennai - 600085.

4. Weebees - 86, 2nd Main Rd, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar, Chennai - 600020.

5. Amelio - Multiple locations across Chennai.

6. Hansel & Gretel - 11,Jagadambal Street T.Nagar,Chennai - 600017.

The first weekend getaway!

If you are anything like me, planning a vacation with the li’l one is a big scary nightmare! Here are a few tips along with my own experiences to help you plan your vacation.

TIP 1: Try to do a trial version first, by doing a short weekend getaway before a really long vacation. Also, try and pick a place/resort that you are familiar with.

Ours was a getaway to Radisson Blu Temple Bay. I chose this resort because I have been there a few times and I wanted to avoid any surprises that came with a new unknown place, when I have a baby in tow.

TIP 2: Pack all baby essentials : Bottles or sippers, medicines, sterilisers (if needed), towels, diapers, bath essentials.

My baby essentials include:

1. Milk related: Milk powder, mineral water bottle, kettle (just in case)
2. Food: Gerber food boxes, biscuits, fresh fruits like apples 
3. Bottle related: Bottles, bottle cleaning liquid and brush, steriliser, water sipper
4. Bath stuff: Bath wash, cream, powder, towel 
5. Medicines: Cold, Fever, Stomach and Allergy medicines
6. Clothes: Comfortable ones, swimwear and a light jacket if it gets cold
7. Bed: Blanket, small cushion (Mosquito net, if the season demands it)

TIP 3: Carefully select a room that caters to your top needs like quick access to the garden or pool or the exit. 

We chose the newly constructed pool side chalets, which provided easy access to the pool, because our li’l one is a total water baby!

TIP 4: Make the room as baby friendly as possible by asking the staff to remove breakables or sealing off the balcony if it is not safe. Make sure you create space for baby items like food, kettle, medicines, etc. 

Our room was quite spacious, bright and had a lot of storage room, which is very important when you travel with a kid). The first thing I did upon entering the room is to quickly get rid of glass vases and giant stone artefacts. The food counter had enough space to accommodate her steriliser, food and medicines for quick access.

Tip 5: If you want the hotel to prepare food for your kiddo, make sure you speak to them in advance and check the options.

I requested for steamed rice, yellow daal, curd, bread and eggs. You could also try fresh cut fruits, baked goodies or flavoured yogurt from their regular menu. 

Tip 6: Carry a familiar item like your l’il one’s fav toy or pillow to help him/her settle in to the new surroundings.

In my case, it was her favourite ball that did her trick. After a few minutes of cautiously checking out the new place, she found her ball and happily played around and lost all sense of inhibition.

Tip 7: Take a chill pill, relax, explore the resort and just enjoy yourself!

Chances are your kid is super excited to be in a new place and is more keen on exploring the beach rather than causing trouble. So go on, have fun and make sure you load up on a ton of selfies with the li’l star on his/her first vacay!

Dinner at Spaghetti Kitchen

I hate it when good restaurants open up their only branch in the city at a mall. This means double the work for mums who have to handle not just dinner, but also running around the mall!

But the Zara sale and a good Italian dinner were too tempting to give up, so we headed to Spaghetti Kitchen at Phoenix mall anyway.

Food Factor:
I have to say, I felt the quality of food at Chennai's Spaghetti Kitchen was a bit of a let down compared to their Bangalore branch.
The menu is your typical Italian fare with a good selection of pastas, pizzas, grills and desserts.
Most of the starters seemed similar with a slightly tangy taste. None of the main course dishes really stood out  - the Black pepper chicken, Aglio Olio pasta nor the Bassa fish. We had to skip dessert because the li'l one got a tad cranky!

Baby Factor:
- Wooden baby chair available.
- Booth seating also available if your baby prefers to sit next to you.
- Friendly staff. They brought some chocolate rolls for all the kids at the restauarant.
- If your kid likes soup, the cream of mushroom soup is a great option.
- Wood fire pizzas and spaghetti in alfredo sauce are items most kids would enjoy too.

Do choose a weekday if you are going with your li'l one though because the weekend rush may be a bit too overwhelming!

Address: Spaghetti Kitchen, 2nd floor, Phoenix Market City, Velachery, Chennai - 600042.
Phone: 044 30083730

Cutest kids swimwear EVER!

What is more adorable than super cute swimwear in teeny tiny sizes for the li'l ones in gorgeous candy colours? Nothing!

I take my daughter swimming (to be read as splashing) at her play school, once a fortnight and she loves it! It is a really fun time with a bunch of tiny toddlers splashing about in the pool surrounded by water toys and excited mommies clicking away hundreds of pics.

As for me, I love swimwear shopping as much as I love her swimming sessions. If you are looking for some really nice swimwear, head straight to Marks & Spencers and Mothercare. Marks & Spencers has an absolutely adorable range with a whole lotta prints, colours and styles ranging from one-piece to bikinis. Mothercare has a limited range, but quite a few pretty pieces.

My fav picks are a sea green ruffled bikini from Marks & Spencers, and a multi coloured ruffled number from Mothercare. (Yes I have a thing for ruffles!)


