Join Us Saturday at Babypalooza

Come celebrate all things Baby!

by Glenni Lorick, IBCLC

It's time once again to celebrate everything BABY this Saturday when the Babypalooza tour hits Huntsville. From 9:00 - 1:00 the North Hall of the VBC will be transformed into a  veritable candy store for expectant and new parents! Exhibitors will have everything from baby registry information to safety tips to adorable outfits for your little bundle of joy!

Babies R Us will be present with information on setting up your registry, door prizes, and other goodies. Aetna is sponsoring the Child Safety Area where the focus will be safe sleep, infant CPR, and other topics relevant to keeping your little angel safe. Local preschools, retailers and medical professionals will all be on hand to help make the day memorable for you.  Baby shower games throughout the day will keep it fun!

But Babypalooza isn't just about fun and games. It is also about education. Dana Stone of Rest Assured Consulting will be talking about how to help your child get a good night's sleep. Crestwood Hospital will be offering a series of classes throughout the day.

9:45 Breastfeeding
10:15 Overcoming Breastfeeding Obstacles
10:45 Crestwood Maternity Unit Tour
11:15 Q & A with OB Nursing Staff

A Nurturing Moment will also have a full schedule of classes throughout the day:

9:15 Nutrition in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding - Join Freida Houck, certified instructor with the LEAN program to learn how to feed yourself so that baby gets optimal nutrition.
10:00 Post Partum Depression - Alicia Schuster-Couch of New Leaf Counseling Services of the TN Valley will discuss maternal mental and emotional health issues and how to know if you need extra help.
10:45 Cloth Diapering - Margaret Harmon will  teach the basics of cloth diapering. This is a great introductory class for anybody thinking about trying cloth.
11:30 Your Birth Plan - Bradley Instructor Ashlea Sukhwani help you figure out what you want to include in your birth plan.
12:15 Hypnobabies - Hannah Ellis, Hypnobabies certified doula will talk to you about this fascinating approach to childbirth. 

We will also have several doulas present throughout the day so that you can actually meet them and talk about the possibility of having a doula present for your birth. Our spot is right by the nursing room, and we will have a baby scale set up so that you can actually weigh your baby before nursing and after nursing to see exactly how much milk baby is getting. I will be available to check your baby's latch and answer any breastfeeding questions you have.

Make your plans now to attend, and we'll see you Saturday!

Don't Miss Babypalooza!!

by Glenni Lorick, IBCLC
A week from this Saturday the VBC will be filled with expectant parents, new mommies and adorable babies and toddlers when Babypalooza comes to Huntsville! If you are looking for everything baby, then don't miss this fun event from 10:00 - 2:00 in the North Hall. The Babypalooza tour, sponsored by Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Alabama visits 5 different cities across Alabama as well as sites in Mississippi and Tennessee. Huntsville sponsors include Crestwood Hospital, Lexus of Huntsville, Alfa Insurance, WOW and Rocket City Mom as well as three local radio stations, Sunny 98.1, Star 99, and Rocket 95.1.

Natural Parenting Area

A Nurturing Moment is proud to sponsor the Natural Parenting Area. We will have a "Meet the Doula" option where local doulas will be available to answer questions and interact with moms. We will have both labor and postpartum doulas available. We will also have mini seminars on breastfeeding, cloth diapering and baby wearing throughout the day. In our nursing area, we will have a lactation consultant available as well as a baby scale that can actually measure how much your baby takes in a feed. 

Fun for Everyone

Babypalooza is a celebration of life. It is FREE to attend, and it is really like a big baby shower with raffles, complimentary samples, coupons, and interactive baby shower game stations. Giveaways will include car seats, diaper bags, strollers and more. Exhibitors include Babies R Us, 4D Mommies Ultrasound, Covenant Classical School, Nothing Bundt Cake Bakery. Rocket City Chiropractic, and a wonderful variety of other businesses offering amazing things for moms and babies in the Tennessee Valley. Attendees will also receive a goodie bag with lots of terrific samples. So mark your calendar for NEXT Saturday, and register here so the organizers will know you are coming! 

RCSS and NACDB Offer A Full Schedule of Educational Opportunities at Babypalooza

Moms from RCSS in last years Babywearing Fashion Show

By Glenni Lorick, IBCLC

Babypalooza is coming to Huntsville this Saturday from 9:30 to 2:30 at the VBC North Hall. Rocket City Sling Swap, The North Alabama Cloth Diaper Bank and A Nurturing Moment have teamed up to present a full schedule of cloth diapering and babywearing educational opportunities.

