Singapore with a 1 year old

[Fenouille]

We're going to Singapore with our 1 year old next week. DH is at a conference so I will have a few days just the two of us.

I've been to Singapore a couple of times for business but never really had time to do any tourism - can anyone recommend any places to go, things to see, etc. that would suit a toddling 1 year old and his Mum?

Thanks in advance for any tips!

The zoo is brilliant. There's a water park at the centre of it and you can just hang out there. Bring swim outfit for both of you. He'll love it.

Botanical gardens - big wide open spaces for him to romp about. Close to town and shopping areas so near to aircon places! Tanglin mall is near there - seen to be posh shopping area. Food, shops.

Bird park great too.

Vivo city. Free rooftop play area. Near to cable car rides to sentosa. It's also near universal studios etc. It's also a mall.

Beach - east coast beach. You can hire cycles with baby seats. Fun. Very cheap. Mcdonalds and other eateries about. There's a playgym type thing v near mcdonalds. Clean fun.

National museum. Think they might have things on for kids.

Esplanade. You can go on a boat ride on the Singapore river. Or a duck tour where the bus also goes into water.

Singapore wheel. Like London eye.

Check singapore tourism. There should be a section for kids.

Have fun!!! Remember to drink lots of water and sunscreen. Also a brolly! There's lots of thunderstorms at the moment! Of course you can buy them there if you forget.

You are amazing drcrab! Thank you very much. May I ask a couple of questions?

Is the zoo you mention the same as the night zoo?
Are there many mozzies or other bugs around at the moment? Can you recommend a good bug spray for babies if so?
How much is it actually raining? I saw the forecast for storms (I'm hoping for lots of dramatic lightning) but it's not clear how frequent they actually are.

I'm so excited! I love Asia and haven't travelled that in that direction for a couple of years. Can't wait to introduce DS to it :) I'll have a look at the website, good idea.

No the zoo i'm talking about is the Singapore zoo. The night zoo is just next to the Singapore zoo and is open ... At night. . Mossie spray - just got some ordinary mossie spray thing from boots. Boots brand even! Get it in the baby section as you need the one for baby skin.

You can possibly get a double ticket for cheaper if you buy tickets to both but check to see if you can go on different days - it might be too knackering to do both on same day.

Thunderstorms will be rather dramatic! My dh when we first went there was amazed that it was warm rain.

Don't know about number of mossies but my kids have never been bitten much (3 and 1) so.. Maybe just lucky. I'd maybe bring some savlon type thing just in case you do get bitten.

Health care - you pay for it but it's pretty reasonable (about say $20 for consult and then same for drugs if necessary). Dont be fooled into going to a pediatrist unless necessary. Totally ridiculously expensive. You might be able to claim on insurance though if you have to see the dr. We were out there for a month. Circumstances meant we had to go see the a&e dr in hospital. Managed to claw back some money. Phew!

The Zoo and Night Safari are on the same site but are completely separate.

We've been to Singapore several times over the past few years with dcs aged from 12 weeks up to 5 years and everything on drcrab's list is great.

Jurong Bird Park is also good, Sentosa Island is worth a day trip, our dc loved the Songs of the Sea laser show that's on every evening there, even when they were really small.

WRT mozzies, we only used repellent when we went out in the evenings, they're more prevalent then and all the pharmacies out there sell good repellents.

The rainstorms tend to be short and sharp and if you do get caught out you dry off quite quickly.

Have a fab time, Singapore is an amazing place to go with kids because everywhere is so family orientated.

The night zoo is good to do with small jetlagged children who Do Not Want To Sleep -- took our elder two (DD1 was 22 months at the time) there on our first evening in Singapore. It's the sort of thing they'd be too little to stay up for if they were in their own time zone.

Thanks everyone.

Going to the night zoo on the first night is a great idea. I went years ago but can't wait to go again.

I was thinking of getting the mozzie spray there as I assume they've got the good stuff :) We've got comprehensive insurance so not too worried by that.

Oh I can't wait for the warm rain and the smells and the steam of after the storm and the food and everything!