Location: Marks & Spencers at Phoenix and EA, Mothercare at EA. 
Price Range: Rs.1000 to 1800. With the current Sale you can get good discounts.

Weeeeeebeeeeeees!

Once my li'l one turned about 10 months, it was evident that playing at home with a truckload of toys was not good enough. I wanted to take her out some place that was fun, safe and entertaining. More importantly, a place that where she could interact with other kids.

I went around the city, hunting for good play gyms. There are quite a few play schools which offer their play space/ play gym on an hourly basis. My favourite among the lot is Weebees. 

Weebees is tucked away inside the calm residential Gandhinagar area. It has a gorgeous outdoor play area lined with trees & plants, bird cages, a small water play area, a trampoline and bikes. The interiors are done up in bright colours with neatly arranged toys, a ball pool, a play gym, books, a kitchen set and even a toy ice cream vendor stall.

If your child is less than 18 months, an adult can accompany the child in the play space. They also have staff who are friendly and play along with the kids. So if you wish to leave your child alone, you could opt for the "Drop off" facility by the hour. Charges for the former is Rs.150/hr +100/ additional hr and the latter is Rs.150 for every hour.

I take my li'l one atleast twice a week to Weebees and we have a fantastic time. She loves to explore every part of the play space and make the most of her time there, jumping from one activity to another.

They also have a cafe for the mommas to sit and relax which is a big plus! Just a word of advice, if you plan to visit Weebees over the weekend, do make sure you call them ahead 'cos they hold a lot of birthday parties at the premises and the play space will not be available.

Address: Weebees, 86, 2nd Main Rd, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600020

Phone: 088 70 043373

The Brew Room - with my li'l one

A little stone path on a small grass layout, gorgeous al-fresco seating and quirky artifacts which include a cycle covered with twinkling lights make for a great cafe!

Food Factor:
The menu lists good options for coffee and tea drinkers, light bites, pastas and sandwiches. Inside, displayed under glass cloches are interesting sweets such as White Velvet Cake, Chocolate Eclair, etc. 
What caught my attention was the all-day breakfast options and after battling between a Souflee with eggs & cheese, and Eggs Benedict, the latter won. Soft gooey eggs (that Matt Preston would have been proud of) served with crispy bacon and a slightly salty hollandaise sauce on a light bread.

Baby Factor:
- Wooden baby chair with table available.
- Staff very polite. The waitress asked if we wanted a baby chair (I did not expect a small hip cafe to have one).
- The open space is convenient for the kids to run around.
- If your kids like cakes and eggs, you have quite a few options.



Address: The Brew Room, Savera, JP Ave, Krishnapuram, Mylai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600004.
Phone: 044 2811 4700

Dinner with bub - China XO

     

On top of my list in "best places to dine with baby" is The Leela. Undoubtedly, some of the friendliest staff who make sure you and the baby enjoy the dining experience.

This experience is about China XO. I will cover Spectra in another post.

Food Factor: 
This Chinese speciality restaurant has a good mix of traditional Chinese dishes such as Peking duck along with the popular ones that we have grown up with like Kung Pao chicken. 
I can confidently say they serve the best dimsums in town which are lil packages of delicately flavoured meat/seafood/veggies wrapped in silky translucent sheets. A bit of a warning about the desserts though - we ordered three and all of them were disastrous!

Comfort Factor:
We opted for a private dining room the first time and it was excellent! The room held a big round seating table, a couch on the side and a personal waiter to attend to us. Subsequent dinners were at the main seating area, near the live kitchen window to keep the li'l one entertained.

Baby Factor:
- Well maintained Graco baby high chair available. Staff help you get the baby in and out of the chair multiple times patiently.
- In the private dining room, the additional couch and decorative table top were helpful to keep baby stuff without a struggle. You can also sit ok it and feed the baby with a nursing cover.
- Although they don't have anything to please the kids on the menu, they were obliging enough to bring fluffy focaccia bread and butter from Spectra (Their all day dining restaurant).
- If your baby does want to run around, there isn't much space within the restaurant which is done up with glass, murals, fountain, etc. However, just step out of the restaurant on to the basement lobby and they can be free.



Address: The Leela Palace, MRC Nagar 1st Ln, MRC Nagar, Raja Annamalai Puram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600028
Phone: 044  3366 1234

Baby friendly restaurant? Say What?!

I always felt bad for "that" mom running behind a screaming baby in a crowded restaurant, enduring the judgemental looks and ‘chee-chee' head shakes from onlookers. 

Well, I am sure other people think the same of me now.

You will be surprised to learn that most restaurants in Chennai are not at all baby friendly. Not a single restaurant has a baby changing section or a feeding section, few restaurants have baby chairs and and even fewer restaurants have a play area.

I realised there must be hundreds of mums out there who face the same problem as me figuring out which restaurant to go to on a weekend with their li'l one. This blog will give you a list of great restaurants/cafes/hotels to take your lil ones to (and also, not so great, but slightly manageable ones) and make life easier for as many mommies as possible. 

I have taken into account a few metrics to determine the “baby-friendliness” of the place:
- Baby chair
- If above is missing, then comfortable seating
- Friendly/accommodative staff
- Kid friendly munchies
- Space to play around

Hope it helps!