The Baby Show – Birmingham
Did anyone visit Birminghams’ NEC this weekend? If you did, we’d love to know what you thought of The Baby Show! Sponsored by Fisher Price, it’s a great way to find out more information and pick up some great products. Aimed at both nervous soon-to-be & experienced parents, you’ll have been able to see pretty much all the products and services available on the market, as well as get some much needed advice.
Professor Robert Winston was on hand as the headline speaker for Birmingham – you’ll probably recognise him from his award winning TV programmes, including Child of Our Time (not to mention his impressive moustache!) Professor Winston has been busy – as well as speaking at the event, he has, with The Essential Parent Company, produced a collection of DVDs to advise parents about the incredible journey of their baby’s first year. You can find some more info here.
With a full agenda of events takings place over the 3 days, the Prima Baby and Pregnancy Stage was our one to watch:
• Jo Tatum and the UK’s leading sleep experts, Sleepytime Secrets, were giving advice that every parent craves – definitely not one to miss.
• Clare Byam-Cook was on hand to give some great breastfeeding advice, including how to cope with difficult feeders.
• Annabel Karmel offered some nutritional and weaning advice, including the importance of introducing a balanced diet early in your LO’s life.
• Speech therapist Nicola Lathey presented on ways to boost speech and language from birth, with top tips to encourage babies to babble in preparation for their first words and beyond.
• Disney’s Mum of the Year, Michelle Heaton, took to the stage to demonstrate routines from her Active Pregnancy DVD (launched at the show.)
Every routine is tailored to each trimester of pregnancy providing an enjoyable but varied workout.
Like any show worth its salt, you’ll have been able to “try before you buy” most of the products available, as well as get some great discounts, promotions, competitions and some fab freebies. Mam UK were giving away anti-colic bottles & Fisher Price gave away a First Steps Jumperoo on every day of the show! The latest in the super popular Jumperoo range, it’s an amalgamation of a bouncer and a walker and has been launched to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the range.
The “Activity Zone” was filled with cool things to do to entertain both children and adults. There were sessions hosted by Diddidance, as well as workshops on baby sensory development, as well as interactive and educational activities in the VTech Smart Play Zone. You even got the chance to meet Wallace and Gromit (something we know you’ve been just dying to do all your life…)!
Aside from the baby focus, the latest trends in maternity wear had their chance to shine (although unfortunately we weren’t there!) and the catwalk fashion shows were a huge success.
If you missed the Birmingham show, London’s Olympia will be hosting the next Baby Show event from 24-26th October 2014 – let us know if you’re thinking about heading down!