Review: The Baby Show, Toronto, Ontario

Readers, I am honoured to introduce you to "Foxy", my latest guest blogger. In fact, you may have seen her work on some popular Canadian TV shows! Please meet Foxy:

"Before baby, I worked as a costumer on set of different film and TV shows and at a vintage costume studio. Plus, I was a fitness instructor and a tea expert at a tea store!  Yes I was busy, and I had lots of practice getting little sleep. But being a new mom has trumped everything. I love staying home and looking after our son, who was born only a few months ago. I wouldn't want it any other way."

Foxy recently attended The Baby Show, which happened last month at the Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, and the first thing I asked was, "so... was it good? Busy? Did you leave with lots of goodies? Details!" Check out Foxy's review of this prenatal, baby and toddler event: 

Just some of Foxy's swag from the Baby Show ;) 

First off, I found that this show gears specifically to families who are expecting or for those who are raising toddlers.  The first 2,500 people who came on either September 27th or 28th got a swag bag worth $30. Tickets were $15 each, so when you got your bag, it was like getting your money back. (Check out the goodies I got in the photo! I didn't do half bad, huh?)

By far, this was a comprehensive show -- my husband and I even stayed for four hours! There were over 90 vendors, which included baby photographers, baby furniture, clothes, cloth diaper services and eco-friendly products.

There was even a breastfeeding-friendly area sectioned off for nursing, as well as a diaper changing station (thank goodness!). Oh, and get this: Diapers and cream were provided! Each family that entered the diaper-changing section got a sample of Baby Butz diaper rash cream. So if you're wondering, yes, if you had to change your baby 2 or 3 times at the show (hey, it happens!), you always got a Baby Butz sample. 

Take Note:

• Very stroller-friendly. Lots of space for parents to stroll their kids around -- if you go next time, don't worry about lugging a stroller. 
• You will find some great deals there. For instance, I’ve always liked Snuggle Bugz and they had a great deal on muslin blankets. Normally Lulujo muslins are approximately $17.99 for one; however, at the Baby Show, Snuggle Bugz had a deal at 2 for $20! 
• How was transportation? Instead of TTC or GO Transit, we drove and we got there within the hour the show opened. However, the city closed the QEW for the weekend! If we knew about this ahead of time, we would have taken the GO train. Getting home around 1:30 pm was a nightmare; a normal 30-minute drive was an hour-and-a-half! FYI: Parking costed about $14.

So will I go back again? Of course! The freebies and deals are worth it, and maybe next time I won't bother driving.

Did you attend the Baby Show? What did you think of it? 

Don't throw away useful samples!

We live in a small place, so my husband always wants to get rid of things. "These clothes don't fit — can't you use donate them?!" (What if I have another baby and my body shape fluctuates?) "We aren't going to use these coupons, I'm throwing them away." (I will gladly pass these on to someone who will use them.) "Do you have to keep your old magazines?" (Okay, so maybe I don't need to store YM and Teen People, but to the magazine junkie like myself, these are collector items!)

Before and after my daughter was born, I received countless samples from baby registry swag bags and consumer shows. These included Penaten (P.S. one little tin goes a long way!) and Similac Mom snack drinks. A week ago, my daughter woke up crying at the top of her lungs, super congested. Then a thought popped into my head: I still have an unopened sample of a baby chest rub! Out came the little tube of Aleva Naturals Breathe Easy Chest Rub. That little bit of this cream saved my night.

So lesson learned here: Keep some baby samples on hand for a little while — you never know when you'll need them. But before you try them, just make sure you check the expiry date.