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Big City Moms - Boston's Biggest Baby Shower review

DM718DM718 member
in March 2015 Moms
Kris & I went to Boston's Biggest Baby Shower last night.  For anyone unfamiliar with this event, it's a bit of an expo put on by Big City Moms.  They've been putting these on in NYC for several years, and in a handful of other cities. This was their first event in Boston.

I thought I should post my thoughts on it, since it's an investment.

First, you have to decide what kind of ticket you want.  There were several levels - just attending, attending and getting a gift bag and shower gift (also available as a couple's ticket - 2 people, one gift bag), the SuperPass - giftbag, shower gift, a Lillebaby carrier, and early admission (also available for couples), and the Ultimate Pass - giftbag, Beco carrier, Britax stroller, shower gift, and admission for 2.

Since the event is passed, I can't look up the ticket prices any more, but the SuperPass was $100 for one, $150 for a couple, and the Ultimate Pass was $300.  Ultimate was sold out when we registered, and while I thought I may want the stroller that came with that, I think I want another stroller now. We decided to get 2 SuperPasses, vs. a couples pass - we figured that if we wanted, we could sell the 2nd carrier and come out ahead.  We also found a $10 off coupon online, so the two tickets cost us $180 vs. $140 for a couples pass.

There are two aspects to this being a worthwhile event - are the expo and seminars of value to you, and is the loot of value to you.

We had a lot of questions about strollers, and seeing them in person, folding them up, etc was really helpful.  I'm not sure I'd pay a whole lot for the privilege, though.  We were on information overload talking to vendors, so we didn't go to any seminars.  We're at 19 weeks, so the timing was perfect for us - we haven't made a lot of decisions.  We've started thinking about what we want in a stroller, but haven't decided.  We also enjoyed checking out the MamaRoos, I was skeptical of them, but I also don't want a huge swing, so I may be tempted to get one now.  

The vendors were generally on the higher-end, though Cosco was showing off a car seat that will be for sale at Walmart soon.  There was also a nice selection of local businesses there, though I think a lot of them were from west of Boston (perfect for us, not so much for others).  There was not a lot being sold, the only table I encountered that was selling at the event was NuRoo, and I bought one of their swaddlers for $10.  That said, I skipped plenty of tables, so there may have been more for sale.

As for the swag - it was definitely worth the price of admission, but this is coming from someone who hasn't bought or received much yet.  If you already have a lot, I'm not sure what the value of getting more stuff would be.  Here's a sampling of what we received, with the price being approximately what it sells for on Amazon.  You don't receive any choices on these things.

Lillebaby Complete carrier ($130) - I like the bird pattern on the ones we got (charcoal w/ finches), but everyone will have different opinions
Summer Infant Swaddle Me ($9)
NuRoo Swaddler ($25)
BabyBjorn Soft Bib ($12)
MamaMio Belly Butter, 4 oz. ($36)
BioOil, 2 oz ($24)
Palmer's Cocoa Butter, 4 oz ($8)
Pediped shoes ($35) - we lucked out by getting  different pairs in our gift bags that were both boyish.  
Loved baby pants ($20 on lovedbaby.com)
Breast Pads - 2 brands, one box of 40, one box of 60 in each bag
random toiletries for mum and baby
baby food
4 different bottles in each bag
a bunch of pacifiers (lost count, probably around 6 in each bag)
A free month at Pure Barre
$25 towards a local day spa
other random coupons 
a couple of diapers
baby wipes
disposable changing pads
baby power wipes
toys that remind me of pet toys
adult snacks (vs baby snacks, not like "adult" snacks for bachlorette parties).

The swag is good for us b/c we're 19 weeks along with our first - we haven't bought much.  I told my mum today not to buy bottles or pacifiers - I think we have more than enough to get started with.  If we'd already had a shower or a baby, I think this would be overkill, but we haven't even started registering.

Tommee Tippee had a giveaway - spin a wheel and get what it lands on.  I won a set of 3 bottles ($20 on amazon), Kris won some bibs ($8 on amazon).

