Buying Baby Products From Other Countries

happy_un-bride

Canada seems to have these silly regulations for buying certain baby products (cribs, strollers, playpens) from outside the country. 

i.e. the stroller I want is on sale in the US for $100 cheaper than in Canada... DH says I should just buy it in the US, but all the silly warnings/requirements make it sound like too much of a hassle.  (Duty is not an issue)

Is anyone buying theis baby products from another country for use in their current country?

ccip82

We live in the UK and buy a lot of baby products in the US and have them shipped to DH's parents house. We are fortunate enough where DH travels back and forth from Texas to the UK frequently enough to bring the items back with him.

A couple months ago, we started CDing, so I bought a lot of my CDs in the States.  They seemed a lot cheaper than there in the UK! We also bought our convertable car seat in the US. 

We have not had issues with duties/customs-but then again it is not like we are bringing a whole bunch a baby things back all at once. 

 

MouseInLux

We get some things from the states, UK and Germany because things here are expensive.

I got DD's car seat from Sweden because they cary more RF car seats for past 9 months (didn't get one from the US because they are not legal in the UK). 

risainthesky

We bought everything (stroller, car seat, etc) in States except for the crib, however, there are no regulations here.

ccip82

MouseInLux:

We get some things from the states, UK and Germany because things here are expensive.

I got DD's car seat from Sweden because they cary more RF car seats for past 9 months (didn't get one from the US because they are not legal in the UK). 

I had no idea...and now I feel like a complete idiot...thank you for posting this. We have the Britax Boulevard and since I saw it was also sold in the UK, I assumed it was okay. Sorry OP for the bad advice.

dulcemariamar1

My Mom brought over a suitcase full of baby products and clothes. We have ordered a lot of our items from Amazon UK.

bandwife

When we were in Canada I ordered my stroller from the US and had it sent to a friend's house in Seattle. She brought it over the border whens she came to my shower.

I know that they don't sell the Arms Reach Cosleeper in Canada so a lot of people go over the border to buy it. I would have no hesitation doing that even though they are not approved by Health Canada (or whomever it is) for use.

In a bit of a conundrum right now over trying to get an infant car seat from North America (we are in the UK). We have a BOB and I would like to get the infant car seat adapter so I can use it with this new one. But I'm not sure the adapters work for the brands/styles of infant car seats over here. 

 

dor79

I would not hesitate to buy a stroller that is cheaper in the US for use in Canada, likewise other items if duty was not an issue.

I've known people who bought strollers, cribs and other baby items (except car seats), shipped it to relatives and then drove it across the border. 

MouseInLux

ccip82:

MouseInLux:

We get some things from the states, UK and Germany because things here are expensive.

I got DD's car seat from Sweden because they cary more RF car seats for past 9 months (didn't get one from the US because they are not legal in the UK). 

I had no idea...and now I feel like a complete idiot...thank you for posting this. We have the Britax Boulevard and since I saw it was also sold in the UK, I assumed it was okay. Sorry OP for the bad advice.

The seats have to have the correct company sticker which means they've been through the EU tests which are different to the US ones. Also EU seats have to be able to be undone in one move for safety which is why we don't have chest clips on our seats. 

happy_un-bride

FYI - here's the link for the Canadian regualtions...

https://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/cons/consumer_prod-consommation-eng.php

lrn327

MouseInLux:

ccip82:

MouseInLux:

We get some things from the states, UK and Germany because things here are expensive.

I got DD's car seat from Sweden because they cary more RF car seats for past 9 months (didn't get one from the US because they are not legal in the UK). 

I had no idea...and now I feel like a complete idiot...thank you for posting this. We have the Britax Boulevard and since I saw it was also sold in the UK, I assumed it was okay. Sorry OP for the bad advice.

The seats have to have the correct company sticker which means they've been through the EU tests which are different to the US ones. Also EU seats have to be able to be undone in one move for safety which is why we don't have chest clips on our seats. 

Interesting!  Are the leg straps constructed the same then?  I assume it's basically the same harness minus the chest clip?  If you were in an accident, are you instructed to automatically remove the child from the seat?  In the US, I know we're encouraged to remove the child and seat together IF there is time to do so.  Honestly, I'm not sure how I'd do this quickly in my car though since my seat is attached using the car seat belt. 

101Mims

dulcemariamar1:

My Mom brought over a suitcase full of baby products and clothes. We have ordered a lot of our items from Amazon UK.

