iVillager Kirstin Crothers was sceptical about corporate events like The Baby Show. Did a trip with her ten-month-old daughter Jesse to London's Olympia change her mind?

Why would anyone pay £12 to visit a hall filled with stalls selling baby paraphernalia? A trip down your local high street will put you in contact with most of the products on display at the Baby Show, and there will be a much less frantic atmosphere. The free services are available elsewhere; your local beautician will have a more relaxing environment than the 'Pampering Zone'; your local cafe will offer a better range of food and drink at lower prices; and expert advice is available on the phone from your health visitor or online from the myriad of baby websites.

Well here's why. I saw products that I had not seen anywhere else, found some recycled paper disposables I have been looking for ages, fed Jesse on some lovely organic baby food. There was a good range of out-of-town/catalogue-only suppliers (JoJo Maman Bébé, Blooming Marvellous, etc) and therefore a good opportunity to touch and try their wares. I talked to some very helpful people; a nutritionist gave me some useful tips on feeding my very fussy baby and another baby expert reassured me about her weight. Jesse had her photo taken at a photographic stand and it was very gratifying to have the prints back straight away. I staggered home loaded up with brochures, free samples and competition entry coupons.

Free baby food
Once the kids started to get hungry we made our way to the Babylicious stand, where free samples of the food were available for all under-ones. This was a great service! The food looked and smelled much more appetising than others I have tried and it was excellent to be able to choose flavours from the menu. Stokke had supplied a number of their Tripp Trapp chairs and they were very convenient. I have been admiring this product from afar and this was the first time I had actually used one. The experience cemented my good opinion of the chairs - I think we will definitely be buying one.

The afternoon was definitely less manic than the morning, so it might be worthwhile to see if you can arrange to arrive late. I called in to inspect the creche and found it nearly empty. It was a nice space, big and open (filled with toys) and in a separate part of the hall, so the kids were not exposed to the bustle of the exhibitors' space.

Although we did not use the service, there was a 'parking station' for prams where you could exchange your stroller for a baby carrier/sling. Judging by the people queuing up to purchase at the end of the day, I think this must have been a very successful programme.

I did venture into the baby changing room in the afternoon, and found it was clean, well equipped and did not smell bad. However, it had a common exit/entrance and I imagine at busier times of the day it the doorway would have been gridlocked. If your baby did an explosive poo (and don't they know how to choose awkward times for things like that!), you might be forced to do a quick change on the floor.

Workshops and fashion shows
I did not get into any of the workshops, though I did take advantage of the resident expert at the BBC stand. She had given a talk earlier in the day and said that she was not sure how much of it the audience could take in, given the frenetic atmosphere of the show. Parents with children on their laps are unlikely to be the most attentive of listeners and even those who are not distracted are unlikely to get in-depth information in this environment.

The fashion shows and activity demonstrations likewise suffered from having an inattentive and moving audience - it was hard to watch when the people in front of you were constantly shifting around. Having said that, I was amused by the patently fake bumps the 'pregnant' models were wearing.

Room for improvement
The show probably could have done with a play area for bigger kids, some of whom were getting fairly grizzly by the afternoon. The PlaySkool space, whilst admirably filled with toys was not suitable for boisterous play or running around. Also a waiting area for bored dads to escape to might have been useful (though there was a busy bar!). Whilst the central aisle was nice and spacious, even in the afternoon the side aisles remained too narrow and crowded. But these are minor quibbles, and as this is the first time the Baby Show has been run by Clarion Events, I am sure we will see improvements in years to come.

The next baby shows are:

• 30 May-1 June 2003 in Birmingham
• 17-19 October 2003 in London (Olympia)

Tips for attendees

• Don't take older kids (over two). There are few activities directed at them (face painting was a notable exception). Too many toys they aren't allowed to play with and too much stimulation with no outlet is a sure recipe for tantrums.
• Book any free treatments on offer straight away. You might not be able to get in if you leave it till later.
• If your stroller doesn't have a big a shopping tray, take a sturdy bag to collect all the free samples.
• If you want to participate in any of the workshops, see if you can book your child into the creche for the duration and get a seat at the front so you can concentrate.
• If you are thinking about buying a baby-related product, it might be worthwhile to purchase at the show, as there are lots of 'show specials' - I saw major label baby carriers at half price. But beware of some deals: one book, advertised as a show special price of £10, usually only costs £9! Check the website for 'Special Show Offers'.
• This is a good chance to examine the products from the major baby catalogues, so take along any product numbers/references you might have on things you are undecided about - you will be able to see the items in the flesh, which always the best way to judge them.
• Go to the toilet before lunch. Immediately afterwards they get dangerously crowded. You might have to brave the men's if you are pregnant and bursting!