Who should attend Baby Fairs?

This is definitely for parents-to-be and those who already are parents. Not so for friends or family that wants to buy gifts for expecting parents etc. These fairs are very skewed towards expecting parents actually, be it your first baby, second or the tenth baby. As long as you are expecting, you may more or less need something from a baby fair.

Why should I attend Baby Fairs?

Baby Fairs have everything in one place, expanding from one to three exhibition halls. Everything from A-Z about the needs for your baby or as a parent (father/mother/caregiver), you can get it all in one place and at one go (or maybe split in a few days). From diapers to organic muslin to strollers (more to be mentioned later!) You don’t need to scramble from one mall to another just to find what you need i.e. going to Mothercare at Empire Shopping Mall, then making your way to Happikiddo at 1Utama or Babyland at Sunway Pyramid. Most of the main distributors will be setting up their booths there. Yes, I said, main distributors, not just shops. So, if you are looking for a car seat, you will have MANY brand distributors that have their booths ready with all sorts of car seat models to steal your heart and money.

Baby Fairs are FULL of discounts! Each booth has a pre-set of discount ready to welcome you! Because they have so many competitors all in one place, they will DEFINITELY give you some promotion/discount/free gifts for your purchase. Tell me, what is there not to love about a good bargain! You can even practice your negotiation skills and score a really GREAT deal!

With TCE Baby Expo, look out for their Star Buy and Cash Giveaway! If you have something you were eyeing on, check out their Star Buy to see if they are on offer and add it to your wishlist! Usually, items listed on Star Buy are Newly Launched Products or are discounted at a real bargain, so watch out for them!

When should I attend Baby Fairs?

When it first started, it was only organized on the weekends so parents can shop without having to miss work. Now, the big ones usually span over 3-4 days. With TCE Baby Expo, it starts from Thursday to Sunday. It is usually organized 4 times a year or in other words, every quarter to accommodate the different stages of parenthood.

Out of the 3-4 days, if you are aiming to get a Star Buy or the Cash Giveaway or free gifts, I would recommend to go on the FIRST day. The vendors will probably only release a few Star Buys each fair and on First-Come-First-Serve basis. Also, with your purchase, accumulated spending will entitle you to redeem free gifts or cash giveaways by the organizers. While all these are up for grabs, don’t forget you are competing with kiasu (scared-to-lose) parents. They don’t mind queuing early in the morning to be first, grab their wishlist items, redeem their free gifts or cash giveaways and be on their way. Butttt, if you are not too bothered about it, go on the first day, but don’t rush together with them in the morning. You can go in the afternoon after having lunch or towards the last few hours before it closes for the day where there are lesser people.

For parents expecting your first baby, I would recommend to go during your second trimester. This is because you are probably at your “honeymoon” stage. So, it is easier for you to move around and by now, after all the research you have done, you kind of know what you want/need to buy. The fair is going to be packed with people, so I wouldn’t recommend a third trimester big belly walking around finding for things and queuing to pay. It will be very strenuous.

Just a heads up, you could be spending a fair amount of 2-4 hours at the baby fair depending on the things on your wishlist.

What do I need to prepare before attending Baby Fairs?

Attending a major Baby Fair is like entering a war zone. It is packed with people so be prepared to queue to get attention at your desired booths, queue to pay, and queue to redeem your free gifts!