9:40-10:10 Babywearing 101 Class taught by Sarah Bailey

10:30-11:00 Babywearing Fashion Show Presented by Rocket City Sling Swap on the Main Stage

The NACDB provides cloth diapers to families in need; it
depends entirely on the generosity of our community.

11:15-12:00 Cloth Diapering Class taught by Margaret Harmon

12:00-1:00 Cloth Diapers and Babywearing Community Wide Swap organized by Sarah Hall of the North Alabama Cloth Diaper Bank

1:30-2:30 Babywearing Mamas Guide to Breastfeeding for New and Expectant Parents taught by Glenni Lorick, IBCLC

Babypalooza is free to attend, and they have a full day of events including Daddy Olympics. Baby Bingo, and a Belk Fashion Show scheduled for the Main Stage, so there will be something fun for everybody!

If you attended last year, leave a comment  letting us know what the best part of the day was for you!.

Get a GREAT Deal on a Best Chair at BABYPALOOZA!

Check out this beautiful Ebony Bilana 

WE are so excited about the fun we're going to have at Babypalooza at the VBC this Saturday! We have a full schedule planned for the day beginning with a cloth diapering class taught by Margaret Harmon at 9:45.

Then at 10:30 we are hosting the BIG DIAPER SWAP in our area. This is a terrific way to get rid of diapers you're no longer using. If you're in the market for diapers or  just want to try a variety of styles before investing, then this is the perfect opportunity for you to do just that! If you're bringing diapers to sell, be sure that they are priced. We will give everyone a number, and you'll have the opportunity to show what you brought in an organized manner.

This Sage Tryp comes with power

At 11:15 is the Sling wearing class which will be taught by members of the Rocket City Sling Swap group. You will learn the fundamentals of baby wearing with a variety of styles of carriers. Throughout the day group members will be available at the ANM table to allow you try on a wide range of carriers.

This Trinity cries War Eagle!

You won't want to miss the Baby Wearing Fashion Show at 11:45 in the stage area. Moms, dads and even big brothers and sisters will model a wide variety of carriers and styles of baby wearing.

Then at 12:15 in the ANM area, we will have the BIG SLING SWAP. Once again we ask that you come with your carriers priced. Each seller will receive a number, and will be given an opportunity to show what she has brought. This is a fantastic way for you to get a carrier that you might not have been able to afford otherwise. If you happen to have a carrier addiction, then this is a great chance to feed your addiction!

This Lime Patoka  is a favorite!

At 1:00 we will have a Meet and Greet question and answer session with doulas and midwives. If you have been curious about whether you might want an out-of-hospital birth with a midwife in Tennessee, this is a great chance to get your questions answered. Many mothers opt for hospital births, but hire a doula to help them achieve the outcome they desire.

You will love this plush power lime Tryp.

Finally at 2:00 Glenni Lorick, IBCLC from ANM will be talking about going back to work and pumping. We will provide information on getting a breast pump through insurance, talk about the legalities, and discuss logistics. Glenni has helped numerous mothers maintain a strong breastfeeding relationship after returning to work, so she is uniquely qualified to tackle this topic.

This traditional cranberry Sona glider is 
so comfy.

Throughout the day, we will be sponsoring the nursing area and the diaper changing area. Our good friends from Magic Bum and Suds Diaper Service will be there as well, too, passing out information and samples.


We are planning to bring two comfortable nursing chairs from the ones pictured on this page; however, we do not want to bring them back to the store.

Bama fans will love this gorgeous 
Peyton w/ottomon.

That's really good news for you! We are going to sell them at 25% off the regular price, so you will get a tremendous bargain! All we ask is that you pick it up between 2:30 and 3:30 on Saturday afternoon from the VBC!   Here's how it will work: the first two customers to choose a chair this week and pay for it will have the opportunity to get their chair on Saturday.  If you would prefer to order a chair, we will be taking orders on Saturday and offering a 5% discount off the regular price for any chair ordered at Babypalooza. If you pay with cash or a check, we will make it a 10% discount!

Make your plans now to come on by and see us at Babypalooza on Saturday! We can't wait to see you!

