Consider a "papoose pack" for the baby? Then maybe you could take turns wearing it? I also carry an empty shoulder bag for info, freebies, water bottle, etc.

TIPS???
As much as I love my GKids... leave the baby home, for you sake as well as theirs.

A 3 month old (A THREE MONTH OLD????) will be in a stroller (if allowed) and nearer the floor, with no air, no views except of legs, in the middle of noise - oh yes, there is NOISE!!! and with who knows what smells abound down there, not to mention germs floating around from the "public". Somewhere in there will be time for a nap (and for the baby, too!) to put your feet up or assess what you've seen; and a feeding (baby, too) and a potty break (diaper change...no comment).

Enjoy the show with your friend, or by yourself, with all the great suggestions above... decent shoes, backpack, limit buying, camera or camera-phone, handy purse for business cards and money/credit cards, etc.It will be a long day! or at least a few hours.

Good luck.

It might work out okay with the baby. Perhaps even better than it would with an older child. Babies often fall asleep when they get sensory overload. It is just their way of slowing down everything their minds have to process.
I hope you are having a lovely time!

Although I agree that going with an infant in tow might not be ideal, if it's the only option, then make the best of it.

Strollers vary greatly in size and maneuverability. If this is not one of the larger ones, it could be a boon - you can tuck small purchases in the basket underneath. A baby is easier than a toddler or young child who is mobile! Be ready to nicely ask people not to touch him.

Take only what you expect to need for 2 or 3 hours for the baby and leave the rest in the car. You can go out and back in if you need to. Perhaps both you and the baby will be glad to be able to go out for a bit, sit and rest while he has a bottle, then go back in. This will also allow you to have a healthy, inexpensive snack and drink - which might be hard to do if the venue prohibits bringing anything in.

For yourself, comfortable shoes, light clothing with a sweater over, no coat. Depending on how you prefer to carry packages, either a tote or backpack for anything you pick up, whether it's vendor information or purchases. If you don't want to write on the prorgram, a small note pad, as well as a pen. We think we'll remember the name of a pattern/tool/fabric, but when you've seen so many, it's easy to forget.

I wouldn't carry a purse, but would use a waist pack or something simlar to keep your ID, money or debit/credit card secure as well as whatever basics you require (medication, tissues). Most phones will take pictures and are smaller than a separate camera, so if you have that option, be sure it is fully charged when you go in and leave the camera.

As long as he is tended to and not let to cry excessivly if over stimulated, tired, hungry or in need of a change, I'm betting that for every glare you get, you'll get just as many people saying the baby is darling. Remember that he might need to go out to the car for a break, and accept that. I'd rather go and enjoy part of the show, if having him there causes you to leave early, than not go at all!

Last - take a picture! Little ___ at His First Quilt Show!

Going to the Quiltfest in Somerset, NJ tomorrow. Already have comfortable shoes, teeny timy purse with long straps for my essentials and my daughter who doesn't quilt but loves me enough to drive me to the show, about 1 hour away, and fetch and carry for me, not to mention, borrow her phone camera if they allow you to take pics.

Now Doris, that's how to go to a quilt show! With somebody as your courier! Love it! Have fun.

not going to talk about the baby. You are going tomorrow and will do what you have to. Since it will be tomorrow, unless you are able to make and print the labels mentioned above, just take some of the gazillion return address label you get in the mail. I trim mine down for size and add my phone number. If you want to buy raffle items or leave your information on a vendors list, you are ready to go. In fact, I almost always have some in the purse for quilt shops and quilt raffles. Hope you enjoy it; please let us know and maybe a picture of the 3 month old so talked about. :o Joyce in DE

It is a big day/hire a babysitter.

at the quilt expo here, no strollers. no rolling bags, allowed. bathroom lines are very long. you must exit the show to the vendor area to get anything to drink or eat, a cup of water is not allowed in the exhibit area. These are all good rules for a reason. I also use a backpack, and heavier items I purchase and pick up when I am ready to leave for the day.

