The Baby Show - Interviews with Trunki, Stokke, Close Parent, Smartipants & Pourty

The Baby Show at Birmingham NEC this year was brilliant, and to see so many more cloth nappy companies here compared to ExCeL was a positive thing for me, especially when I spoke to them and they all said how they got loads of interest so many thanks to The Baby Show and big cheer to all the brands who travelled far and wide to show their beautiful products off to the mums and mums-to-be*.

I had the chance to interview some of the companies today using the wonders of Audioboo to capture these. Check them all out if you haven't already!











Thank you for those who suffered the wrath of Petit Boy who kept running around and even decided during the Pourty interview to lay flat on the floor in people's way. Kids these days, right?!

*Dads were also around as were Grandmas but it is always down to what mummy thinks about a product, right girls? Mwahahaha!

The Baby Show - Top 10 Must-Have Baby Products

Top 10 must-haves at The Baby Show NEC
Innovative new products in abundance at parenting show

Taking place this weekend and now in its tenth year, The Baby Show remains shopping heaven for new mums and mums to-be.  Here, we share with you the ten hottest products at the show.

1. Bouncing fun with Fisher-Price

Baby will be bouncing around in delight in this gorgeous Jumperoo! With all the great features mum has come to expect, plus a new specially designed space-saving frame. With 360 degrees of fun, baby’s bounces will activate music, lights and rewards! Three-position height adjustments enable a custom fit and comfortable, safe bouncing fun for baby. Featuring a removable seat for cleaning, the Jumperoo folds for storage. Suitable when a baby can hold their head independently, this one-of-a-kind product is definitely one to check out with your little one! Usually £100, it’s £75 at the show!

2. Unique new car seat from Britax

Say hello to the new generation of car seats, with Britax’s brand new TRIFIX. The TRIFIX is the first seat to feature a revolutionary ISOFIX + installation system providing complete and unrivalled protection for your little one. It combines three unique Britax technologies; the patented and proven pivot link ISOFIX system reduces the seats forward rotation, V-Tether controls  and absorbs frontal forces by adding a third anchorage point, New, wider, ISOFIX fixings further improve side impact protection.

3. Exclusive to the show, it’s the Marks & Spencer maternity range
Usually only available online, you can view this beautiful maternity range from Marks & Spencer at The Baby Show. There are some gorgeous v-neck dresses perfect for summer and flared and bootleg jeans that support and grow as you do.

4. Tasty new treats for your little one with Plum Baby
Take babies on a taste adventure with the new products from Plum. Organic baby food brand, Plum, is launching a new range of stage three (10+months) meals, enabling mini adventurers to taste flavours from around the world; no wok or paella pan required. Be sure to try the scrummy Mediterranean paella and salmon.

5. Carry in style with the My Carrier from Stokke
The new Stokke MyCarrier is a new unique 3 in 1 baby carrier that allows you to keep your baby close, maintaining your symbiotic harmony as your child grows. Adjustable and really easy to use Stokke® MyCarrier grows with your child adapting to their ever changing needs as they develop and grow.

6. Mothercare makes bathing easy

The Mothercare Aqua Pod is a unique extra long bath mat with a special support for your baby, and allows you to keep both hands free to wash your little one or join in bath time games.

7. New cotbed with Babies R Us makes the perfect sleep option

A Contemporary, fresh, brand new Cotbed from Babies R Us. With three mattress positions, two split ends for easy conversion into a toddler bed. Co-ordinates with Babies R Us Dresser, Wardrobe, Tall Boys and Storage / Toy Box, available in White or Antique. This was £199.99 but now at £129.99, great value!

8. iBaby Monitor allows you to keep a watchful eye

Wherever you are, the iBaby Monitor keeps your baby close with a simple swipe of your iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad! Innovative and most certainly a must-have for 2012, the iBaby Monitor is ideal for the modern mum, allowing you to immediately respond to your baby through two-way audio and one touch response. iBaby knows that babies move and traditional baby monitors don’t, the iBaby Monitor follows your little one with an up/down or left/right swipe of your iOS 4.0+ touch screen or click of your PC mouse.

9. Sit in style with the Baby Snug from Mamas & Papas

 The Baby Snug is the ideal first seat as it grows and adjusts with your baby and is ergonomically designed to provide support and comfort for your little one. It is also easy to clean and lightweight.

10. Want something a little different then look no further than Poco Nido
A gorgeous new range of clothing and footwear, this is perfect for those wanting something super sweet and different.  The shoes look like they have just come off this year’s catwalk, especially with the cat design!

For more information on The Baby Show log on to www.thebabyshow.co.uk.

WIN: Baby Show Tickets & Family Photo Shoot!!!

Win tickets to The Baby Show & Family Photo Shoot courtesy of Bumpkins!!

  

The UK’s most popular shopping event for parents and parents-to-be The Baby Show is back! To celebrate The Baby Show and Bumpkins have teamed up to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a photo shoot for the whole family to enjoy and two tickets to this year’s London ExCeL show running from the 24-26th February.

With 10 years experience of sourcing the best in baby and maternity products, The Baby Show is a unique shopping environment purposefully designed for mums-to-be and parents. There are over 250 must-have brands, including niche, designer products not yet available elsewhere, making it the perfect opportunity to test, try and compare before you buy and save money with exclusive offers. From product specialists to first class speakers, including two midwives from hit show One Born Every Minute, there is expert advice on hand to assist in decision making for you and your baby. With everything in one place you’ll be spoilt for choice at The Baby Show without the stress of the high street. For more information log on to www.thebabyshow.co.uk.

