Baby items - States vs Japan

Shopping for baby items in Tokyo has been quite an adventure. Given that it's our first time and everything is a learning experience, it's been exciting, frustrating and at times just mind boggling.  For example, take a very simple item like a changing pad (cushion type thing you place on a changing table) so the baby doesn't have to lie down on a hard surface. Makes sense right? Well, it doesn't really exist here.. and so far I've found a blow-up type cushion or just a thin pad (more like a thin small blanket), not comfy enough for our precious Baby LG.

Then take a McLaren stroller. The stroller that we were going to purchase was going for 45,500JPY (approx. 500 USD), here in Japan, and my sister-in-law found the same one in the US for $230. Wow, less than half price .. which is why my dear MIL is bringing one over for us when she comes in August. Whopppe!  But then here in Japan, most newborns wear kimono type onesies which I think is much easier since their head/neck is still too wobbly to be pulling one-piece onesies over their heads to change them... Maybe we're too used to State-side baby goods but my girlfriend who was recently visiting from Hawaii said she was bringing back Japanese disposable diapers because they all come with a little something extra, in this case a small red line which appears if the diaper is wet. Not sure if these diapers exist in all the ones in the states.

In any case, we made a visit to Ikea this weekend to pick up some items for the nursery and also storage shelves, etc. Here's Mar taking down the changing table from the shelves...

and while we're on the subject of states vs. Japan, here's a ad for 3 bedroom apartment, probably only about a 1000 sq. feet, going for approx. 1.3 million USD in our neighborhood.... gee, and the only think I could possibly want right now is to move into a 3 bedroom apartment so Maddie and the baby can have their own rooms!