The Big Baby and Tot Sale helping families save money

It’s always nice to save money while providing for your family.
At The Big Baby and Tot Sale from October 12-14 at Hofstra University, families can buy low cost items, while others can sell items that would otherwise go unused.
“The sale equips families with the information they need to keep their children happy, healthy and safe,” said co-founders Krista and Kirk Barnett.
Krista said they started the sale after realizing there weren’t many venues in which families could recoup some of the money they invested in children’s items.
“We started it because it’s so expensive for families to maintain the cost for having to purchase items throughout the year,” Krista said. “The New York City area really needed a place to go to save money year round on kid’s items. People in the community can look forward to these events too.”
The Barnetts plan to offer these one-of-a-kind sales twice a year in locations throughout the New York City area in the hopes of benefiting the community.
Businesses will be able to promote themselves and their products, which helps the community economically and educates consumers about what is available on the market, explained Krista.
Families can obtain information via safety demonstrations on how to keep their children secure and healthy. The American Red Cross will provide infant, toddler and child CPR and first aid demonstrations, while the Nassau County Traffic Safety Board will provide car seat installation demonstrations on the proper way to use car and booster seats.
Volunteers are needed to assist families during check in and to help organize the sales floor. Those who donate their time will receive up to 100 percent selling costs of their consigned items and get passes to attend the private sale.
In order to help the less fortunate, the sale will include a “Day of Donations” on October 15, which is “dedicated to giving.”
“Some families bring in items that are earmarked strictly for donations and some families wish to donate the items that do not sell,” explained Krista.
Shoppers who arrive early will receive free passes to the American Baby Faire, which is going on at the same time at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum down the road.
There will be fun contests for families to enter throughout the day, including a photo contest that will feature the winner on the cover of the Long Island Kid’s Directory in January 2008.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.
For more information, call 516-997-BABY (2229) or log onto their website at www.babyandtotsale.com.