2012 Most Innovative Juvenile Products Features Safer Car Seats, Carriers, Mattresses and More
The Innovation Awards, presented at the annual national All Baby and Child Expo, recognize some of the most cutting edge products added to the baby and child’s market, and are named each year by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. The winners this year even include a “Parents Choice” award, voted on by moms and dads around the country. More than 100 products were entered, with 10 selected by a panel of industry judges, along with the Parents Choice award.
This year’s Parents Choice award was given to the Keen I LLC Monkey Mat. It’s described as “the only large clean surface easily transported as an accessory in an attached stylish, ultracompact pouch”.
The 2012 Innovation Award winners are:
Clek for the Foonf (car seat)
The Foonf allows for rear-facing up to 50 lbs. The anti-rebound bar will stop the seat from rebounding in a collision. Foonf’s REACT (Rapid Energy-Absorbing Crumple Technology) safety system also reduces forces to a child in the event of a collision. I personally love the fabric at Foonf.
Chicco for the Nexfit 65
The NextFit 65 is a new convertible car seat from Chicco, designed to simplify correct installation (an issue with the majority of new parents). It uses a 9-position Leveling System, SuperCinch LATCH tightener, and dual bubble level guides to verify correct positioning.
Chicco for the Liteway Plus
Functions as both an infant car seat carrier and a lightway compact stroller. The Carrier features a canopy and compact fold, along with a “click” attachment. The stroller has full recline and adjustable leg rest.
BityBean
BityBean is an ultra-compact child carrier for parents on-the-go. It’s 8 ounces and rolls up smaller than a water bottle. Think about that. You could throw it into your purse, glove compartment, diaper bag…anywhere, really.
Safety 1st for the Boostapak
The Boostapak is a portable on the go booster that converts to a backpack to provide on-the-go convenience and safety. Converts from a belt-positioning-booster to backpack for children 40 to 80 pounds and 43 to 57 inches with an easy to wipe clean cover. I love that my daughter can store her random toys, crayons, coloring books, video games and whatever else she brings on car trips into the backpack that she ultimately sits on.
Dorel Juvenile Group for the Maxi Cosi Prezi
The Maxi Cosi Prezi features safety protection using advanced, patented rebounding foam technology developed in conjunction with Bad Spot Sport, a leader in safety innovation design for Indy Racing. Kind of neat to think that what’s helping keep race car drivers safe in their accidents is also helping your children, right?
Munchkin for the Lulla Vibe
If you have one of those babies that loves the vibration of a moving car, you’re going to adore the Lulla-Vibe. It’s a little device that can be used under a mattress or nursing pillow to create vibration. It includes customizable options like a 30 minute battery operated timer and two varying vibration speeds. This is my favorite of the new products (only a mom with a baby who had colic can truly appreciate how priceless this could be) when it comes to innovation. It’s totally one of those ‘why didn’t I think of that’ products.
Naturepedic for the Lullaby Earth Mattress
This mattress weighs just seven pounds and is the only crib mattress under $200 MSRP. It’s a foam mattress certified to the highest greenguard select standard. My mind is still trying to wrap around the seven pounds part.
Nested Bean for the Zen Swaddle
The Zen Swaddle encourages sleep by mimicking a caregiver’s touch. Lightly weighted parts apply gentle pressure, along either side and on the center, to provide the security of being in your arms. My kids weren’t big fans of the swaddling, but they were big on being touched, and held, so if this mimics that, it sounds good to me.
Regal Lager for the Aton 2
The Aton 2 offers side impact protection which has been optomized with the Linear Side Impact Protection technology. It has foldout side protectors to reduce the space between the Aton and the car so that during a crash the forces are absorbed and distributed by the shell away from the child. It also features a height-adjustable load leg which absorbs and distributes energy to the floor of the vehicle, reducing forces on the child up to 50% while preventing rebounding of the seat. Apparently this is becoming standard in Europe. Why would the US take so long to adapt a similar safety option? It just makes sense when you see it.