Every year the Mama Magic expo invite me to come and judge some of the products from the expo and every year I have had to decline but this year I was able to go.
This next comment is not a reflection on the expo or the brands or new parents but I am extremely glad that I am over that baby stage because honestly there are so many products on the market (often with conflicting information) that I wouldn’t actually know where to start. Also so much stuff is actually unnecessary. I have said it often and I will keep saying it (until I have grand babies and then I will buy all the random gimmicks) – all babies need are nappies, wet wipes, vests and blankets. Everything else is a nice to have not a necessity.
I will say I was disappointed at the lack of local products and like Mariette said, there was very little in terms of innovative and exciting products – it was pretty much stuff we have seen before. There were various categories that we judged, travel, food, toys etc but these are just a few of my top picks from across the categories.
- These Oogaa silcone plates were pretty cool. They have a variety of uses, which I always look for. If I am going to spend money on something I want to know I am getting my moneys worth and that it won’t last 2 months and baby will outgrow it. So basically you can use it as a plate, with different compartments and you can bake in it and you can use it to freeze stuff in, so to make ice lollies or even jelly. They can go in the dishwasher and microwave. I really like these, they weren’t cheap but considering how much you can do with it, I think it is worth it.
- Sleeping bags for babies are probably one of the best things invented and something I only really used with Emma because we were given one. They help to keep baby from kicking off blankets, make it easy to take them out at night. These Love To Dream sleeping bags are really pretty and I like that you can take the sleeves off, so ideal for winter or summer and to use as baby grows.
- This product was a bit of a gimmick but it did appeal to me on a visual level so I am sharing it. It is a teething biscuit from Jelebebe made from silicone that baby can wear as a necklace or mom can wear if she is feeling funky.
- My absolute favourite product was the Joki Hanging Nest. It was designed with kids with SPD, Autism and ADHD in mind. I have 3 kids with varying degrees of SPD and the minute I saw this I could see Jack and Kiara using it. (Emma would hang from it like a freaking monkey). I was really drawn to this product and I can see the value to a child with SPD and Autism actually because it creates a nest around the child. It is not cheap but honestly I would pay for it!
We only judged a very small sample of the products at the expo so I am pretty sure there are loads more amazing products, if you went to the expo then please share with us some of your favourites.
I have never missed the expo, since my little one was small (she’s six now) I’m especially excited to see this year’s products as we are expecting her sister soon.
Thank you for featuring our Joki Hanging Nest in your Top Picks from MamaMagic, we are so glad you love it as much as we do! We were first introduced to the nest a few years ago when my dad very kindly brought it back from a US trip for my son. The hanging nest is his little sanctuary, his spot he retreats to after school and comes out of a happy little camper. (I could so do with an adult version). At Kids Cargo we are all about finding products that add value to parents and children, finding solutions to the everyday challenges we face in our busy lives. Having had first hand experience with La Siesta products, I just had to share their beautiful product with other parents in South Africa!
Nothing that stuck to my mind maybe because we are also out of the baby phase and wasn’t looking for anything specific. That said the one thing I like that they have at most of these shows is the financial advice stand. Not the most frequented one but a valuable source of information for all