Since I came home from a show last year with a black eye from getting hit in the face with a back pack, I don't recommend that either. Just another problem in life with being vertically challenged.

Then set your expectation levels to a low/medium and tell yourself you're only there to get a flavor of the quilt show. I always love the vendor aisle but the others here are right, it will be a quick show. The baby is going to respond to the energy and it won't be fun. BTW, take a sandwich and something to drink...the food lines and costs are ridiculous.

You might want to check your rental contract. I always rent a Scoot-A-Round scooter at the Houston Quilt Festival, and the contract specifically states that only the renter can operate the scooter. I think there are liability issues involved.

I'm frugal, so I leave my credit cards at home and take only the cash that I am willing to spend. It is easy to be tempted by all the vendors with lovely fabrics, great quilt gadgets.

I think it would be very cost-effective to hire a baby sitter. I get irritated when people bring babies to inappropriate places--concerts, quilt shows, or even restaurants. Nothing takes the edge off a rare night out for me than having to deal with a screaming child or children running in the aisles, etc. Surely adults can figure out how to leave babies at home for a while. A quilt show is such a wonderful experience, I would want it to be a good one.

If you went, how did it go?

I like to go to a show for 2 days. Day one half quilts and all vendors. I take mental notes of items I must have . Go to evening rest place and work out which must have I really do need. Then day 2 rest of quilts and purchases.

I also try to fit in at least one short class each day. It gives you a sit down as well as knowledge.

Yep...ditch the stroller and carry the baby. When my youngest was a baby, we were travelling overseas a lot with my then husband's work. No stroller, just too cumbersome in airports and crowded city streets. Small people who are used to being carried in a sling or strapped in a carrier (preferably at the front) tend to sleep most of the time. The other will need a light backpack for supplies, snacks and baby paraphernalia. Have fun and let us know how you get on.

zozee, how did it go???

Zozee :) - I hope you had a good time and all went well ! I bet you got lots of creative ideas, tips and treated yourself to some fun purchases :)

I have the opportunity to go to the Sewing & Quilt Expo in Lakeland on the Sat March 22 - I have never been to one anywhere before so I am really looking forward to it :)

Zozee, I hope you enjoyed the quilt expo with or without the baby. Because of your posts I knew it was there and my husband graciously went with me on Friday. The exhibit of early 20th century quilts was wonderful. I was surprised to see that they seemed to be all machine quilted. The patterns they were made from were like seeing old friends. I am mostly a hand quilter so I was not impressed with the many booths selling long arm machines. I did run into a number of my quilting friends. A guild I used to belong to had a booth selling chances on their raffle quilt. When they asked me to purchase a chance I told them the same thing I told everyone else selling chances. I have more than a trunk full of my own making. Ironically I won a raffle quilt from another guild a year or so ago. It is king size and not anywhere near my color scheme. My bed is only queen size and the quilt is to big for my bed. It is lovely and I will probably end up donating it to another group as a raffle prize. I already own six sewing machines. That number includes two stand alone embroidery machines, one a Bernina and the other a Brother. A Singer Featherweight, A Bernina serger and two Berina sewing machines. I neither have the money or space for another machine, especially not a long arm. I ran into a number of friends from another guild I used to belong to. I found out where I could donate children's special pillowcases in my local area. They had an exhibit there concerning that project. I will confess that I ended up not purchasing anything. The only thing I saw that I wanted was a pattern for a child's quilt. They didn't seem to have one available at the booth that was displaying it. I was amazed at the price of the kits. I know that $75 for a kit that included both all the fabric needed and the pattern is probably par for the course at most quilt shops these days. Since most of my quilts end up with the Linus Project I can't afford to spend that much money for one. I do most of my fabric shopping at JoAnns in their discounted area. Hope you enjoyed yourself.

And she has not bothered to get back to us - -