Baby and Toddler Show, Manchester - worth going?

[RedPandaFluff]

Hi everyone - I'm 27 weeks pregnant and starting to look at pushchairs etc. I saw that the Baby and Toddler Show in Manchester is on this weekend and wondered if any of you have been to this in previous years, and if so, is it worth it?

The aim would be to get a good deal on a pram (hopefully an Egg), car seat and maybe some other bits and pieces.

But if it's not great I'd rather not bother - as much as I'm thrilled and happy to be having a baby, this doesn't appeal to me as a great day out :-)

Is it the one at the trafford centre? I went to one there. (This was 5 years ago) we walked round it in under an hour. Although I did buy my nursery furniture.

It might be bigger by now.
I found that the stall holders where all really helpful. You got to have a really good luck at the products at your own pace.

Also it was my idea of hell. But it was tolerable. But that could have been the lunch out afterwards.

Hi @BeerMyHold - yes, it's at Eventcity at the Trafford Centre. Totally agree that it's not my usual idea of a fun Saturday 😄

It depends what you're looking for. I went to a baby event (although it wasn't the Manchester one but I'm guessing they're all the same) but I went to get a free car seat with the pram purchase cause I'd heard this is the offer that they do a lot. It was also good to see the different prams properly but that's all we bothered with really

A day trip to winstanleys pramworld will probably get you a better deal. They had a free carseat with a pram offer not too long ago.

Second Winstanleys, we live in Stoke so got ours from there but I understand Wigan is much bigger.

Op I've not been but I am going got tickets weeks ago so I'm hoping it's worth it

If you are wanting to go I think there's codes for free tickets, I'm off on Sunday

Oh I've been to ask Winstanleys! They did seem to have good offers, but we didn't really know what we were looking at 😆

Free, you say, @DaisyMay25?! I've googled but can't find any; maybe those have expired.

I got free tickets for the Sunday also, I’ll see if I can find the code! We already have our pram (from Wistanleys!!) but I’m keen to have a good look at the car seats at the show. And maybe nab some freebies!

Found it - code for free tickets is EDM20 :)

@RedPandaFluff there's s list of offers on the site too, I know the MAM stall (possibly D10) is giving out a free bottle and dummy

I went to the Birmingham one when I was pregnant and enjoyed myself a lot, it was a fun day out. If you like shopping and looking at baby bits you'll probably enjoy it. I'd go with a girl friend/sister/mum though rather than DH unless he is similarly thrilled with shopping though.

IME the discounts aren't massively better than online, but if there's a specific high cost item you have your eye on it's well worth looking. Sometimes you will get a better discount.

There are a good amount of freebies as you go around too although take everything with a pinch of salt - they are trying to sell you their products.

Doh I just read your OP properly - if you don't want to do it as a day out, don't bother. You're not likely to know what you're looking at any more here than the shop, and at that shop at least you can pick a not very busy time and ask someone for advice.

@MrsEG I got free tickets for the Saturday using that code - brilliant, thank you so much! You saved us £20!

Thanks @DaisyMay25 - will have a look and prioritise the freebies 😄

@BertieBotts - neither of us particularly like shopping but now that we have the free tickets, we won't feel bad about exiting pronto if it's a nightmare!

It's only worth going if you have got the free tickets.
The stands for furniture and prams are all run by baby planet not the actual companies who make the prams (apart from mamas and papas).
I'd get there as early as possible as they let far too many people in and getting down the aisles is a nightmare.
Oh and don't get conned into a £35 snugglebundl, most pointless thing I've ever bought!

Good to know, @Ponchie, thanks - but I just googled snugglbundl and it looks like a really good idea 😆

Thank you so much to the person who posted the free ticket code! :)