Best baby buys: The Baby Show

May 10, 2015

The Baby Show in London

(Collaborative post) How did you make decisions on all the things you need to buy when you have a baby, and where did most of your purchases come from?

For us, like lots of people, it was a mix of inheriting things from friends, buying pre-loved at nearly new sales, and then everything we bought first-hand. In all that lovely pre-baby spare time we spent a lot of time researching the pros and cons of bigger buys like the pram, then spent a lot of time testing them out in shops like John Lewis (I even remember Alex taking me there one Friday night to cheer me up, which was surely a precursor to all those crazy nights in with the kids).

There are so many things you need to buy and so many things you can buy, which can be pretty confusing when you’re pregnant and have no idea about what you actually will use and what works. I’d definitely recommended seeing things in person to sound out what they’re like. And one way of getting all these under one roof is to go to a Baby Show.

Have you ever been – or are you planning to go – to one? I’ve been to a few now, and one before I was even pregnant (I went with my pregnant friend, and it was slightly strange to say the least). I’ve been to a couple since having a baby. Here’s me and tiny Eliza at the London one in 2012:

The Baby Show

So why go to a Baby Show? Because there’s lots of things you need all under one roof. There’s everything from the bigger brands like Mothercare, Mamas and Papas, Stokke, Huggies, Phillips and Fisher Price through to smaller, newer brands and newly developed products. It’s a great opportunity to have an experienced person demonstrate the more strange of the baby buys – breast pumps, anyone? There’s also a lot of information about everything from baby first aid through to weaning and feeding, and also talks from experts.

What to watch out for:

  • All the big baby, nursery and pram brands are usually there which makes it really easy to try out things like prams under one roof. One year I got to test out the a Quinny pram throughout the show (read my Quinny Moodd buggy review).
  • Brands like Fisher Price will have  all the different baby and toddler products there too so you can see what’s available across the whole range
  • Lots of brands have discounts, deals and special offers. Pregnacare (which I work for in TalkMum capacity) always have special deals at the show on the pre and post-natal vitamins, and there are often cute branded babygros given away too.
  • It’s also great for finding out about smaller brands like aden & anais, and also Cuddledry.

Here’s my Baby Show tips…

  • I’ve usually gone on the Friday, which is less busy, but Saturday morning tends to be slightly quieter too
  • However, Sunday afternoon right before it finishes is when lots of the goods on show are really marked down
  • Although it does initially sound like the main appeal is for people who are pregnant or have really young children, I’ve found loads of interesting things for toddlers too
  • The pre-Christmas London Baby Show is a great place to pick up Christmas presents, including those all-important Christmas pyjamas and outfits
  • It can be pretty hectic with lots of walking, so stop for lunch, or at least some cake.

Upcoming Baby Shows in 2015

  • The next one is taking place at Birmingham NEC on 15-18th May. If it’s too far for you to  go back in one day, or you’re too pregnant and want to make an easy weekend of it. then a hotel that’s really close by is the Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC (really handy for dropping off bags and all the things you end up picking up and buying).
  • The next one taking place in London is at Olympia, on 23rd-25th October.

Are you planning on going to a Baby Show this year? What are you most looking forward to?

This is a collaborative post.

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