Us too. Car seats are much cheaper - we saved over 150 Euros! Also toys, baby books  and such like as they are in English.

MIL brings what she can when she visits from the UK. We take empty cases  and bring back as much as the luggage allowance allows. Mostly nappies as they are so expensive here.

We order alot of clothes from Marks and Spencers as they have a super selection and it?s all great quality, and just a  one off delivery charge. Not many companies will deliver to the islands so thank goodness for M&S!!

MouseInLux

lrn327:

MouseInLux:

ccip82:

MouseInLux:

We get some things from the states, UK and Germany because things here are expensive.

I got DD's car seat from Sweden because they cary more RF car seats for past 9 months (didn't get one from the US because they are not legal in the UK). 

I had no idea...and now I feel like a complete idiot...thank you for posting this. We have the Britax Boulevard and since I saw it was also sold in the UK, I assumed it was okay. Sorry OP for the bad advice.

The seats have to have the correct company sticker which means they've been through the EU tests which are different to the US ones. Also EU seats have to be able to be undone in one move for safety which is why we don't have chest clips on our seats. 

Interesting!  Are the leg straps constructed the same then?  I assume it's basically the same harness minus the chest clip?  If you were in an accident, are you instructed to automatically remove the child from the seat?  In the US, I know we're encouraged to remove the child and seat together IF there is time to do so.  Honestly, I'm not sure how I'd do this quickly in my car though since my seat is attached using the car seat belt. 

Infant seats are sometimes 3pt harnesses and sometimes 5pt, it depends on the manufacturer. Once you get to the bigger seats they are all 5pt so it's the same for the legs. There is NO WAY I'm getting my car seat out of the car quickly, it's attached with the seatbelt and two tethers, it has a foot and weighs so much I can barely get it in the car without DD!   

I think their reasoning is that IF you have to get the kid out of the car quickly it's best to make is as uncomplicated as possible seeing as it's not necessarily going to be someone who knows about car seats, they just know the push the red thing.

ccip82

MouseInLux:

ccip82:

MouseInLux:

We get some things from the states, UK and Germany because things here are expensive.

I got DD's car seat from Sweden because they cary more RF car seats for past 9 months (didn't get one from the US because they are not legal in the UK). 

I had no idea...and now I feel like a complete idiot...thank you for posting this. We have the Britax Boulevard and since I saw it was also sold in the UK, I assumed it was okay. Sorry OP for the bad advice.

The seats have to have the correct company sticker which means they've been through the EU tests which are different to the US ones. Also EU seats have to be able to be undone in one move for safety which is why we don't have chest clips on our seats. 

Thank you, I have been looking into this all afternoon and trying to decide what to do in regards to a new seat

MouseInLux

ccip82:

Thank you, I have been looking into this all afternoon and trying to decide what to do in regards to a new seat

This is where a lot of people get their extended rear facing seats from in the UK

https://www.incarsafetycentre.co.uk/

or here

https://www.carseat.se/swedish-car-seats/ 

lrn327

MouseInLux:

lrn327:

MouseInLux:

ccip82:

MouseInLux:

We get some things from the states, UK and Germany because things here are expensive.

I got DD's car seat from Sweden because they cary more RF car seats for past 9 months (didn't get one from the US because they are not legal in the UK). 

I had no idea...and now I feel like a complete idiot...thank you for posting this. We have the Britax Boulevard and since I saw it was also sold in the UK, I assumed it was okay. Sorry OP for the bad advice.

The seats have to have the correct company sticker which means they've been through the EU tests which are different to the US ones. Also EU seats have to be able to be undone in one move for safety which is why we don't have chest clips on our seats. 

Interesting!  Are the leg straps constructed the same then?  I assume it's basically the same harness minus the chest clip?  If you were in an accident, are you instructed to automatically remove the child from the seat?  In the US, I know we're encouraged to remove the child and seat together IF there is time to do so.  Honestly, I'm not sure how I'd do this quickly in my car though since my seat is attached using the car seat belt. 

Infant seats are sometimes 3pt harnesses and sometimes 5pt, it depends on the manufacturer. Once you get to the bigger seats they are all 5pt so it's the same for the legs. There is NO WAY I'm getting my car seat out of the car quickly, it's attached with the seatbelt and two tethers, it has a foot and weighs so much I can barely get it in the car without DD!   

