My knowledge of babies and giving birth was definitely not where it needed to be when I found out I was having Maxwell. To be honest, I didn’t even know how many centimetres I had to be dilated to give birth until I was almost at the end of my pregnancy. A fact that I am not proud of. So you can only imagine how little I knew about what’s hot and trending in the baby world. Since becoming a mom, I have been relying heavily on friends and the other mom’s in the IG community to help put me on to all the things I needed to get me through the initial stages of motherhood.

For those first time mom’s and dazed & confused dad’s, “The BabyTime Show” is the perfect place for you to discover the amazing products out there for prenatal, babies and tiny tots all under one roof. Presented by Babies R’ Us, the show lands in Toronto on November 10-12th and will feature more than 200 exhibitors showcasing new and innovative products. My girl and ET Canada Host Cheryl Hickey will also be on hand as a guest speaker with other experts, the Healthy Mom’s Fall Marketplace will be set up focusing on eco-friendly products for those families that are into living a green lifestyle and a “Mommy and Me” pre/post natal yoga session, plus much more. And if you’re not expecting and have already gone through the newborn and baby phase, there is still tons for you too. Kids can meet their favourite Paw Patrol and Hachimal friends, sing and dance on the Toddler Time Stage with Bob the Builder and crawling babies can enter the Diaper Derby for a chance to win prizes.

Those attending the show will have different things they are interested in learning more about and I am certain some may discover something new for themselves or their little one that they didn’t even know existed. For me, the show will be about finding products and services that will help make my life easier as a very busy mom on-the-go.

We all have our own feeding preferences for our bubs and there is no right or wrong way. My decision has been to breast feed, even though I had great difficulties with it in the beginning. Continuing to work and still wanting to feed her breast milk means that I have had to acquire an adequate breast pump. Making that step was important so I can  pump out a substantial amount of milk to help Max get by while I am away at meetings and shoots. I had a manual hand pump for light expressing early on to relieve myself of breast engorgement or to pump small amounts of milk but I have just upgraded to the new Sonata by Medela who just happens to be one of the show’s exhibitors. This double electric pump is smart, quiet and SUPER responsive. The personalization features is what had originally piqued my interest. The Sonata (now available in Canada) connects to the MyMedela app, so I can do real-time tracking of Maxwell’s growth, my pumping sessions and access to tons of evidence based lactation info all on my personalized pumping dashboard. Went a little crazy with the accessories but we figured – go big or go home.

Shop My Fave Medela Products Here

And if it wasn’t for shows like this, I would have never discovered other great products like Sleepbelt, a hands free skin-to-skin system. Maxie and I LOVE it and it’s made right here in Canada. It’s the perfect thing for the 4th trimester to help make your baby feel safe and secure outside the womb during those first few months. Not only does it create a comfy place for your bub to sleep skin-to-skin (0-3 months), but as they get older, the Sleepbelt can be used forward facing while the baby sits on your lap (when baby has full head/neck control) and as a gentle chair support (when baby can sit unassisted).

JOIN ME FOR “MOMMY and ME” YOGA ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11TH

Maxie and I will be attending our very first yoga class together on the second day of the show, which will be lead by Laura Wood, Founder of & She Moves Yoga Studio. She will be sharing the importance of exercise during pre, during and post baby and lead the group through a gentle flow with our littles. Class is scheduled to take place before the doors open to the public on Saturday November 11th. Space is extremely limited and open on a first come, first serve basis and we hope to see you guys there. *Class participation allows for free attendance to the show that day.

Photos by Jess Baumung

The BabyTime Show Presented By Babies R’ Us at Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Bldg. 225 Front St 

Dates & Times:          November 10-12th, 2017  from 10AM – 6PM

Cost:                            Parents/Friends ($17)   Grandparents ($10)    Children Under 10 FREE

Parking Available On Site