It’s no secret that the Toronto BabyTime Show is one of my favourite parenting events to attend. I first attended in the Spring of 2010, when I was expecting Lilly and have headed back down (a 2 hour drive – totally worth it!) many times since.

This past fall, I took my family with me to the BabyTime Show for the first time. Lilly had a complete blast at all the fantastic interactive booths that vendors had set up. Unfortunately, with my hubby working next weekend, I will be leaving her at preschool. However, I will be heading down with my newborn son, Cole. I am very excited to be one of the many cute baby-wearing Mamas walking around the show floor

Lilly and Daddy having fun at Sony Canada booth at Fall 2013 BabyTime Show in Toronto.

Looking through the exhibitor list for the show, it is easy to see that you have the opportunity to connect with many major brands at this event. The BabyTime Show gives you a unique chance to really see, touch and try products for you and your family, as well as allow you to ask questions and get information directly from the brands.

One aspect of this experience that I love the most is finding great innovative products and meeting up and coming companies that you can support. In many cases, you can discover amazing and unique products that you would never find at a big box store, and they are created by fellow parents who saw a need and got creative. I truly love the chance to get to know and support these parenting entrepreneurs.

When I attended the show in the Fall, I was on the lookout for a few products specifically for pregnancy. Now that I am the proud owner of a shiny and adorable newborn, I am looking for some innovative baby gear and a few unique items that will be distinctly Cole’s, just as I did after Lilly was born. Many of the products I discovered for her are still ones I recommend to fellow new mamas now.

This gorgeous organic Sleep Bag from Wee Urban is one of the innovative must-haves I discovered at the Fall 2010 BabyTime Show, after Lilly was born.

At this year’s show, there are a few specific vendors and key new products that I have my eye on. Being a busy mom of two, I am looking for products that can make my life a little easier!

Bug In A Rug will be offering a very sweet Sleep Belt that is designed specifically for skin-to-skin support. My new little man definitely loves his time napping on Mama, so I love the idea of being able to hold him while still having my hands free.

Cub’s Quarters makes a very innovative product called QuickZip crib sheets. These sheets include a zipper base and top sheets that simply zip into place. While Cole is not yet sleeping in his crib, I can imagine how nice it would be to not have to lift a mattress to change sheets in the middle of the night…

Lil Bugs is a new company that has launched an adorable way to celebrate your baby’s first year. The offer monthly onsies that can be later stored into a keepsake box, complete with cards to capture all the milestones accomplished that month. This is one I am definitely excited to try out.

About the BabyTime Show

The 16th Annual Spring BabyTime Show – The Ultimate Event For Pregnancy, Birth, Baby and Toddler
Show, Learn and Have Fun all Within One Vibrant Place Celebrating Parenthood

• SHOP! TRY & BUY from over 250 Manufacturers, Retailers and Artisans.
• REGISTER for all your baby needs with Babies “R”Us.
• TALK TO THE EXPERTS behind your favourite brands and take advantage of great show specials.
• LEARN from Top Pregnancy and Parenting Experts. Click on the Speakers tab to read up on the experts.
• MEET AND GREET your favourite characters. This year, the show’s celebrity line up includes Dora, Wonder Pets, Guess with Jess, Olivia and Blue’s Clues.

Want to get in on the excitement and goodies for FREE? Enter to win 1 of 2 pairs of tickets I am giving away!

Increase your chances to WIN!
Head on over to visit Multi-testing Mommy and Little Miss Kate to enter to win Prize Packs and Tickets!

Disclosure: I am a media partner of the Toronto BabyTime Show and received tickets to attend the event. All opinions in this post & related marketing for the event are my own.

The post Innovative Finds at the BabyTime Show Toronto – Giveaway appeared first on Ideally speaking....

My media assistant and I dressed for a day of fun!

Lilly and Daddy having fun at Sony Canada booth at BabyTime Show.

Exploring the toys at Simply Green Baby booth at Toronto BabyTime Show

Lilly and Daddy spent A LOT of time at the Fisher-Price play station.

Lego had one impressive setup at their play station.

I think if she could have, Lilly would have taken home this giant Ponyville mural for her bedroom. Play-Doh had a My Little Pony theme all day!

As a media partner for the event, Sony Canada gave me the opportunity to test drive one of their many gadgets for the weekend. When my contact at Sony described the QX Smartphone Attachable Camera, I knew I had found my soul mate… Anyone who knows me knows I am a tech junkie and I love my phone. As a busy mom, the idea that my phone can also be a very powerful, fully loaded digital camera really appealed to me. This baby has 18MP, 10x optical zoom, 1080p HD video recording and saves directly to your phone’s memory. It was amazing & is responsible for the majority of the photos taken above.

