The Baby Show

[PhoenixSTL]

Hi all,

I wondered if anyone had experience of going to one of the Baby Shows? My partner and I are thinking of going to the Birmingham one in May, but aren't sure whether the show deals that we might pick up will be worth waiting for, or whether we should just go for any good bundles that we see now. Any advice or past experience would be helpful!

Our baby is due end of July, so I'm also not sure if we'll be leaving it too long to pick up the big purchases.

Many thanks in advance!

Firstly congrats! We went during my first pregnancy didn't really buy much but gave us chance to look at prams without feeling so much pressure as one on one in the shops. I was really excited and I remember feeling really disappointed tbh.

I went to few, in London and Birmingham..I always enjoyed going and had a good day out. If you want to buy bigger/more expensive items I would advise to go on last day, lots of exhibitors will be selling display items, furniture, travel systems and you can really get a fab bargain if you don't mind ex display and you are prepared to take it with you on the day. I bought a mamas and papas full travel system like this which was £699 online on that day and I got it for £220 there on the last day of the Baby show. Lots of extras with it, whatever is there on the day it's yours. You just need to take it there and then and wait toward the end of day before they close. I always enjoyed all the freebies and samples in general.

I went to the baby show in Manchester yesterday. We got free tickets with an online code and I'm glad I didn't pay! It was exciting going and nice to look at products and had a few pram demos but overall I was abit disappointed. Some of the stuff I had seen other people get from there (bottle sets, steriliser etc with good deals) were not available. We paid the £5 for the goodie bag which again when I've seen previous years people have got loads of stuff (nappies etc) was abit rubbish - got a dummy, a bottle and some hand sanitiser!

we did buy a swing/seat, play mat/tummy time mat, feeding pillow and wrap carrier. Then we went to boots for the steriliser and bottles. X

I went to the Baby Show in Birmingham when I was pregnant with my first. Had a great time looking at and playing with all the prams. Enjoyed all the freebies too. I probably got too overexcited and bought far more on the day than I should have (pram + carseat, carrier, rocker seat, cot, change mat, BF pillow, pregnancy pillow, cold water steriliser, steam steriliser, and other stuff I've no doubt forgotten), but it was so much fun. Some of those purchases are regretted, but we have used it all at some point. Even if only once or twice.

We went to the baby show in Manchester yesterday also, and I enjoyed it! It was good to see so much stuff all under one rough and we did purchase our travel system yesterday. We mainly went in the hopes of seeing a lot of prams all under one roof, and luckily we saw what we were after, but I also don’t think there was a huge variety! We bought our tickets at full price a couple of months ago so was a bit annoying when they started offering them out for free but oh well! And we bought the goody bag also which I agree with @wishuponastar1988 it was a bit underwhelming!

@wishuponastar1988

I went to the baby show in Manchester yesterday. We got free tickets with an online code and I'm glad I didn't pay! It was exciting going and nice to look at products and had a few pram demos but overall I was abit disappointed. Some of the stuff I had seen other people get from there (bottle sets, steriliser etc with good deals) were not available. We paid the £5 for the goodie bag which again when I've seen previous years people have got loads of stuff (nappies etc) was abit rubbish - got a dummy, a bottle and some hand sanitiser!

we did buy a swing/seat, play mat/tummy time mat, feeding pillow and wrap carrier. Then we went to boots for the steriliser and bottles. X

I went to that too and I'm just as disappointed as you! Omg the £5 good bag is an absolute joke! I've complained 😂 this is what you should get apparently.. it was shit and wouldn't be going again haha

@MissM94 I'm glad it wasn't just me! I was expecting to come out with loads of stuff but we didn't! Other people who I've seen go have got the steriliser/bottle sets dead cheap but I didn't see any really other than one brand which were dead expensive! I thought there was more than one hall with stuff in so said to my partner we would go find it, walked out and then realised there wasn't another room and that was it! Just pleased we didn't pay per ticket! I will complain too - what a rip off and I'm gutted about my goodie bag!

May to July is loads of time. I'd hold off, unless you see something really good, until you see the deals there and if nothing good then buy elsewhere.

Definitely do research before you go rather than being swayed on the day, go with an idea of what you want. I found it helpful to make a model/feature shortlist with high price (buy these if they go on mega discount or find second hand) medium price (if seen at good discount new) and lower price (if I don't find anything better, I'll be happy with this bought at the last minute at full price) options.

The stroller workshop is a great YouTube channel for help deciding. Definitely look up your nearest independent nursery store too. They tend to be much better than Smyth's etc.

@MissM94 where did you find this list?! I literally got 4 of the things on the list. I’m going to complain also, is it done via their website?

@wishuponastar1988 yeah! I can't believe they charge for these events, so glad I got the ticket for free but so annoyed about the goodie bag! babyandtoddlershow.co.uk/contact/ I did it through that and emailed Ellie the sales exec, haven't heard anything back yet though 😂

@Coco9910 so it was on this: www.madeformums.com/news/madeformums-goody-bag-what-do-you-get-inside/ it's from the London one but surely it shouldn't be different if it's the same brand of show! Yeah I literally got a mam bottle and soother, the aveeno baby mini cream & some veggie stock cubes!

@Coco9910 sorry I clicked on this: go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=babyandtoddlershow.co.uk/contact/ and emailed Ellie

Thanks for all the honest reviews, really useful for my partner and I!