It is that time of year again! In less than two weeks, The BabyTime Show will be back in town! This will be the 6th year that I will be attending The BabyTimes Show and I love it! I love products related to babies and kids. I also love the convenience of everything under one roof! Whether you are pregnant with your first child, or are a seasoned parent there are lots of great products and services to learn about at the upcoming BabyTime Show.
After 6 years of attending the show, I’ve decided to compile a list of tips on attending the show and impart my wisdom onto you.
- Know which items you are interested in purchasing or getting more information on/from before you come – A huge trade show can sometimes be overwhelming if you aren’t organized. Beforehand, figure out what exactly you are looking for. Do you want to know more about Strollers? Baby furniture? A photographer? Or maybe RESP’s? It will help keep you on track, and get information and/or purchasing said items.
- Make a list of vendors you are interested in- I do this for every show. Based on what I’m interested in, I look through the list of exhibitors and prioritize which exhibitors I want to see. From bigger stores like Babies R Us, and Babyland, to baby gear companies such as Graco and UPPABaby to smaller retailers, you are sure to find lots of great deals. If you aren’t sure about a certain item and want some input from a loved one, your ticket gives you the chance to return on another day.
- Come prepared – Bring a water bottle and some healthy snacks with you. If you forget there is a cafe where you can buy these items. It can often get very warm with lots of people inside, so make sure to dress appropriately in layers. And wear comfortable shoes as you will be walking around on your feet for a few hours. Most retails take credit cards but it’s always handy to have some cash on you too. The aisles are large enough to accommodate strollers if you are bringing baby.
- Attend some seminars- One incredible perk of attending the show is that there is a slew of experts who are giving seminars on a variety of topics. From hearing from Nanny Robina on how to get your baby to sleep through the night to a car seat safety and installation clinic run by experts from UppaBaby and Graco lots of valuable information will be shared. Be sure to check the schedules of both the Expert Seminar Stage and the Live & Learn Stage so you don’t miss a great presentation!
- Bring your kids! Don’t have anyone to watch your kids? Don’t worry, Dora The Explorer, Barney and D Jay the Entertainer will be performing on the Toddler Time Stage. As well, come of your toddler’s favourite characters will be at the show for a meet-and-greet! The Little Charmers, Angelina Ballerina, Diego, Olivia the piglet and Jess the cat, and Dora & Boots will be making their appearances at the show. Refer to the schedule here for the meet-and-greet times.
- Samples and prizes! Many booths will be giving out samples so make sure you grab a bag when you walk into the show. It’ll come in handy to put the samples or your purchases in. Most booths have some sort of giveaway or list to sign up for more information. It can take a lot of time to fill out each card, if you want to be very organized, print your full name and full mailing address on a label. Then at each booth you can just peel and stick your information on their card minimizing the time you spend filling out the same information over and over.
Join in the fun on Thursday April 14th from 9pm-10pm to win some tickets and great prizes!
Plan your visit!
Location: The International Centre, Hall 5, 6900 Airport Road, Mississauga, ON
Date and Times:
Friday April 22nd 2016 : 10am – 6pm
Saturday April 23rd 2016: 10am-6pm
Sunday April 24th 2016: 10am-6pm
Parking is free!
Be sure to connect with The BabyTime Show on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
Win it!!
Two lucky Ontario readers will win 2 tickets each to attend The BabyTime Show from April 22-24, 2016 at the International Centre. Please note the prize is the tickets only. Travel to and from the show plus any other costs incurred are the responsibility of the winners.
I would love to see baby boo bamboo and some hand made stuff and such other exhibitors
i dont have a particular one but i always like to check out all the newest baby gears!
winnie b is my contest name
I am interested in learning more about Flexitol. My friend’s kids suffer a lot from eczema and I love to hear about new products that might help!
Honestly, all of them!
I’m excited to learn more about new products!
We are expecting our second baby in May, so will definitely be checking out all the stroller vendors.
I want to check out registry at babies r us!
Boiron Laboratories
Super excited to see Boo Bamboo Baby at the show. I love their products so much!
Looking forward to going to the Bébé Perla booth and Gummy Gemms! Great not only for me in the next few months, but my niece who is currently teething!
I am excited to see Babies R Us
dear born baby and all other new baby products.
I am looking forward to see Helping Hands Doula to meet their sleep expert!