The Baby Show Birmingham – Hints & Tips!

We are really excited about attending The Baby Show Birmingham – and have a few hints and tips for those attending for the first time, as well as a few of our picks of things to keep an eye on!

1. Explore – With 1000s off products from 100s of brands, there are LOADS of exhibitors to see. My advise is to explore before you buy, and don’t ignore the smaller brands who you may not have heard of before. Quite often you can find ‘hidden treasures’ and some awesome event only discounts.
2. Advice – make the most of the industry experts, both the main stage expert speakers, and the experts at the stands – ask them questions, grill them on the products, help them understand why the product is right for you. You don’t get the opportunity to do this one on one very often in store, but at The Baby Show, the experts are there to help, so use them!
3. Test things out! – If you are planning on making some significant purchases, such as car seats and pushchairs, ask for product demonstrations, or even better, make the most of the show sponsor MadeforMums Buggy Testing Track – enabling you to test out a number of different styles, on a number of different surfaces so you can see what is right for you and your growing family.
4. First Aid Training – British Red Cross are running FREE 30 minute first aid training sessions on all three days. These are inevitably very popular, so ensure you visit their stand early in the day to secure your place. Over 65% of new parents surveyed wish they had attended a first aid course before the arrival of their baby, and it’s rare to experience one for free!!
5. Goody Bags! – Don’t forget to grab a limited edition MadeforMums goodybag – these goodbags are only available at The Baby Show and for just £5 you can secure a a selection of essential parenting products, for both babies and mums – worth over £40! You can pick these up from stands C110 and H3.
6. Leave the nappies at home! – taking your baby along? Don’t worry about packing a big changing bag – it will take up valuable shopping space and is just something extra to lug around – the show benefits form a changing area sponsored by Aldi Mamia – a clean safe and comfortable place to change your baby, with nappies and wipes provided free of charge. If you haven’t used Mamia products before, now is your chance to try them out without spending a penny!
7. Baby Feeding Area – I’ll  still have to take some bibs/spoons etc to feed my baby though right? WRONG! The Tommee Tippee Feeding area has everything that you will need to keep those little tummies full including high chairs, bibs, microwaves and perfect prep machines. Whilst the entire show is breastfeeding friendly, there is also a private breastfeeding area with comfy seating should you wish to feed somewhere a little less public. You can also pick up a number of baby food samples on the day, from stands including Ella’s Kitchen and Hipp Organic.
8. How will I carry all my purchases? – With kids in tow or if you are pregnant like myself, the long list of potential purchases can be slightly intimidating, and I have seen some people take empty buggies along to carry all their stuff! There is however an easier way! The FREE Emma’s Diary Shop & Drop and Collect by Car is a service which allows you to take your shopping to be kept secure until you are ready to collect by car at the clearly marked collection point. You can return at various times during the day to add more purchases – or as often as your hands get full!! 🙂
9. Look out for competitions – Many of the stands will be running competitions over the weekend with GREAT prizes on offer. These are free to enter so make sure you’re in it to win it! 😉
10. New Launches – new products get launched at The Baby Show – and we are looking forward to seeing a few of them – for us personally, we are most interested in the Nuby Natural Touch 360 – a revolutionary new bottle which allows you to feed your baby in an upright position – combating colic and reducing reflux. There’s also the first public appearance of the Omnio T2 Stroller – an ultra compact lightweight stroller that folds down to back pack proportions making it easy to wear or carry when not in use! This officially launches in the Autumn, but we are excited to see it in action on its Baby Show debut!
11. Parking– parking on the day at the NEC can be expensive. If you aren’t buying anything large in size or that you are capable of carrying without requiring the collect service, it may be cheaper to park at the international train station and get the monorail across to the venue. Yes you have a little further to walk back to your car, but you can save yourself some much needed funds!
12. Finally, enjoy the day. Preparing for your new arrival is an exciting time, and The Baby Show is also a great event from a social point of view, get chatting, spend time with friends and family, and bond over the exciting experiences coming your way! 🙂

We may see you there! I’ll be the one plodding around due to my growing bump and fat chaffy thighs! I will share any further tips & hints tomorrow on my return!

On a final note, don’t forget to swing by and say hello to my friends at One Fit Mama and Made4Keepsake!

Love

RMR xx