I attended my first MommyCon Chicago in 2016.  I was 30 weeks pregnant and brought along my 6 year old.  I had a one day General Admission ticket, which gives full access to all the MommyCon Sessions and to the Exhibitor Hall.  I loved seeing all the amazing products for pregnancy, baby and beyond in the exhibitor hall- you could spend the entire day just getting to learn about all these companies and products!  I did get to go to a couple of the sessions- I took my daughter to the From the Farm Musical Performance by Miss Jamie- where they sang and danced and played with bubbles and had tubes to crawl through and toys to play with.  I also went to the Breastfeeding, Pumping, and Returning to Work with Shari Crisco session.  There were many other sessions I wanted to go to but in one day, it is hard to do everything!

This year, I will be there ALL THREE DAYS! I'm so psyched to be part of MommyCon as a member of the Media Team! 2019 MommyCon Chicago is March 1-3 and the line up of sessions & exhibitors is AMAZING, to say the least...  I am most looking forward to learning about new products and there are multiple sessions every single day that look incredibly helpful for my journey in motherhood. You can go to a session based on many aspects of parenting- from pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, pumping, diapering, babywearing, introducing solids and child development, plus anyone who purchases a MommyCon ticket also has access to DaddyCon!  Premium Admission ticket buyers get the swag bag (check out my IG post shown below) & you definitely want to join the MommyCon Chicago Discussion group for sneak peeks!

Just went thru my #MommyConChicago swagbag and look at all these goodies and coupons! Thank you to all the sponsors and volunteers, I had a great time 😄

A post shared by Lucy (@latchedonmom) on Mar 5, 2016 at 1:58pm PST

Here are a few tips on attending MommyCon when you're pregnant and bringing an older child along.

Pack some water bottles and a snack (or three).
Although there are water fountains and concession areas, it's nice to get a sip and refresh along your way instead of leaving the hall/session.  You will need all the energy you can get, so bring along some nuts or dried fruit to keep you going!

Wear the most comfortable shoes you own.
According to the Donald E. Steven's Convention Center's website, the Ballroom area (where MommyCon is held) has 92,000 square feet!

Find a place to sit and rest for a bit.
There are a few places in the exhibit hall to sit, and the hallway encasing it.  The bathroom also is super spacious with seating.  Since you'll be on your feet the whole day, taking small breaks will help reduce any potential swelling.

Wear a backpack or a comfortable bag that you can fit a lot in.
It's easier to have everything in one place, instead of carrying multiple bags around all day.

Dress in layers.
It's chilly outside in Chicago and within the breezeways connecting the Convention Center to adjacent hotels, so wear a nice warm, lightweight jacket that you can simply tie around your waist, or throw in your bag.  You may get really warm with so much to keep you busy, so a t-shirt- in my opinion- is ideal.

Let your child experience everything with you.
My daughter really loved the cloth diaper booths where she could hold, feel & examine each diaper.  She saw some preemie cloth diapers and wanted some for her dolls.  She didn't want to leave the Babywearing area, where they had educator dolls with which to practice trying on different carriers. There were exhibitors with products for younger children, some samples and freebies being handed out, which she liked to collect, then place in her knapsack. When your child gets the opportunity to learn by actually trying things for themselves, they will enjoy the experience more!

Relax! Kids have a play area in the back of each session room!
While you're attending a session, you can relax because there is a little play area in the back of the room.  You can also look at the MommyCon schedule and plan out which sessions sound more geared towards something your child will enjoy being part of.

Take all the photos!
This was something I forgot to do when I went.  I wish I had photos of all the things I found interesting: products I liked, speakers that were engaging, watching my daughter play with the bubbles with 30 other kids, etc. We were lucky that a nice lady offered to take our pic in front of the selfie spot.  I regret not having pics of the memories, so bring your selfie stick and take all the photos!!!

Do you have any other tips to add to this list?  Let me know in the comments below!
Locations and dates for MommyCon 2019:
MommyCon & DaddyCon Chicago - March 1-3
MommyCon New York City - April 6
MommyCon Charlotte - May 4
MommyCon Portland - June 29
MommyCon & DaddyCon Orlando - August 31
MommyCon Anaheim - October 5
MommyCon & DaddyCon San Diego - November 23

➡️BUY YOUR TICKET HERE⬅️
Use the code MEDIABFF for 10% off your ticket!  This code is valid on all purchases and DaddyCon too ❤
You're in luck, though, because I do have ONE GENERAL ADMISSION TICKET to give away for someone who would enjoy going to MommyCon Chicago!
All you need to do is fill out the competition form below to enter. This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end at 11:59 PM February 19th, 2018! Entries will be verified and then I will email the winner, as well as announce the winner on my Facebook page. You will have 48 hours to respond, or another winner will be drawn.
Latched On Mom did not receive compensation to promote this giveaway. Ticket is being donated by MommyCon.  Latched On Mom is not held responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prize obligations. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or associated with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or any other social media. Open to legal residents 18+ of USA. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.If you have any questions, or have a product you'd like for me to review, please email latchedonmom@gmail.com