Every visitor to the Vancouver Island Baby Fair will receive one ballot at the door, and may enter it for either one of the two Grand Prizes. Deadline for entry is Sept. 25 at 4pm (at the close of the fair). Winners will be drawn after closing and notified, plus will be announced in our e-Newsletter, blog and/or website. Some restrictions apply.

Baby Races Grand Prize (Saturday) – Value: $460

• Abby Sprouts – Gift Certificate ($30)
• Avon Canada – Assorted bag of Avon products ($30)
• BCAA – Redi Medic Emergency Kit ($49)
• earth, mom and baby – 2 pack Bumboo Diapers ($43)
• Elements of Health Centre – Initial acupuncture visit with Julia Dascalescu ($100)
• Green Bean Baby – Organic cotton knotted cap & booties ($36)
• Mothering Touch Centre – Stuffed toy & book Where the Wild Things Are ($40)
• Rainy Day Play – AC/DC For Those About To Walk t-shirt ($22)
• Style Me Modern – Gift certificate ($30)
• Undine Jewellery – Necklace for mom ($30)
• Victoria People’s Pharmacy – Weleda organic calendula baby care products ($50)

Baby Races Grand Prize (Sunday) – Value: $460

• Avon Canada – Assorted bag of Avon products ($30)
• Baby Bellhop – Gift Card ($30)
• BCAA – Redi Medic Emergency Kit ($49)
• Elements of Health Centre – 45 minute massage (for Family Friendly Fridays) with Jane Podmore, RMT ($65)
• Green Bean Baby - Organic cotton terry hooded towel & wash cloth ($54)
• Mothering Touch Centre – Stuffed toy & book Where the Wild Things Are ($40)
• Rainy Day Play – Tin Tea Set ($27)
• Snugglings – Organic cotton/bamboo blanket ($45)
• Spud.ca – Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery – Gift pack filled with snacks, treats and other great products ($40)
• Style Me Modern – Gift certificate ($30)
• Victoria People’s Pharmacy – Weleda organic calendula baby care products ($50)

Babies aged 5-11 months race in heats of 4-5 babies. Winner of each heat will receive 2 Savvy Squirrel Coupon Books (1 Spring and 1 Fall edition – $20 value) and will move on to the final race. Final race winner’s family will receive the grand prize.

Photo Contest Grand Prizes

A $10 donation to 1Up: Victoria Single Parent Resource Centre will get your chid an on-site mini portrait shoot with Vivian Kereki Photography, a 5×7 print from your session after the fair, and enter you in the contest. One winner will be chosen in each of two categories: Baby (0-24 months) and Child (2-6 years)

Winner of each age category receives a professional photo session, 8 digital negatives, one print package of two 5×7s and one 8×10, plus one gallery wrap 16×20 canvass (a more than $700 value) from Vivian Kereki Photography. Plus, the winner of the baby category will appear on the cover of Island Parent Magazine!

The Vancouver Island Baby Fair e-newsletter is coming on Thursday, Dec. 9 – if you’re not already subscribed, do it now! We’ll have an exclusive giveaway of this Kemby Sidekick DiaperBag Carrier from Cat and Fiddle Kids!

Cat & Fiddle Kids has everything your organic, earth-friendly child needs, and something for Mom too. You will find their products are specially chosen from reputable manufacturers and represent the leading edge of safety, innovation and style.

Pop by their spacious store at 735 Cloverdale Ave. (between Douglas St. and Blanshard St.) to do a little Christmas shopping, plus you can check out their website and join them on Facebook for updates!

The Kemby Sidekick DiaperBag Carrier: With all the organizational elements you expect in a well-made diaper bag – plus innovative features to simplify your outings – the Sidekick is a must-have for families on the go and is gorgeous too! To enter to win, you have to be signed up for our e-Newsletter Inside the Pea Pod, so be sure to sign up now (you can also sign up over in the right-hand column of this blog)!

If you joined us at the recent Vancouver Island Baby Fair in Victoria, you might have noticed the stunning Bumbleride stroller from Sprouts Children’s Boutique we had on display near the Grand Prize booth…. well it’s nearly time to give it away!