The BAKE and Babypalooza Back to Back!

Huntsville is a terrific place to be in September if you're a parent! Whether you are trying to get pregnant, are expecting, have a baby or have an older child, you are in luck!

The BAKE

This Saturday (Sept. 21) at the Bridge Street Westin Hotel, Chattyclaire.com is presenting the BAKE. This is NOT a cooking show and the only recipe you'll get there will probably be the one we give you for lactation cookies! The letters BAKE stand for Baby And Kid Expo. It is sponsored by the US Space and Rocket Center, and will feature exhibitors and information for parents with children of all ages. There are some terrific raffle prizes, as well, including a Britax Boulevard 70-G3 car seat and a birthday party at Alexander's Martial Arts.

Exhibitors at the BAKE include A Nurturing Moment, Alexander's Martial Arts, All Women's Obstetrics and Gynecology, Attachment Parenting International, AuPair Care, the Breaking Boundaries Foundation, Cindy Shaver Photography, Covenant Classical School and Daycare, DoTerra, Genesis Pure, Gleneagles Family Medicine Associates, Huntsville Ballet School, Hypanobirthing, Infant Swim Resource, Initial Outfitters, Jockey Person to Person, Kidventure, La Leche League, Madison Martial Arts Academy, Mary Kay, Mindgear Labs, Meghan Newsome Photography, LEAN coach Freida Houck, the Montessori School of Huntsville, Morgan Stanley, Orgao Gold, Origami Owl, Premier Schools, the Rise School in Huntsville, Rocket City Chiropractic, Safe Kids (car seat installation), SciQuest, State Farm Insurance, 31 Gifts, US Space and Rocket Center, Usborne Books and More, Quilting Sew Beautiful, and Wish Upon a Star with Karen(Disney Vacation Planning).

A full schedule of speakers and demonstrations during the day will make for an event that is both educational and entertaining.

Babypalooza

The following Saturday (Sept. 28) Alabama Baby Magazine is bringing the Babypalooza Baby and Maternity tour to the VBC from 9:30 - 3:00. Sponsored by Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Alabama and Crestwood Medical Center, this promises to be an exciting event for both new and expectant parents! You may have heard ads on the radio from sponsors WDRM 102.1, WTAK 106.1, The River 100.3 and KISS FM 106.5. AL.com, Comcast and Rocket City Mom round out the list of Babypalooza sponsors. 

Members of the Crestwood Nursing Staff will be on hand to answer questions about labor and delivery, childbirth education, breastfeeding and anything else related to having a baby.  The Tender Care Pediatrics physicians will also be there. The Little Gym will offer demonstrations, and Babies R Us will be on-site to help with nursery design and baby registration. 4D Mommies Ultrasound will offer onsite ultrasound packages for just $50. Rocket City Mom will be collecting diapers for The Great Diaper Drive to benefit Manna House. Finally, A Nurturing Moment will have a full schedule of events for the day:

• 9:45 Cloth Diapering Class
• 10:30 Big Diaper Swap
• 11:15 Sling Wearing Class
• 12:15 Big Sling Swap
• 1:00 Meet & Greet with Midwives and Doulas
• 2:00 Breastfeeding and Back to Work

Be sure not to miss the sling-wearing fashion show at 11:45 on the main stage!

Other exhibitors include, Abbott Nutrition, Alabama Dept. of Public Health, Agape of North Alabama, Alabama Pediatric Dental Associates, Benders Gym, Covenant Classical School and Daycare, It Works, Lagniappe Newborn Portraits, Landers McClarty Subaru, La Petite Academy, Lifetouch Portrait Studio, March of Dimes, Marx Optical/Vision Master, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Mommy & Me Bootcamp, North Alabama Dental Associates, Origami Owl,  PAL-Alabama Parenting Assistance Line, Redstone Federal Credit Union, Rocket City Sitters, Salinity, Southern Cord, and Thirty-One Gifts.

It's Free!

The best thing about both of these terrific events is that they are free. So there is no reason to miss either one! Although a small handful of exhibitors (us included) will be at both events, there are many exhibitors unique to each. And each event has a slightly different focus. Whether you are planning to get pregnant, currently pregnant or already have a baby or child, you need to mark the next two Saturdays on your calendar so you don't miss any of the fun and great info at the BAKE and Babypalooza!