Finally, when we handed in our bingo cards on our way out, we got a "shower gift" with our gift bags and carriers.  I got a Safety 1st high chair that fits on a normal chair ($23 on Amazon), Kris got a big basket of Weleda baby products and a $50 gift card to a local boutique - I think I can conservatively say his gift is worth $75.

A lot of vendors raffle off the models they're displaying, so that could be of value to you.  We entered these raffles, but I wouldn't value the event based on raffles.  

I notice this is that prices are higher for their upcoming NYC event, so the math may be different, plus gift bags may differ city to city. Overall, we found it worthwhile based on where we are in our pregnancy and what we received vs what we spent. 

I hope this is helpful if anyone else is considering going to one of these events.  

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Re: Big City Moms - Boston's Biggest Baby Shower review

  • kellbell1982kellbell1982 member
    I'm so jelly!! I wish they'd do this in Philadelphia
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  • kellbell1982kellbell1982 member
    I just wanted to thank you because my hubby just got us the couple super pass for the New York one in November!! I'm so excited
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  • KT416KT416 member
    Thanks for the review! I didn't realize it was in town until the day before and I didn't have time to research it to see if it was worth it. I think I just had price shock when I realized how much admission was, but I didn't realize how much swag there would be! Sounds like you had fun!

    Me: 29, DH: 30

    Married: April, 2011; TTC: July, 2012

    Dx: MFI; June '14 IVF w/ ICSI: 11R, 8M, 5F... 1 5dt, beta #1: 213, beta #2: 621, beta #3: 8545!



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  • jpavenskijpavenski member
    It was awesome! My hubby had to work so my mom & I went, I paid 160 for the super couple pass I think. I didn't think of getting one ticket each good idea! I ended up getting an awesome stroller I think it's worth $200, the baby carrier & the gift bag was awesome. Unfortunately we got very girly pedipeds & we're having a boy. Tomme Teepee I ended up with sippy cups & pacifiers. I also won a raffle for $50 worth of baby food! We loved it, even had enough sample foods to fill ourselves up! Did you see the $250 new bassinet they had? One of the seminars they gave one away, what an awesome gift that would have been to win.
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  • DM718DM718 member
    @kellbell1982 - you've got an awesome husband!  Have fun, I think this is a great event to go to as a couple, and the timing of the Boston and NY events are perfect for a March baby.  And are you also due on 3/1?  

    @jpavenski - we were on complete information overload, so we purposely decided to limit what we were investigating once we got in.  I didn't realize how much we came away with until I was filling my mother in this morning, and given how amazing some of the giveaways were, we left with the low end of what you could potentially get (assuming you start with the SuperPass).  I was hoping to win one of the MommaRoos they were giving away.
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  • kellbell1982kellbell1982 member
    DM718 said:

    @kellbell1982 - you've got an awesome husband!  Have fun, I think this is a great event to go to as a couple, and the timing of the Boston and NY events are perfect for a March baby.  And are you also due on 3/1?  


    @jpavenski - we were on complete information overload, so we purposely decided to limit what we were investigating once we got in.  I didn't realize how much we came away with until I was filling my mother in this morning, and given how amazing some of the giveaways were, we left with the low end of what you could potentially get (assuming you start with the SuperPass).  I was hoping to win one of the MommaRoos they were giving away.
    I'm due Feb 23rd so pretty close to the first, I haven't updated my ticker though
    autism photo: AUTISM autismglitter.gifBabyFruit Tickerphoto d61f26e5-4fb2-4a0b-b301-b0af2b53d4d3.jpg
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  • jpavenskijpavenski member
    Yes it was def a lot of information. This is my second so I didn't necessarily need everything but I lucked out cause my son's other carriage just broke and you can always use different bottles, pacis, swaddles & things. And I hated my other carrier so going to sell it. Oh & I ended up with like 20 fruit pouch samples which my 3 year old still loves, those things are expensive! Def high end nice stuff!
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  • yoitsloooyoitslooo member
    This sounds awesome! I hope they have one in California soon!
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