#BklynBabyExpo Parenting Finds

The baby events continue. On Sunday, I attended the Brooklyn Baby Expo, which unlike the Biggest Baby Shower is much more intimate, local and features up-and-coming products, while still having big brands present like Britax, Joovy and Stokke too. This baby expo was definitely family-friendly too with kids of all ages enjoying the indoor and outdoor event. If I actually lived in Brooklyn though, it would have been even more worthwhile getting introduced to local services for families.

While visiting one of the booths, I discovered the new Mommy Nearest app, which is FREE to download (for Apple and Android phones). It quickly pinpoints your location and tells you where the nearest parenting need is – from diapers to changing tables or stroller-friendly restaurants with great kids menus. Such a great idea, no? When Raphael and I took the boys into the city not too long ago, we had problems finding a restaurant without stairs that would fit our double stroller, so this would have definitely have come in handy. Although right now it's only for the New York area and boroughs, it is expanding up to Westchester soon and hopefully eventually to Stamford, CT (please!).

Since my boys are now just starting to eat solid foods, well, rice cereal first, I particularly enjoyed getting a cooking demo from Teeny Tiny Foodie on how to make to make healthy, all natural purées and first foods for baby. I watched her make two recipes that were tasty, easy and healthy - Apple-Spinach Purée and Strawberry Mint Purée. She encourages adding spices to baby food to help create an adventurous eater and feeding foods with different textures. You can find more of her yummy recipes here and if you subscribe to her newsletter she send out a new recipe every Monday for free!

Attendees went home with some great gift bags and I saw about a half a dozen moms winning Britax strollers right on the spot. Pretty cool.