In our next e-Newsletter, due out this Monday, Oct. 18th, we’ll run a contest exclusive to our ‘Inside the Pea Pod’ e-Newsletter subscribers, with the Bumbleride stroller as the big prize! If you already receive the e-Newsletter, you’re all set. If you signed up for it at the Baby Fair, you’ll receive your first issue on Monday (be sure to add “info@vancouverislandbabyfair.com” to your spam-blockers!).

If you haven’t signed up yet or are not sure, no problem… just add your name and email to the form in the right-hand sidebar, or visit our newsletter sign-up page. Then watch for the e-Newsletter and follow the instructions in it to enter to win!

Sprouts Children’s Boutique has provided the Bumbleride Indie stroller for the give-away. Be sure to drop by their brand new website, just re-launched to include a full online shopping component. Be sure to join their facebook fanpage, follow them on twitter or go say hi in person to owners Shari & Tracy at their fabulous store front at 536 Herald St. in downtown Victoria.

The stroller prize includes:

• Bumbleride Indie Stroller
• Carrycot (Bassinet)
• Raincover
• Multi-purpose bar – bumper bar that converts to a car seat adapter
• Tire Pump
• Cup Holder
• Footmuff – sleeping bag that can be used in the carrycot or in the stroller

The first 30 people through the doors of the Vancouver Island Baby Fair on Saturday (Sept. 25) morning get a free copy of the book “Hands off My Belly: The Pregnant Woman’s Survival Guide to Myths, Mothers and Moods” by Shawn A Tassone, MD & Kathryn M Landherr, MD!

And the first 40 people in on Sunday (Sept. 26) morning get a free copy of “The Gourmet Pregnancy,” a unique cookbook by Leah Douglas.

Plus, 2000 visitors will get a reusable Vancouver Island Baby Fair shopping bag which includes a bunch of great info and discounts from KidsinVictoria.com, Cat and Fiddle Kids, Miles of Smiles Child Care, Pizzeria Prima Strada, Health Canada, the Times Colonist, Children’s Education Funds Inc. the Kids’ Guide to Victoria, a coupon for two free classes at Mothering Touch Centre, and an issue of CHIRP magazine from Owlkids!
(Note: Full contents not guaranteed – some bags may not include all items)

Time to give away free stuff on the blog! Read on to see how to enter to win a Bobs & Lolo prize pack…

Juno-nominated favourites Bobs & Lolo will perform four shows over two days at the upcoming Vancouver Island Baby Fair in Victoria.

Bobs & Lolo grew up on Vancouver Island, and are dedicated to connecting kids to the natural world with music, movement and make-believe. Sharing musical stories that engage, inspire and educate, they teach kids to care about themselves, their neighbours and the planet.

Bobs and Lolo have won many awards, including numerous Parents’ Choice awards and the 2009 Western Canadian Music Award for Children’s Recording of the Year, and they were nominated at the 2010 Juno Awards for 2010 Children’s Album of the Year! Catch Bobs & Lolo’s regular appearances on Treehouse TV, and live at the Vancouver Island Baby Fair!

To enter to win a copy of Bobs & Lolo’s CD Action Packed, their DVD On Your Feet, plus some Bobs & Lolo stickers, simply add a comment to this blog post telling us what you’re most looking forward to at the 2010 Vancouver Island Baby Fair, Sept. 25 & 26 at Pearkes Rec Centre in Victoria. We’ll pick one commenter at random (Tonight, Thursday Sept. 23 at 9pm) to win the prize package.

Note that this is a moderated blog, so it may take some time before you see your post show up. Winner will be contacted at the email provided in the comment form. Your email address will not be visible publicly with your comment.

Contest is now closed. Stay tuned for future giveaways!

One of the fun parts of coming to the Vancouver Island Baby Fair is the chance to win some pretty amazing prizes. Many exhibitors will have great prize draws in their booths, plus we’ve lined up some huge prize packages for the photo contest, baby races, and grand prizes at the door.