Bumpkins are experts in capturing family pictures. The expert team will be returning once more and offering you the most beautiful pictures. Bumpkins are also responsible for finding the face of The Baby Show, so be sure to visit them and get your little one photographed! For more information, log on to www.bumpkinbabies.com.

We are offering one lucky reader two tickets to The Baby Show and a family photo shoot at Bumpkins studio worth £50. Both prizes promise to make great days out for you and your family. To win, simply enter below with  Rafflecopter.

Winners for The Baby Show Tickets....

The winners are...

@littleboo_21

and

@Calvsmom

Congratulations and hope you have a fab time. If either of you are going on the Sunday I may see you there!

COMPETITION: Pair of Tickets to Manchester Baby Show

Back in May I went to The Baby Show at the NEC over here in Birmingham. I blogged about it mostly because not only did I have a fantastic time and met some lovely and very helpful people, but also because my son even had a great time too. He had a load of fun trying out the Happy Hopperz and the Fisher Price toys. I was mostly drawn to the pushchairs and highchairs and must admit if I had the cash on me that weekend I'd have gone home with a Fisher Price highchair and a Happy Hopperz animal, the chair being for my son and the Happy Hopperz for me... I mean for him!

Because we had such a blast at the Birmingham show this year I've got a pair of tickets to give away to my readers so you too can have a fun day out and get some amazing bargains - seriously I cannot stress this enough that the prices at the show are way better then you'll see in shops.

To Enter...

- Leave a comment here saying why you'd like to go to The Baby Show in Manchester (required)
- Tweet "I want to win @thebabyshow tickets with @petitmew" and a link to the competition (extra entry)
- Follow my blog with Google Reader (extra entry)

Please use a separate comment for each entry and leave a form of contact such as email or twitter name!

Maximum 3 entries!


Term & Conditions:
Closing Date for this competition is 30th August 2011 11:59pm.
Competition is open to UK and Ireland residents only.
Winner's name will be announced on here and on Twitter.
If the winner doesn't respond within 24 hours another winner will be picked.

The Baby Show @ NEC Birmingham

So Baby Al and I went to The Baby Show on the 20th til 22nd May at the NEC in Birmingham. I took loads of pictures of our time there and met so many people!

The Fisher Price stand had some toys out to try. We tried the Jumperoo, he liked it at first but then started to get upset and kept trying to cling to me. The other toy we tried was the Zebra, as you can see he loved it, if he could put his thumbs up he would have given this two thumbs up and a big grin for extra credit.

Smartipants stand had done very well and got to chat with Laura and Heidi. Very lovely ladies and got my hands on a Red Fire Engine Smartipants nappy. You can see it in the banner by their logo, so bright and funky.

Happy Hopperz also had a good weekend and sold out of every one and even sold the ones on show! Baby Al loved the red reindeer and when I got home on Sunday Gadget Dad asked me why did I not buy one. I guess I shall have to buy one another time!

Friday was a quiet day compared to Saturday and Sunday. We met up with Britax in our B-Smart 4 pushchair to help show people their product in use and a happy baby. Baby Al got a lot of attention from the very kind gentlemen working at the Britax stand. I hope they had a good weekend and meet them again soon.

Every day I brought along some fresh strawberries for Baby Al to enjoy, here he is in the brand new Fisher Price highchair which could find at some of the feeding areas. I was very impressed by it and found it to be soft and comfortable. 

We got to me many people including GeekMummy. Her husband (see above picture of a very busy man!) was working the whole weekend and brought along the Geekson who was an angel all day, very adorable! We also met Cafe Bebe, Mummy Matters, Choc Orange and Mama McCann... and many many more!

So what did we buy? Well I wanted to get hold of a Sophie la Girafe for my cousin who is giving birth soon and ended up with one for Alex as he fell in love with the squeaking she makes. I also bought a red Smartipants nappy and a few bits and bobs from Tommee Tippee as well, I'm a fan of their products so you can't keep me away from them. I wished I had bought one of the Happy Hopperz now but I guess I'll just grab one another time.

I'm considering going to the one in Manchester later in the year. It was a great show here in Birmingham and have not been to Manchester's show before. Earl's Court doesn't interest me in the slightest and would rather go to Manchester where I have family and maybe get to see my cousin's newborn baby.

Train Tables are Fun!

Or least Baby Al thinks they are.... I'm not a big fan myself!

Hope you all had a good weekend!

Dettol & The Baby Show in London

As I said in my last post we were invited to London by Dettol as well as given entry to The Baby Show in London's ExCeL Centre. We had a blast! Here's a few pictures for you to enjoy.

On our train down to London, Alex loved looking outside and watching the world go by at such a speed.

Showing us readings from usual kitchen areas such as the kettle and the fridge door.

We so need one of these mats for our wooden floor!

At Tommee Tippee's feeding area. He just loved the red Tripp Trapp from Strokke, and I did too!

Cuddledry's stall was busy and they were great at showing how their products work. Good job, ladies!

Stokke's main stall. I think I'm a fan of their Tripp Trapp after trying it out earlier.

Waiting for the DLR, time for a nap!

In First Class to New Street Station, sitting next to me eating melon and kiwi fruit. He loved the attention of the two men opposite us and the young couple behind us. He also kept offering the couple his Biscotti.