American Baby Faire returns to Schaumburg
The overall economy may have slowed and the stock market plunged, but newborn babies neither know nor care.
That's why companies that sell products and services for newborns and their parents are still booming, even as they try to adapt to the otherwise changed circumstances for many young families.
"The juvenile and baby industry is generally recession-proof," said Aija Erglis, managing director of the American Baby Faire which returns to the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center for the third consecutive year Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 1-2.
The two-day event is a showcase of new baby products, which change significantly from year to year in terms of safety, convenience and cost-effectiveness, Erglis said.
One example of the latter is an increasing emphasis on making products like high chairs and strollers adjustable for a wider range of ages than ever before.
And technology is constantly improving the safety features of many products for very young children, especially car seats, Erglis said.
While the economy isn't trashing the baby product industry, it is keeping it on its toes, she added. Because families are struggling to make ends meet, they're going to do due diligence in their research on the necessary products to know they're finding the best for their money.
"That's always been true, but maybe even more so now," Erglis said.
She feels one of the most exciting aspects of the annual show is its constant ability to create new first impressions. About 80 percent of each show's attendees have never been there before.
"Until you are in that life stage, you bypass all that information about babies," Erglis said.
In addition to showing new parents updated versions of products from their own childhoods, there are many products today that have no equivalent to a generation ago. One example is the crystal clear TV baby monitors that have replaced the fuzzy, unreliable radio versions many new parents might remember.
As always, the Baby Faire is designed to accommodate young children with entertaining activities such as the Babies 'R' Us Baby Derby, the Chicco Rodeo horse races for toddlers and performances by Medieval Times and musical storytelling productions of Aladdin, Cinderella and Pocahontas.
<p class="factboxheadblack">American Baby Faire</p> <p class="News"><b>When:</b> 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2</p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive</p> <p class="News"><b>Admission:</b> $8; free for children under age 12 and grandparents</p> <p class="News"><b>Schedule:</b> Pick up a program guide on site</p> <p class="News"><b>Includes:</b> Live entertainment, action center filled with toys, baby derby, diaper stations, Chicco rodeo every half-hour on the half-hour; knights from Medieval Times perform at 1:30 p.m. both days </p> <p class="News"><b>Call:</b> (877) 959-2229 or visit <a href="http://www.americanbabyfaire.com" target="new">americanbabyfaire.com</a></p>