I think their reasoning is that IF you have to get the kid out of the car quickly it's best to make is as uncomplicated as possible seeing as it's not necessarily going to be someone who knows about car seats, they just know the push the red thing.

Thanks for the explanation.  That does make sense.  And yes, DS rides in a Britax too so it is also tethered (though we don't have the foot) so it would take a long time for me also.  I assume the group that advice would be focusing on is people with infant carriers that pop out.

PittPurple

Interesting! I thought the reason you can't use US carseats here in the UK is because the cars are such different sizes? I haven't yet, but I don't see any reason I wouldn't buy baby items in another country. 

jllmb79

So what happens if you use a US carseat.  No way I'm buying new carseats.  Sounds like a ploy to keep Canadians buying  stuff only in Canada.

With that said can't tell you the amount of times I watch Canadians at Babies r US taking stuff out of the boxes to pretend it was already in their car.  I few weeks ago watched a sales man help the Canadians install a car seat. 

happy_un-bride

jllmb79:

So what happens if you use a US carseat.  No way I'm buying new carseats.  Sounds like a ploy to keep Canadians buying  stuff only in Canada.

With that said can't tell you the amount of times I watch Canadians at Babies r US taking stuff out of the boxes to pretend it was already in their car.  I few weeks ago watched a sales man help the Canadians install a car seat. 

 

Carseats are the one thing I wouldn't mess around with.  I imagine you can get tickets. 

gimmietimmies

happy_un-bride:

jllmb79:

So what happens if you use a US carseat.  No way I'm buying new carseats.  Sounds like a ploy to keep Canadians buying  stuff only in Canada.

With that said can't tell you the amount of times I watch Canadians at Babies r US taking stuff out of the boxes to pretend it was already in their car.  I few weeks ago watched a sales man help the Canadians install a car seat. 

 

Carseats are the one thing I wouldn't mess around with.  I imagine you can get tickets. 

You can. It's the equivalent of a seat belt ticket, assuming you get across the border with it (eg, Canadian driver's license & passport with US seat). My aunt got detained at the Windsor-Detroit crossing with a Britax seat and had it confiscated. She thought I was kidding about the reg. If you're emigrating back to Canada, you might not get caught, but if you are ever pulled over, you can get ticketed. Your insurance may not cover you in an accident if the seat fails and their investigator finds you've used a US seat. Not worth the hassle.

And it isn't a vast conspiracy on the car manufacturer's part, it has zero to do with them. Transport Canada regs are not the same as the NHSTA standards, so most (not all, and I'm not even going to say which) seats have differences from the US models. And not all car seats sold in the US are sold here. They either don't meet our regs or they haven't paid (or want to pay) to have the testing done to see if they meet Canadian standards.

They've also changed regulations here again, so most seats made before January 1, 2012 can't be given away or sold anyway (in case all the rules here weren't confusing enough, right!).

jb2rn

We are in Germany and bought our car seat in Sweden, as well (Klippan Triofix). Here, they go from an infant seat to a convertable style seat and FORWARD FACING at a year! No way were were going to do that, and all the seats sold after infant size are meant to go FF, so we shopped elsewhere.

We love the car seat we purchased. We thought about buying from the states, but delivery was faster if we bought in Europe, and Swedes have been doing ERF for a very long time and we felt it was a better seat.

Since we are military, we technically have a US address we can ship things to (on base, even though we don't live on base) so that is nice, we can get US products shipped w/o crazy shipping fees.

I buy cloth dipers from the states, as well as some toys/products that are just much cheaper on Amazon.com

MouseInLux

jb2rn:

We are in Germany and bought our car seat in Sweden, as well (Klippan Triofix). Here, they go from an infant seat to a convertable style seat and FORWARD FACING at a year! No way were were going to do that, and all the seats sold after infant size are meant to go FF, so we shopped elsewhere.

We love the car seat we purchased. We thought about buying from the states, but delivery was faster if we bought in Europe, and Swedes have been doing ERF for a very long time and we felt it was a better seat.

Since we are military, we technically have a US address we can ship things to (on base, even though we don't live on base) so that is nice, we can get US products shipped w/o crazy shipping fees.

I buy cloth dipers from the states, as well as some toys/products that are just much cheaper on Amazon.com

You're one of the "Special" ones you can legally use a US car seat in the EU because you're military.