1. Outfit Check – wear something absolutely comfortable, easy to go to the toilet, comfortable shoes especially for mommies like sport shoes etc.
2. Bag – carry a small sling bag that is big enough to stash your credit cards, some cash, and able to put your receipts. You will need to keep your receipts to redeem your free gifts. So, put it all in one place!
3. Credit cards & e-wallets – when paying for your items, don’t forget to use either these two options. Make sure your limits are available and e-wallets are topped up to avoid delay. Receipts paid by Cash may not be eligible for free gift redemption. Anyway, spending with cards and e-wallets allow you to track your spending and earn points.
4. Trolley/Luggage Bag – highly recommended whether you are buying a lot of things or just picking up some items. You don’t need to be lunging it around while looking for things. Just stuff everything into the trolley/luggage bag and drag it around with you. Keep your hands free at all times so it’s easier for you and you don’t feel so flabbergasted and frustrated!
5. Water Bottle – bring a bottle of water with you just incase if you are thirsty and don’t want to spend there. However, if you are hungry or thirsty and didn’t bring any snacks or drinks with you, don’t worry! There will be food stalls that sell quick food, snacks, and drinks to fuel you up!
6. Powerbank – As we are so heavily reliant on our phones, this is a must if your phone batteries easily run out. You will be needing it to do registration, free gift redemptions, on-the-go research to see if Shopee/Lazada is cheaper, contacting your family/friends, taking photos of the items etc.
7. Wishlist – If you are going for the major one – TCE Baby, sign up for an account beforehand, check the brands that are participating in the fair, some items will already be on display in the website and you can add them into your wishlist. Use that to help you in your shopping!

Which Baby Fair should I attend?

There will be plenty to choose from and it will be all year round. I would recommend to go for the major ones in your city. For Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru, it will be TCE Baby. Major ones will cover most of the major distributors and brands while the mini baby fairs at your neighbourhood malls will only give you SOME brands and limited choices of products. Then, you will be finding yourself going for multiple baby fairs or even shopping at full price at shops in the mall. Not forgetting major ones give you better discounts too and free gifts too!

Mini baby fairs are good enough to pick up on-the-go items that you are running out. I must say some times mini baby fairs have local brands that you don’t find at major baby fairs due to the high rental. You can also get cheaper buys at mini baby fairs!

What should I buy at a Baby Fair?

You will be probably overwhelmed if it is your first time at a Baby Fair. I can remember the first time I went with my husband while I was at the early stage of my third trimester. These are the items we bought that we found super useful:

1. Diapers – we bought all sizes from Newborn up to XL from Applecrumby
2. Wet Wipes – my all-time-favourite Applecrumby wipes in 20’s and 80’s (I’m still using my stash from 3 years ago, that’s how much we bought!)
3. Maternity Pillow – bean bag like from Red Castle brand
4. Baby Laundry Detergent
5. Baby Bottles
6. Stroller – check out my preferred stroller at Top 5 Must-Buy Baby Items
7. Car Seat
8. Baby Carrier
9. UV Steriliser
10. Organic Muslin & Wash Cloths
11. Maternity bras for freehand pumping
12. Baby toiletries – cotton buds, wools, pads
13. Yu Yee Baby Oil
14. Baby pillow and swaddle – Baanyard
15. Thermoflask – Thermos

Other things you can look out for:

1. Baby cot
2. Cord Blood Bank
3. Confinement Herbs
4. Chiropractic treatments
5. Baby snacks – teethers, yoghurts, pre-packed porridge etc.
6. Baby toys – washable crayons, baby gyms, mats etc.
7. Baby feeding – utensils, bibs, plates, bottles etc.
8. Baby High chairs

Who should I go with to a Baby Fair?

The best scenario would be to go with your partner/spouse – someone who you are expecting a baby with. This is because the decision-makers have to be present. It is very difficult to shop on behalf of the decision maker because there will a variety of brands, models, colours to choose from. While the vendors may have limited stocks at the fair, you will need to decide there and then.

I went once with my mum and she loved it! Also, because she loves shopping for her other 5 grandkids. I dropped off my daughter at home with my dad, picked up my mum, and we had a great time shopping for the kids. You can find someone who shares the same enthusiasm as you about Baby Fairs. So, unless you have a bestfriend who is not a parent yet but is willing to go the distance to accompany you, get someone who is on the same page as you to go with you and can lend you a helping hand in decision making as well.

I highly do NOT recommend to bring babies or kids unless you really have no choice (I understand it is hard to find a babysitter). But it would be better if you could have your hands free and your mind has lesser worry on where your child is in the midst of shopping.