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The Ultimate Guide to MommyCon

February 24, 2017

The first MommyCon of 2017 is fast approaching, right here in its hometown of Chicago. This year’s mega conference is set to be one of the largest in the world - 3 days featuring 36 educational seminars and workshops, and 30,000 square feet of exhibition space showcasing the latest parenting products and fashions. Topics covered include babywearing, birth, breastfeeding, cloth diapering, car seat safety, natural health and medicine, baby gear, child-proofing and more.

What makes this year’s event so unique is that it combines the programming of MommyCon with its sister series, WEAR: A Babywearing Conference, into one multi-conference.

If you haven’t been to MommyCon before, you are in for a treat. However, with so much going on, you may need help maximizing your time there. Here are MacKids’s top 5 tips for getting the most out of your MommyCon experience -

Plan Ahead of Time!

We recommend your look at the conference schedule a head of time to plan out what sessions and workshops you would like to attend. You may find there are some workshops that conflict in timings - session hopping is totally acceptable so don’t be afraid to jump in and out of different sessions as you see fit.

MommyCon Is All About Community!

MommyCon is a great place to network and meet other like-minded parents. Even if you attend alone, you are bound to meet and chat with other people. We recommend you bring a few networking cards with your name, email, telephone number, kids names, ages, and city. This way you are able to reconnect with everyone you meet at a later date. MommyCon playdate anyone?!

Also don’t forget to join the MommyCon community online before and after the event. This is a great way to extend relationships and continue conversations started at the conference.

Take Notes

Mom brain and pregnancy brain is real! There is so much to learn and absorb at MommyCon you are bound to forget vital pieces of information. Bring a pen and notepad and also don’t be afraid to approach speakers afterwards to ask more in-depth questions.

Remember MommyCon Is For Everyone

MommyCon is such an inclusive environment that everyone is welcome. Bring the whole family (even grandma and grandpa) and make the most of the family play areas with your little ones. There will also be a feeding lounge for moms needing a quiet space to feed their little ones a bottle, breast or even pump. There are electrical outlets available as well as a small refrigerator to store your pumped milk.



Make Time To Shop!

If you’re a shopaholic then you will spend hours in the exhibitor hall at MommyCon. Make time in your schedule to wander around, ask vendors questions, and try products. You may even want to make a list of things you want beforehand so you can stay focused. Serious retail therapy heaven!

MommyCon takes place at the Donald E Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont from March 3rd - 5th 2017. To book tickets visit www.mommycon.com.