It was that time of year again—when hundreds gather at
the ABC Kids Expo to mull over the latest and greatest products for babies and children. I
ventured cross-country to the expo, held in Las
Vegas for its final year, where over the course of four days I took
everything in with an eye toward identifying gear that would make the lives of New
York City families easier. Here are a few of the
highlights (I’ll be featuring some more great items I saw over the next few
weeks, so stay tuned!): —
Strollers And Car Seats
A few new strollers worth checking out:
*Aprica: The Japanese company is out to show stateside
families there’s nothing wrong with an import! I wouldn’t be surprised to spot some
light, quick-fold, mid-size models around the streets of New
York in the near future.
*Urbo: If you’re really all about style and function, the
sleek and supremely stylish Urbo might be just right for you.
*Bugaboo: A Bugaboo for two?! Launching in Spring 2011,
Bugaboo’s new double stroller is intended to meet the needs of city moms who love
their Bug, but need something for two. Called the “Donkey” (because a donkey
can carry cargo with ease and is known for being faithful, intelligent and
eager to learn), this stroller converts from a single to a double easier than
any stroller I’ve seen before. It’s no
wider than the Cameleon, and will dazzle you with its many features.
A few stroller accessories to check out:
*The Orbit SideKick Stroller Board: This is not your average
ride-along. It attaches to the side, has a safety handle, can be clipped up to
keep it out of the way, and the stroller can be folded with it attached. Oh,
you can attach another one on the other side!
And now for car seats:
*Britax: This company has always made amazing car seats, and
continues to make great strides in safety technology. They have re-vamped their
line of car seats and incorporated Safe Cell technology to reduce head
excursion. And while I won’t bother to go into the technicalities, it keeps the
little one’s head where it should be and that’s what really matters.
*Sunshine Kids: The Radian seat by Sunshine Kids is also very
impressive. With LATCH installation up 80 lbs (the LATCH helps keep the seat in
place even when the seat is not in use) and reinforced side impact, this seat
will keep little ones super safe. The attached carrying straps also make it
easy to transport while not in the car.
Next Up: Baby Carriers and Other Fun New Stuff!
Pictured: Bugaboo’s new Donkey double stroller.
