thewife,
get from the distributor is slightly cheaper. I got mine before they increased the price but i think it's abt $300 now lor. I dun have the number liao.. but you go hunt around some of the threads for the ameda pump and look for this guy called Mickey.
imho,
steriliser & bottles: as long as they fit your bottles and that's good liao lor. I got avent cos I am using avent bottles.
No need warmer one k.. i had one from my sis but i found that it was easier to use a big cup with hot water to warm the milk. cos the warmer makes the milk too hot by the time the beep goes off, so you have to remember to take the milk out before then. chances of the milk getting too hot is lower when using the a cup of hot water mthd
i think bottle type is personal preference and baby's preference. i like avent cos of its clean look and the wide neck, makes it very easy to clean. I have friends who swear by nuk cos they say the teats are Bf friendly and babies do not get nipple confusion with them, but I had no problem with Kieran since I've given him EBM since he was 1 mth old. he still prefers breast whenever he gets them.. hehe.. he has no problems going from bottle to breast and vice versa. Only disadv with avent is that it is a selfish system. once you are on avent, everything must also be from avent lor.. cannot use teats from other brands cos they dun fit.
diaper bag: no need those fanciful ones. as long as serves your purpose can liao. dun be in a hurry to buy. enjoy your baby a bit 1st then get an idea of what you'll bring out most of the time then decide on a bag.
I have a cheap OP diaper bag that I throw in the car, and very often, I bring Kieran out w/o a bag even, esp when I wont be out for long and I know that he just pooed. keke
thermal hot/cold bag:
I have a small one cos now i have to bring milk to and fro (office/ inlaws). Not exactly a must esp if the milk only travels a short distance. putting the milk in a bag of ice will do if it's going to be like 10min away from the fridge. again, dun be in a hurry to get this. in the beginning, you wont get much milk to transport around anyway, you would be trying to latch baby on most of the time as that is the most efficient way to build up the supply.
i've been using my ameda for 5 mths liao, every single day at least 1 pump a day (nowadays at least 2-3x) i havent had any broken parts yet. i'm still using the same valves from day 1 (touch wood), still in very good condition. Plus i'm the always sterilise before use and sometimes sterilise more than necessary cos i'm too lazy to take them out of the steriliser before I put in new items. but one thing that i really like abt the ameda as compared to medela and avent is that it is very easy to assemble. avent pumps have got too many parts.
cot sheet:
is this bed sheet??? keke.. but if it is the protector with the plastic at the bottom.. hmm.. i got one but found that once i put in on the bed, it becomes too warm. then again, K is a big sweater...
rubber sheet:
the pink/blue ones are good esp for when baby comes out of the bath. get another smaller plastic ones that can fold up for you to bring out with you when u go gai gai.. so that you can put it under your baby when you change her.
Hope this helps...
siew lei,
I dunno abt the medela let down function. what's that?? i am very happy with my ameda, it does the job of getting the milk out, tho' i would prefer a softer suction horn. I think only avent has the comfy suction/ petal pad thingy that makes pumping so comfy.. i tried the duo electric ones.. really shiok.. but avent is so damn ex.. both medela and ameda have similar plastic ones.
Actually ameda and medela are very similar as they originated from the same company. medela progressed towards consumer markets while ameda when into hospitals etc.. so medela products look a little more fanciful (hence the price) while ameda focusses on functionality, no frills.