New Parent Grand Prize – Value: $1835

• April Showers Cakes – Neutral design diaper cake ($60)
• Awesome Mommies – One year Awesome Mommies membership & onesie ($60)
• Baby Oopies – Newborn size bamboo nighttime cloth diaper & matching wool diaper cover ($75)
• BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation – BCAA Gift Card ($50)
• Bellies in Bloom Maternity – Posh Plus nursing pillow ($70)
• Blue Sky Photography – Two hour maternity photo session plus five 5×7 prints ($225)
• Camosun College Prenatal Program – 12 hour prenatal class series or weekend ($165)
• Elements of Health Centre – 45 min. massage with Jane Podmore ($65)
• Elizabeth Belfry, RMT, CIMT – Initial 30 minute massage treatment or use value towards infant massage lessons ($67)
• Hip Baby Victoria – Gift Card ($50)
• Hudson & Saige – Gift Certificate ($50)
• JamTots Baby & More Store – Baby Kangas one-size diaper with hemp stuffer, one change pad and one wet bag ($56)
• Jennifer Jonker Photography – Newborn package: newborn session, 25 custom-designed birth announcements, two 5×7 portraits ($350)
• Momma Goose Baby Care – New Mom package: Belly Butter Bar, Herbal Sitz Bath, Recovery Care, All Better Balm ($56)
• Mothering Touch Centre – $30 Gift Card & $50 punch card for classes ($80)
• Norwex Enviro Products – Antibacterial baby hooded towel set & antibacterial body pack ($50)
• Rosemary Brown-Tucker, RMT – CranioSacral Therapy session for baby or child ($75)
• Snugglings – Organic cotton/bamboo blankets & bib ($52)
• Tokyo Baby – Two pairs Monkey pants & leg warmers ($58)
• Wee Woolies – 100% pure NZ merino swaddle wrap ($50)
• Wobabybasics – Cosy Me Gift Set: Sleeping Cocoon & Hold Me bodysuit wrapped in Eco box ($72)

Parent & Tot Grand Prize – Value: $1652

• Abby Sprouts – Gift Certificate ($50)
• Awesome Mommies – One year Awesome Mommies membership & onesie ($60)
• Baby Jones – Boots & Bracelets ($50)
• BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation – BCAA Gift Card ($50)
• Bellies in Bloom Maternity – See Kai Run shoes ($36)
• Creative Exposure Photography – Maternity/family session plus proof album ($225)
• Elements of Health Centre – 60 min. acupuncture treatment with Jonna Eggerer ($100)
• Elizabeth Belfry, RMT, CIMT – Initial 30 minute massage treatment or use value towards infant massage lessons ($67)
• Fill Your Own – Eco-friendly lunchkit: stainless steel drink bottle, 2 stainless steel airtight food containers, reuseable lunch bag made from recycled water bottles ($50)
• Hip Baby Victoria – Gift Card ($50)
• Hudson & Saige – Gift Certificate ($50)
• Huckleberry Baby Shop – Echoes in the Attic tote bag & $10 Gift Certificate ($55)
• JamTots Baby & More Store – KangaSac Litterless Lunch System: lunch bag, 2 sandwich bags, 2 snack bags & 2 ice packs ($53)
• Jennifer Jonker Photography – Family package: family session plus 3 high resolution digital negatives ($350)
• Momma Goose Baby Care – New Baby Package: All Better Balm, Bottom Balm, Massage Oil & Sun Defence ($56)
• Norwex Enviro Products – Cleaning pack: antibacterial enviro cloth, dusting mitt, antibacterial window cloth ($50)
• Rosemary Brown-Tucker, RMT – CranioSacral Therapy session for baby or child ($75)
• ROCKBEBE – Gift Certificate ($50)
• School House – Gift Certificate ($50)
• St. Margaret’s School – Back to School gift basket: SMS lunch bag, pencil case, markers, coloured pencils ($60)
• Tutu Faboo – Custom tutu, fairy wing set & fairy wand ($65)

Every visitor to the Vancouver Island Baby Fair will receive one ballot at the door, and may enter it for either one of the two Grand Prizes. Deadline for entry is Sept. 26 at 4pm (at the close of the fair). Winners will be drawn after closing and notified, plus will be announced in our e-Newsletter, blog and/or website.

