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Last Saturday, I went with my friend Jen, who had a baby several months ago, and Rachel, who's expecting her first in December to the annual Baby Fair, held by American Baby magazine. I really had no idea what to expect at this baby fair/convention. At comic book convention, you go to different booths and check out what new comics they have out, meet artists and writers and get sketches. I've been to trade shows, too, and that's usually a bunch of vendors showing off how much better their product is than then guy next to them. What happens at a baby fair?
We got to the Rosemont Convention Center (I refuse to call it by its slave name), and the area was PACKED. I knew that the annual ski and snowboarding show was going on (Dave had gone to it earlier that week while I was away - I was tempted to go myself!) but Jen also mentioned that there was a realtor show where Donald Trump was appearing at the same time. The main parking lot was full, so we had to park at an outer parking lot. There was shuttle service to the convention center. We got down to the shuttle area and there was a line of women with strollers waiting to get on the bus. It was a crash course for me on what kind of stroller to get because I was able to watch these women try to quickly and smoothly fold their strollers to get them on the bus. A lot struggled, having bulky strollers and having to balance their child at the same time, trying to figure out the contraption. Jen had no problem - since Rachel and I were there, she was able to hand one of us her baby, little Sam, and with one hand easily converted her stroller to folding position.
Once we finally got to the convention center, I realized that I'd never seen so many strollers and babies in my life. There were small toddlers walking around with their moms, there were little premie babies in strollers. It seemed like everyone either had a kid or was really pregnant. I felt a little left out because my belly is hardly showing yet.
There was SO much there. It seemed like ever vendor that had anything to do with babies was there, and the cool thing is that they were handing out freebies, too. I got 4 samples of baby bottles, a whole bunch of baby food, formula, stretch mark cream, and more stuff I can't even remember. I also got coupons for everything imaginable. By the end of the day, my free Baby's R Us Baggie was chock full of goodies.
We also attended a couple workshops - one from Bally's that showed exercises that you could do while pregnant, and then exercises you can do with your baby once it's born - little Sammy actually got picked to be the baby they used during the demonstration, and he was as happy as could be. The other workshop we went to went over nutrition while being pregnant, breastfeeding, and when to move your child to solid foods. During that workshop they were giving away prizes to people who answered questions right. I won a onesie (a one piece baby outfit) for answering the question "How many servings of vegetables should you have a day." Anyone know the answer? I knew it - it's 5. Then she asked me if I had all those servings, and I just smiled.
Anyone who knows me knows I'm lucky if I get away with 1 a day.
There was also a lot of activities for little babies, the most fun being the Baby Derby, which was a race for crawling babies. It was hilarious to just watch them sitting on the floor, not knowing what to do, while their parents sat at the finish line trying to coax them to crawl to them. One little girl started crawling to her mother and was the definite favorite to win, but just before she crossed the finish line, she looked at her mother who was screaming with excitement, got scared, and started crawling the other way. It was hilarious.
So anyone who is an expectant mother or who just had a child can go to this baby fair. You learn a lot and you can get a ton of free stuff. The major vendors are there, also, so you can try out car seats, baby toys, strollers, high chairs and things like that. I had a lot of fun with my gals, though I'm still a bit overwhelmed at all the things that are available out there for me to purchase!
Here's my pics!
Fisher Price Had a Play Area
Sammy Gets Some Exercise
I love babies and free stuff, but my idea of hell has (and always will be) going to the Babies R Us. The convention you described reminded me of one HUGE Babies R Us.
Posted by: Irene on November 8, 2005 04:57 PMNow, Christine, you need to eat your veggies, especially while you're eating for your baby too. You don't want the little guy/gal to grow up to hate veggies, now do you?
Nice pictures. My camera will need to go to the camera hospital I'm afraid, so I'll be without it for a bit; I'm bummed.
Posted by: trisha on November 8, 2005 06:21 PMI'm glad you had such a god time. Having a baby is exciting and you sound like you are enjoying your pregnancy.
Posted by: Sue on November 8, 2005 07:29 PMI'm not a mom, but I've been an aunt 9 times, so I've had lots of stroller experience. Here's my stroller advice:
1. Get one of those new fangled strollers that have a baby bed that turns into a seat later on. When the baby is newborn you need something it can sleep in lying flat.
2. If you're having a shower, ask for two strollers--one heavy duty, the other an easy to open and close number for when you need to get in and out of places quickly, in and out of tight spots, or if you're alone with the baby and don't have help.
3. Don't get a very light, or a very dark color. Both show the dirt. And whatever you do, make sure the fabric is WASHABLE!! This can not be stressed enough.
4. Make sure it has those net baskets under the seat, on the sides, attached to the handles..as many as possible. Those come in handy when aunts, uncles, and cousins need a place to put their stuff, (packages, bottles of waters, gloves, etc.) Also handy when the kid starts to walk and refuses to sit in the stroller--holds lots of packages. :)
That's it. Good luck. May The Force be with you.
Posted by: Denizzy on November 12, 2005 09:17 PMI forgot one thing...make sure the wheels turn easily when rolling forward AND backwards. This comes in handy when you are pushing the stroller back and forth trying to get the baby to sleep, or to stop screaming. You need it to move smoothly back and forth, otherwise the wheels lock and it jerks JUST when the kid is drifting off to sleep.
Don't say I didn't warn you.
Posted by: Denizzy on November 12, 2005 09:22 PM