LOVE. THIS. CAMERA.

I already can’t wait for the spring BabyTime Show that comes around in April. By then, I will have a brand new baby as a super cute accessory

The post #WordlessWednesday with linky: Fun at Toronto BabyTime Show! appeared first on Ideally speaking....

I first attended the BabyTime Show when I was about 5 months pregnant with Lilly. I remember walking in and feeling immediately awe-struck and a little overwhelmed. I have been in corporate marketing for almost 10 years and have attended and/or exhibited at my fair share of trade and consumer shows. However, this was unlike anything I had seen before. There was hundreds of vendors, offering everything you could possibly need for your pregnancy and little one.

Baby Time Show, Spring 2010 – The first time I ever attended.
(photo: Baby Time Show Facebook Page)

I ventured in and got lost in the excitement of it all for the next 3 hours! I was a little exhausted by the end of it, but it was completely worth it. I walked out with a huge bag of goodies and a heap of new mama knowledge.

I have since headed back down for the show many times, but I am particularly excited to head down next weekend. This time, I am heading back down as a pregnant mama and I am bringing the family with me. I can’t wait to see Lilly’s face when she walks into that giant hall.

About the BabyTime Show

The 9th Annual Fall BabyTime Show – The Ultimate Event For Pregnancy, Birth, Baby and Toddler
Show, Learn and Have Fun all Within One Vibrant Place Celebrating Parenthood

• SHOP! TRY & BUY from over 250 Manufacturers, Retailers and Artisans.
• REGISTER for all your baby needs with Babies “R”Us.
• TALK TO THE EXPERTS behind your favourite brands and take advantage of great show specials.
• LEARN from Top Pregnancy and Parenting Experts.  Click on the Speakers tab to read up on the experts.
• MEET AND GREET your favourite characters. This year, the show welcomes Barney & Friends, Bob the Builder and Angelina Ballerina!

Want to get in on the excitement and goodies for FREE? Enter to win 1 of 6 pairs of tickets I am giving away!
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I am also giving away two AMAZING prize packs!

Prize Pack 1 – courtesy of the Babies”R”Us

1x Tommee Tippee Prize Pack (over $50 value)
1x $50 Babies”R”Us Gift Card
2x Passes to the Baby Shower (note the shower is for new moms and expectant moms only. Guests will not be permitted)

Baby Shower information:
It’s a Baby Bump-A-Palooza! Babies“R”Us hosts Four Big Baby Showers at the Toronto Baby Time Show

Craving a bowl of ice cream and pickles? On Friday, November 8, Babies“R”Us is treating 400 hundred soon-to-be and new moms to a luxurious baby shower complete with massages, crave food stations and giveaways. ”R” Big Baby Showers will run every hour, starting at 11:00 a.m and concluding at 3:45 p.m Each shower will be attended by 100 new moms and pregnant women  with their baby bumps! New and expectant mothers can also check out the must-have gear for travelling with baby, top items for their baby registries, cool accessories for their nurseries, and take part in cool baby shower games such as a Biggest Bump contest.

When: Friday, November 8, 2013
11:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
*Sessions to run every hour from 11:00 a.m.
Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Room 201

PRIZE PACK 2:  courtesy of Kidomo

My Little Pony & Play-Doh Prize Pack! ($50 Retail Value)

Don’t Miss MY LITTLE PONY Live  at the Toronto BabyTime Show!
Friday, November 8, Saturday, November 9 & Sunday, November 10, 2013
Two Shows Daily – 11:30 am & 1:30 pm
Come early and visit the Play-Doh Play Centre!

I have to say, I am super excited about the My Little Pony shows at the Play-Doh Center! For anyone who is a regular on this blog, you know I have a 3 year old horse fanatic on my hands. You can guess that ponies fall well into that category obsession as well! She is going to lose her mind when she sees this

To enter for one of these incredible prize packs, simply leave a comment saying which one you would love to get your hands on. Deadline to enter is Wednesday, November 6th at 10:00pm EST. I will be selecting and contacting the winners on Thursday, November 7th. NOTE: Prize packs will be available for pick up at the show.

Now, this will be the first time my husband ever braves this show. I have dragged him to the odd local baby show up here before, but nothing nearly this size…

Ideally speaking, he is going to love it (or at least the goodies) as much as I do and I won’t lose him in the crowd!

Increase your chances to WIN!
Head on over to visit Multi-testing Mommy and Little Miss Kate to enter to win Prize Packs and Tickets!

Disclosure:  I am a media partner of the Toronto BabyTime Show and received tickets to attend the event.  All opinions in this post & related marketing for the event are my own.

The post Toronto BabyTime Show Tickets and Giveaway! appeared first on Ideally speaking....