Last week I (Andi) went to the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas. It is the largest annual baby business trade show in the world, and it housed thousands of exhibitors. I went as a guest with no real ties to any business. I basically spent the four trade show days wandering around meeting old friends, new friends, and talking more than I ever have. I used to own a baby business a long time ago, so it was awesome being able to catch up with some of my old suppliers. So I tended to rotate through my various roles of former business owner, babywearing educator, and birth doula.
I used the opportunity to connect with some of our current lending library sponsors, and also build some new relationships with new sponsors. The lending library grew by four carriers after the ABC Kids Expo, including an Onya, Tula standard, Beco ring sling, and a Twingaroo carrier. I cannot express the amount of gratitude I have for the businesses and the individuals that put their faith in me and donated a carrier, thank you.
I also met some wonderful people within the babywearing community who continually inspire me with their knowledge, compassion, and overall radness. At the BCIA meeting I think we all bonded over being awkward, and that is okay… because really, the world would be pretty boring without some rad awkward folk to liven things up a bit. So here’s a cheers to the strong women and men that lead the babywearing industry today and who started it eons ago, and to those who continue to spread the babywearing love with every awkward conversation they have (cough cough… BCIA meeting).
Jillian from PaxBaby ^^
Colleen from Wrapsody, who is indeed the most awkward of them all. But definitely my favourite brand of awkward. xoxo
Lindsay and I with Julie from Beco (who is rad BTW) and Jessica of The Leaky Boob.
So now as promised, I have a giveaway for you! Basically, while I was wandering around, I noticed all the awesome swag that businesses were giving away, so I started approaching them and telling them about my idea for a giveaway. I decided to make a Mother of all Swag Bags giveaway, full of all sorts of goodies that were only available at the expo, and then some.
So without further ado, here is what is included in the swag bag:
- Expo bag full of everything that came inside the bag at the Expo
- Molly’s Suds Cloth Diaper detergent
- Peas in a Pod gift set
- Head wrap from Wrapsody Baby
- Babywearing bumper stickers
- Moby Klean Kanteen cup
- Fingerless knit gloves by Moby
- Exclusive Moby bracelets
- KangaCare TokiDoki buttons and “Frenzies” – whoever wins must tell me which Frenzie they get
- PlanetWise wet/dry bag AND snack size bag
- Beco Koozie (what what?!)
- Wean Green container with jelly beans
- BumGenius pen and chap stick
- TULA bunny made out of their newly released blanket!! (this is soooo soft!)
- beads from Fremont Street 😉
- and more!!
Click the image below to enter the giveaway!
Good luck, and please share this giveaway with all your friends! Giveaway is open to Canadian and U.S. residents.
Babywearing Calgary 
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This is awesome! The Lending Library donations are amazing 🙂 I didn’t even know Becco made a RS!
Awesome giveaway!
I would have loved to have gone to the ABC expo one for the experience and two to see all the amazing things there are too see, especially The Baby Guy NYC aka Jamie Greyson!!! How cool would that have been?!
So many reasons why I would have loved to be there. Meeting The Baby Guy, all those pretties. The list goes on.
So glad you had fun! It’s great to see so many awesome vendors in one place, and to see all their goodies (especially the new up and coming) how cool is that!!
Looks like you had a blast! I never knew such an expo existed but I should have…I’d have loved looking at all the new and hot baby stuff and I’d probably have to be dragged away from the gorgeous new Tula blankets!
It sounds like your time there was a blast, I’m extremely jealous! Who wouldn’t want to go? It would be a great experience being around like minded people and who doesn’t love new baby swag? Fingers crossed on this one!
I would have loved to have gone and learned so much more about baby wearing. I’m still rather new to it but love it so much already
Would live to have gone to ABC kids expo because I just started a blog!
Awesome!!
Great giveaway! I wish I could have gone and looked at all the pretties myself!
I would have loved to see and try a whole bunch of different products at the ABC kids show!
I would have loved to go to the ABC Expo! I just launched my blog and baby gear is one of my favourite subjects. It would have been awesome to see what the next big thing will be!
Looks super cool Andi! Would have loved to go to get sneak peeks of all the swag 🙂
Looks so awesome Andi! Would have loved to go to get sneak peeks of all the swag 🙂
Would loved to have been there to see, touch, and try all those great carriers!
Would love to go to enter all the giveaways!!! And for the swag bag! And to try ALL the carriers!
Great giveaway! Thanks Andi and BWC!
I would love to have gone to ABC to see all the amazing new products!
Would have loved to be there to see all the new stuff! Just exciting to see and be able to try them on.
Wow this is awesome!!
my other accounts are @danayyc 🙂
ABC Kids Expo sounds amazing and so does this giveaway!
Amazing giveaway! Would’ve love to have visited with all the vendors at the expo! Looks like you had a blast!
I would have loved to go to the expo to see all the cool new baby things coming out.
Love how much you do for our local babywearing community!
I would have loved to go because I’m kind of obsessed with everything baby related…all the new gadgets and gizmos. Plus, number three is on the way. Shhhhh…We haven’t really told anyone yet.
So awesome! I thought I had commented, but I’m not sure it actually went through. I’m obsessed with baby things…all the new products, clothes, etc. I’ve never had a chance to go to an expo though. That would be amazing. We’re also expecting our third, but shhh, we haven’t told very many people yet.
Awesome giveaway! I would love to go to ABC one years just to drool over all the cool new baby things! !
Looks like it was so much fun!
What a great opportunity! And some great carriers for the library. I would have loved to see the new kids stuff coming out and see what would work well for my kiddos and the kids I work with.
I would have loved to see so many like minded people in one place
I wouldve loved to have gone to the expo to learn more about tandem wearing!
I would have loved to see everything baby and kid related at the expo. As a FTM I am always learning new things and I loved seeing posts about some of the amazing things that were shown there.
freat giveaway!!
Very exciting!
i would have loved to go to abc. To see all the new baby items!!?
So many of my favourite manufacturers in one place; it would have been amazing to be at the show I’m sure!
I would have loved to have gone to try on all the carriers!
Thanks Andi! Awesome stuff 😊
I would have loved to go to the ABC kid’s expo. Looks like it was fun. I had never heard of it before.
I would have loved to have gone to the ABC expo to see all of the unique products! I love seeing things that people have come up with to solve the common problems we have as parents of young children! So many great ideas out there…
Uhhh, Vegas + kids/baby gear expo = way too much fun! That’s why I’d love to go! Watching all the videos and reading all the blogs from attendees made me super jealous!
Amazing giveaway! I’m definitely going to this next year!
Wow, im so mew to the babywearing community i didnt even know there were things like the ABC expo. Im learning new things everyday. So exciting!!!
I would have loved to go to the ABC Kids expo to meet all of my favorite vendors…especially baby Tula!
I looooooove the ABC Show and miss attending it! I may of been stalking your IG photos to check out all the cool stuff 🙂
Who doesn’t wish they were at ABC?!
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