Baby Races Grand Prize (Saturday) – Value: $452

• Abby Sprouts – Two onesies & $15 Gift Certificate ($45)
• Awesome Mommies – 6 month Awesome Mommies membership & onesie ($45)
• BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation – Graco booster seat ($40)
• Bellies in Bloom Maternity – Leather See Kai Run booties ($36)
• Elements of Health Centre – 45 min. massage with Jane Podmore ($65)
• Mothering Touch Centre – Gift Card ($30)
• ROCKBEBE – Crib Shoe- baby’s first running shoe ($30)
• Rosemary Brown-Tucker, RMT – CranioSacral Therapy session for baby or child ($75)
• Tutu Faboo – Matching fairy wings and fairy wand ($35)
• Wobabybasics – Take Me Out Gift Set: Hold Me bodysuit, leggings & bandana scarf wrapped in eco box ($51)

Baby Races Grand Prize (Sunday) – Value: $493

• Abby Sprouts – Two onesies & $15 Gift Certificate ($45)
• April Showers Cakes – Neutral design diaper cake ($40)
• Bellies in Bloom Maternity – Leather See Kai Run booties ($36)
• Bo Dene’s Art – Gift Certificate ($30)
• Elements of Health Centre – 45 min. massage with Jane Podmore ($65)
• Elizabeth Belfry, RMT, CIMT – Initial 30 minute massage treatment or use value towards infant massage lessons ($67)
• Mothering Touch Centre – Gift Card ($30)
• ROCKBEBE – Crib Shoe- baby’s first running shoe ($30)
• Rosemary Brown-Tucker, RMT – CranioSacral Therapy session for baby or child ($75)
• School House – Gift Certificate ($30)
• Wobabybasics – Ready for the World gift set: Tickle Me all-in-one, Messy Me burp bib wrapped in eco box ($45)

Babies aged 5-11 months race in heats of 4-5 babies. Winner of each heat will receive a Savvy Squirrel Coupon Book ($10 value) and will move on to the final race. Final race winner’s family will receive the grand prize.

Photo Contest Grand Prizes

A $10 donation to the Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society will get your chid an on-site portrait shoot with Jennifer Jonker Photography, a 5×7 print from your session after the fair, and enter you in the contest. One winner will be chosen in each of two categories: Baby (0-24 months) and Child (2-6 years)

Winner of Baby (0-24 months) category:

• Jennifer Jonker Photography – Family & Baby session plus 4 high resolution digital negatives & 2 11×14 mounted portaits ($695 value)
• BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation – $100 “Room Makeover” Gift Certificate from Cloverdale Paints
• Become the poster child for our next Baby Fair in Victoria
• Appear on the cover of Island Parent Magazine

Winner of Child (2-6 years) category:

• Jennifer Jonker Photography – Family & Baby session plus 4 high resolution digital negatives & 2 11×14 mounted portaits ($695 value)
• ROCKBEBE – Gift Certificate ($100)

It’s back! Our most popular e-Newsletter giveaway ever is back this week… the Strider running bike from West Coast Strider Sales!

As always, this giveaway is exclusive to people who receive our e-Newsletter – a monthly inside scoop on the Vancouver Island Baby Fair –  you can be the first to know about Baby Fair announcements and we always have a giveaway to offer to subscribers only.

In recent issues, we’ve given away subscriptions to Chirp magazine and a $50 gift certificate to Abby Sprouts…

In our next e-Newsletter going out the morning of Friday, Sept. 10, we’re giving away one of these cool West Coast Strider Bikes! To sign up, fill out the form over in the right-hand column of the blog, or visit our e-Newsletter sign-up page.

Strider Running Bike

Skip the tricycle and the training wheels!
Strider running bikes are two wheeled bikes designed to allow your child to teach themselves to balance on two wheels, without the interference of pedals or chains. Weighing only 6.9 lbs and with a seat that lowers to just 11″ from the ground, children as young as 12 months up to 5 years (50 lbs) can easily handle the Strider running bike and gain the confidence they need to balance on two wheels. Stand back and watch as they teach themselves to balance. You will be amazed!  Strider running bikes come in six vibrant colors: Red, Blue, Green, Pink, Orange and Yellow.

