From the funky to the functional, the baby gear market will have plenty of new entries this year. From super safe car seats to new feeding equipment with a clever design twist, here’s a sneak peak at what’s due out in 2010…
Feeding
A baby bottle made from steel? Yep, it exists and it’s due out later this month. From Bibs and Stuff, the Safe Starter is a feeding bottle made from medical grade stainless steel, and because it’s not plastic, it’s BPA free. It’ll retail for around £12 for a 5oz/150ml bottle, and there’s a version for tots, the Safe Sippy, expected, too.
Phil and Teds, who’ve already got us excited with the new 3-wheeler buggies we’re expecting from them this year, have created the Phil and Teds highpod. This highchair is coming soon, but from what we’ve seen, it looks more modern than an iPod. It’s touted as “the world’s first certified, newborn-friendly highchair.” Its seat insert is created from a material that you’ll also see appearing in P&T’s 2010 buggy range: aerocore. Just a few of the great features of aerocore are that it’s lightweight, durable, comfy, waterproof and can be wiped clean.
Another highchair hitting family kitchens across the UK will be the Hauck Turnaround, a 3-in-1 option that converts from highchair to booster to step stool.
Car safety
This year, Jané isn’t just adding fab new buggies and travel systems to its range. There are new infant car seats coming, too. All are travel system compatible and are expected to be in the UK in February.
Firstly, there’s the Jané Micro carrycot. It’s said to fold away in just seconds and be a lightweight choice. It allows your baby travel in a lie-flat position.
Next, is the Jané Transporter. This is a carrycot and Group 0 lie-flat car seat. It has a reinforced honeycomb structure to give even more protection in an impact. Another nifty safety addition is that the handle doubles as a roll cage.
The last infant car seat due out for Jané is the Matrix Light, a Group 0+ option. This is a step up from the current Matrix, and allows your baby to travel either lying down or sitting up. It’s lighter than its sibling and more spacious. It can also be used for overnight sleeping!
Maxi-Cosi will also have a clever new car safety option on the way. It will see two car seats work with one base. Your baby will start out in the Pebble, suitable from birth to 13kg, and then move into the Pearl, a car seat suitable from 9 kg to 18kg, or 9 months to almost 4 years. Both work with the FamilyFix Base, an ISOFIX base that features an LED display to show when the car sat is correctly fitted.
This genius idea of making the most of one base is something a few brands will be doing – Recaro has had a two seats/one base option for a couple of seasons, and we’ve heard Britax may also follow suit with a base that works with different Group car seats.
Not to be left out, Kiddy, the car safety innovators who gave us the Infinity Pro and Comfort Pro, will be releasing the Group 1/2/3 Guardian Pro and Group 2/3 Cruiser Pro car seats this year.
Other names releasing new car seats in 2010 are Britax, Hauck, Bebecar and Concord.
Home safety
You may never have thought you’d hear the words “stylish” and “safety gate” in the same sentence, but after its launch of the chic-looking Numi gate in 2009, Lindam is set to release a clear safety gate that will suit those who like modern design and clean lines. It’s solid but see-through, with a minimal graphic on it to prevent your tot from trying to walk through it. We expect it to have the same smart look as Mothercare’s clear offering, the Ultimate Collection swing shut safety gate.
Lindam will also have a contemporary looking wooden slat bed guard coming out in March.
Nursery kit
TOMY have five new baby monitors on the way. Three will be available this month – the Classic, the Digital and the Digital Plus. In April, we’ll see a digital video and a movement sensor pad option hit shelves.
