My Trip to MOMMYCON
Erin Burt
Whether new to the parenting world or if you’ve been around the block, you may have heard of MommyCon. This (usually) multi-day conference has grown over the last few years to quite the epic presence online and 5-10 cities each year.
MommyCon began as a blog collective/mommy gathering group under the vision of Xza Higgins and has now reached tens of thousands of people, with countless workshops and vendors each year across the country (and Canada too!). MommyCon seeks to support parents, parents to-be, grandparents, friends, and caregivers. They are bent toward a “gentle and positive approach to educating parents about the emotional and physical benefits of natural birthing, breastfeeding, and babywearing.” More than that, they cover female self-care, eco-friendly diapering, healthy snacking, partner relationships, child safety, and so on.
You’ll get a unique blend of local speakers and shops combined with the robust offerings of the national circuit. For Austin that meant I saw some of the larger name brands and boutiques mixed in with local vendors, like a pregnancy bowl artisan, services, and organizations, like the local chapter of Babywearing International.
Speakers include names you may already know. Jessica Martin-Weber (The Leaky Boob); Kim Rosas (Dirty Diaper Laundry, Put a Cup In It); Jenn Labit (Cotton Babies); Laura Wojciechowski (Super Undies); Jamie Grayson (TheBabyGuyNYC); and more! Get one-on-one attention as you learn how to use a wrap, put your hands on and discover some of the newest gadgets or a variety of cloth diapers at the resource center.
Mommycon is built for parents to come alone, with friends, or the whole family. They always have special quiet space, changing tables, a feeding room, snack stations, play space, ad more. Don’t forget the attendee-favorites of the gift bag table and Vagina Village with honest, in-depth, and sometimes hilarious presentations on female self-care.
A purchased ticket is required, but they do have some scholarships and discounts, notably for military. I attended one year as a volunteer for free and this year as one of their trade photographers. They also provide VIP ticket opportunities with VIP sessions and VIP goody bags.
And know that the MommyCon experience does not end when you go home. They have Facebook groups based on event location (like a local Austin MommyCon page) and a national social media presence all year round.
Lynette is a mom of three children from one year to age five. She has cloth diapered all three since birth and enjoys all things eco-friendly and mindful living.