Your preschooler can come try out a West Coast Strider bike in the Kids Corner at the upcoming Vancouver Island Baby Fair, September 25 & 26, 2010 at Pearkes Rec Centre in Victoria, but in the meantime, check out their website for full details on these great bikes!

One of the coolest things we’ve discovered lately as parents of a 4-year-old and a 6-year-old is a magazine made just for them – Chirp! Chirp is a magazine especially for 3-6 year-olds.

Our 6-year-old just loves reading and devours his copy of Chirp every month when it arrives in the mail. Our family likes it so much, we wanted to share!

In our August e-Newsletter (coming to an inbox near you on Friday!) we’re giving away 5 Owlkids prize packages – each one includes a 6-issue subscription to Chirp, sample magazines, activity pages, a poster map of Canada, stickers, bookmarks, and a t-shirt (approx $35 value)!

If you don’t already subscribe to our e-Newsletter, sign up now to get in on the action! Only current subscribers of the Inside the Pea Pod e-Newsletter will be eligible to win. You can fill out the form in the right-hand column here on the blog, or follow this link.

More about Chirp

Chirp is a unique magazine for children ages 3 to 6. Designed for preschoolers and beginner readers, each issue is bursting with puzzles, crafts, games, rhymes and read-out-loud stories. Chirp is a perfect way to introduce your children to the joy of reading and learning!

Readers will enjoy every issue jam-packed with:

• Well-loved Robbie & Emily stories and Chirp comic strip
• Age-appropriate puzzles, connect-the-dots, mazes and simple board games in Puzzles and Fun
• Special Chirp cut-out for readers to make and play with
• Chirp Crafts, even the littlest hands can master
• Fascinating facts about animals in Amazing Animal
• Original fiction and artwork by well-loved children’s authors and illustrators in Rhyme Time and Let’s Read
• Hilariously funny jokes in Laugh with Chirp

We would love to send out a BIG thank you to all the exhibitors, presenters, children’s performers-Will Stroet and Music With Marnie & the families who participated in the Vancouver Island Baby Fair this past weekend in Nanaimo, BC!

A huge congratulations go to Tara Smith from Campbell River BC, winner of the Expecting Parent Grand Prize and also Congrats to Maureen Luney, a soon to be grandma from Victoria, BC who won the New Parent Grand Prize! Each prize was valued over $1300 with contributions from several of our exhibitors.

Check back for info on the Photo Contest! Winners will be announced in early July!

If you missed the fair please take a look at our exhibitor list or mark the date in your calendar of our next Vancouver Island Baby Fair which takes place September 25 & 26 at Pearkes Arena in Victoria BC.

We are very excited to tell you about a great new book called “Hands Off My Belly: The Pregnant Woman’s Survival Guide to Myths, Mothers and Moods.

Expectant mothers are virtual magnets for unsolicited advice. Mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, sisters-in-law, new mothers, friends, and even strangers offer what seems to be an endless supply of supposedly authoritative opinions on every aspect of pregnancy: A craving for spicy food denotes a boy. Carrying the baby low denotes a girl. And, of course, everyone wants to touch her belly.

In this engaging, humorous, and very informative book, Drs. Shawn A. Tassone and Kathryn Landherr – experienced gynecologists, a husband-and-wife team of physicians, and parents of four children – explore the most common superstitions and myths surrounding pregnancy. With a scientific perspective, the authors not only entertain but provide a great deal of practical information, which will ease the fears and anxieties of expectant parents as well as clear up many confusing notions.

We will be giving away a copy of this book ‘Hands Off My Belly: The Pregnant Woman’s Survival Guide to Myths, Mothers and Moods’ to the first 50 people that come through the doors at the Vancouver Island Baby Fair on both Saturday and Sunday! 100 books in all! Doors open at 10am so be sure to join us at the Vancouver Island Baby Fair this weekend, June 5 & 6 at Beban Park Social Centre in Nanaimo!