Annual Babies & Bumps convention slated for April 8

Babies & Bumps—a convention for soon-to-be parents—is hosting its fifth annual event in Rochester on Saturday, April 8, officials announced this week.

The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be held at the RIT Inn & Conference Center at 5257 W. Henrietta Rd.

A companion event called “Toddlers & Tykes” will run on Sunday, April 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will focus on the needs of parents or caregivers with children ages 2 to 5 years old, according to organizers.

“As a parent of two kids (ages two and four), I know that the need for support, education and local connections doesn’t end when your ‘baby’ isn’t a baby anymore,” said event co-founder and producer Monica Infante in a statement. “Toddlers & Tykes will be executed in a similar format to Babies & Bumps, but with a specific focus toward parenting toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners.”

Proceeds from a Toddlers & Tykes raffle will help support the Crisis Nursery, a program of The Center for Youth.

Both events will educate parents and caregivers with 12 expert-led seminars on a range of topics such as pregnancy, labor and delivery, newborns and infants. There will also be seven demonstrations to teach skills such as exercises for soon-to-be moms during and after pregnancy, officials said.

The weekend will also include a Pediatrician Meet & Greet, babywearing test drive area, baby and bump photos, and shopping for handmade products in a Mom & Baby Market.
UR Medicine is presenting the conference.

Five practices will be present during the Pediatrician Meet & Greet including Calkins Creek Family Medicine, Highland Family Medicine, North Ponds Family Medicine and Maternity Care, Perinton Pediatrics and Towpath Family Medicine.

Other on-site practices include Oak Orchard Health, Bay Creek Pediatrics and Elmwood Pediatric Group.

Babies & Bumps will be in Buffalo for the second year on April 29 and in Pittsburgh—Pittsburgh South on July 22 and Pittsburgh North on August 12. The convention will expand to Ohio for the first time in Columbus on May 20 and in Cleveland on June 3.

“It’s really exciting to see the continued growth of Babies & Bumps,” Infante said in a statement. “The addition of Columbus and Cleveland events gives us the ability to serve even more new groups of parents at our signature events, and the introduction of Birth Year Groups will provide support and connectivity year round.”

Event Navigation and Ticket Information Participants will be able to download event apps through babies-and-bumps.com to plan a schedule in advance based on seminars, demonstrations and activities of most interest, according to the company. A complete listing will be available by March 24.

Attendees at both events can also participate in a diaper drive to support ROC City Bottoms, a group that provides diapers and supplies for little bottoms in need, according to Babies & Bumps.

Tickets are $25 for individuals, $40 for pairs, and $15 per person for groups of six or more and attendees must pre-register online at babies-and-bumps.com, according the company.

Depending on availability, tickets will be sold at the door for $30. Check-in opens at 9 a.m.

Follow Kerry Feltner on Twitter: @KerryFeltner

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