100-Yen Shops Are Convenient, But…
100-yen shops (like Daiso and Seria) are treasure troves. Recently, their selection of baby products has become so good that you might want to buy everything there. I tried many items after giving birth, but there were some that were hard to use, and I ended up repurchasing brand-name versions.
Based on my experience raising a 0-year-old, I’ve found a clear line between “Things 100-yen shops are good enough for (Save)” and “Things you should spend money on (Splurge).” Here is my list.
Items You Should Splurge On
First, here are items where choosing brand-name products significantly improved my quality of life.
Sponge Brushes for Baby Bottles
• Comparison: Seria vs. Pigeon
• Review:
Seria (100 yen): The sponge was too soft, making it hard to apply pressure to the bottom corners. During the newborn stage when washing bottles many times a day, this small stress really added up.
Pigeon: The shape is perfectly calculated. Just a simple twist cleans every corner. It drains well and is hygienic.
Conclusion: It is worth investing a few hundred yen here to shorten your daily washing time.
Stroller Drink Holders
• Comparison: Daiso vs. Angelette
• Review:
Daiso (100 yen): The screw part is plastic and weak; it shifts or falls off due to vibration. It’s dangerous if you drop hot coffee or the baby’s drink.
Colulu: It fixes securely and the stability is on a whole different level.
Conclusion: For anything involving safety, choose a sturdy brand-name product.
ポチップ
Items Where 100-Yen Shops Are Good Enough
Next are items where 100-yen shop goods are excellent and not much different from brand-name ones.
Nipple Brushes for Baby Bottles
• Comparison: Seria vs. Pigeon
• Review:
• Unlike large bottle brushes, I felt almost no difference in performance for the small brushes used for nipples.
• Since they are consumables, buying them at 100-yen shops and replacing them as soon as they get dirty is more hygienic and cost-effective.
Baby Food Pouch Stands
• Comparison: Daiso vs. Akachan Honpo
• Review:
This is a stand to hold retort pouches upright. The 100-yen version has a place to rest a spoon and works perfectly fine, so I am satisfied with it.
The Akachan Honpo version is also cheap, so if you are already there shopping for other things, it’s a fine choice too.
Summary
It’s important to shop wisely by mixing and matching: choose brand-name items for safety and daily frequent use, and 100-yen items for consumables or things used only for a limited time.
If you have any recommendations or items you want me to compare, please leave a comment in the contact form!