I think one of the great things bout the EU is that all the products have to meet the EU standards so it's ok to get things from EU countries like car seats. Oh and man those Swedish car seats are well built! 

kelly321

PittPurple:

Interesting! I thought the reason you can't use US carseats here in the UK is because the cars are such different sizes? I haven't yet, but I don't see any reason I wouldn't buy baby items in another country. 

I was asking on GBCN for where people got chest clips for their seats since the silly Europeans don't use them, but that's when Mouse and others made me aware of the EU-wide regulation on one-move removal of seat belts. So no go on the chest clip. Before that, I hadn't given any thought to it and would have assumed it was ok to use US seats here!

catmtl

OP, there are no specific regulations around strollers in Canada only car seats. Go ahead and buy your stroller from wherever.

jllmb79

gimmietimmies:

happy_un-bride:

jllmb79:

So what happens if you use a US carseat.  No way I'm buying new carseats.  Sounds like a ploy to keep Canadians buying  stuff only in Canada.

With that said can't tell you the amount of times I watch Canadians at Babies r US taking stuff out of the boxes to pretend it was already in their car.  I few weeks ago watched a sales man help the Canadians install a car seat. 

 

Carseats are the one thing I wouldn't mess around with.  I imagine you can get tickets. 

You can. It's the equivalent of a seat belt ticket, assuming you get across the border with it (eg, Canadian driver's license & passport with US seat). My aunt got detained at the Windsor-Detroit crossing with a Britax seat and had it confiscated. She thought I was kidding about the reg. If you're emigrating back to Canada, you might not get caught, but if you are ever pulled over, you can get ticketed. Your insurance may not cover you in an accident if the seat fails and their investigator finds you've used a US seat. Not worth the hassle.

And it isn't a vast conspiracy on the car manufacturer's part, it has zero to do with them. Transport Canada regs are not the same as the NHSTA standards, so most (not all, and I'm not even going to say which) seats have differences from the US models. And not all car seats sold in the US are sold here. They either don't meet our regs or they haven't paid (or want to pay) to have the testing done to see if they meet Canadian standards.

They've also changed regulations here again, so most seats made before January 1, 2012 can't be given away or sold anyway (in case all the rules here weren't confusing enough, right!).

We are US citizens moving to Canada for 2-5yrs(max) Temporary out of country US government assignment. Still seems crazy that your US carseat is rated for us safety standards and even FAA but not Canadian standards

MouseInLux

jllmb79:

gimmietimmies:

happy_un-bride:

jllmb79:

So what happens if you use a US carseat.  No way I'm buying new carseats.  Sounds like a ploy to keep Canadians buying  stuff only in Canada.

With that said can't tell you the amount of times I watch Canadians at Babies r US taking stuff out of the boxes to pretend it was already in their car.  I few weeks ago watched a sales man help the Canadians install a car seat. 

 

Carseats are the one thing I wouldn't mess around with.  I imagine you can get tickets. 

You can. It's the equivalent of a seat belt ticket, assuming you get across the border with it (eg, Canadian driver's license & passport with US seat). My aunt got detained at the Windsor-Detroit crossing with a Britax seat and had it confiscated. She thought I was kidding about the reg. If you're emigrating back to Canada, you might not get caught, but if you are ever pulled over, you can get ticketed. Your insurance may not cover you in an accident if the seat fails and their investigator finds you've used a US seat. Not worth the hassle.

And it isn't a vast conspiracy on the car manufacturer's part, it has zero to do with them. Transport Canada regs are not the same as the NHSTA standards, so most (not all, and I'm not even going to say which) seats have differences from the US models. And not all car seats sold in the US are sold here. They either don't meet our regs or they haven't paid (or want to pay) to have the testing done to see if they meet Canadian standards.

They've also changed regulations here again, so most seats made before January 1, 2012 can't be given away or sold anyway (in case all the rules here weren't confusing enough, right!).

We are US citizens moving to Canada for 2-5yrs(max) Temporary out of country US government assignment. Still seems crazy that your US carseat is rated for us safety standards and even FAA but not Canadian standards

It's not crazy at all, the world doesn't revolve around America, different countries have different standards, you have to abide by them, just like tragic laws etc. The FAA is an American organization so even though a car seat is FAA approved non US air lines can and may not allow its use on their flights.

sadsadie

Clothes, sheets, even breast pumps fine...but car seats and anything for sleeping in no. If you use that stuff and there's an accident you can be charged/be held criminally responsible for breaking Canada's safety laws. At the very least, you would have no legal recourse if the equipment was faulty and your LO was injured. I would not risk it!