JPMA Introduces 2017’s Most Innovative Products for Babies and Children
Anaheim, California (PRWEB) May 11, 2017 -- This year’s most innovative products are making parenting easier in a whole new way. Today, the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) in partnership with Baby Center announced the winners of the 2017 Innovation Awards. The Innovation Awards highlight some of the most exciting new products entering the market today, and more than a hundred cutting-edge products were entered into the competition.
JPMA announced a winner in each of nine categories, and one overall “Best In Show,” who were selected by a panel of industry judges. One company will also be selected to receive the Parent’s Pick Award on Saturday, May 13, voted on by parents across the country.
“Our Innovation Award winners indicate two important trends that are emerging in our industry. First, we’re seeing outstanding innovation at an accessible price point, and second, on the opposite end of the spectrum, we’re seeing products that literally do it all for parents,” said Kelly Mariotti, Executive Director of JPMA. “There’s been some incredible movement in the industry over the past few years. We’re seeing innovation not only in the products themselves, but also in the way they are marketed and merchandised.”
The 2017 Innovation Award Winners are:
Best In Show: mifold the Grab-and-Go Booster seat
mifold is more than 10x smaller than a regular booster seat, and just as safe. mifold is the most advanced, compact and portable booster seat ever invented. It is completely different to all other car seats and redefines the way booster seats work and appear, especially the routing of the vehicle seat belt and the size of the seat. Instead of lifting the child to position the adult belt, mifold adapts the belt to the child. The lap belt is designed to be low on the hips and contacting the top of the thighs, which has been shown to be a very safe and effective positioning. The seat is designed to be much smaller than a child’s bottom and still be comfortable.
Feeding/Bathing/Changing Category: The Pop®, the cleaner pacifier, from Doddle & Co™
The Pop®, the cleaner pacifier, from Doddle & Co™: the first ever self-protecting pacifier that pops back into its protective bubble when it hits a surface, keeping germs and nasties out. Parents get to spend more time with baby, and less time washing a paci over the sink. Our mission is to bring products to market that help make the day-to-day realities of parenting easier—we consider this our very first step in that direction. Our award winning engineer, designed the nipple of the pop to mimic the natural teat (with slight pullback). It's safe, intuitive and can be operated by tiny hands. Crafted without phthalates, the silicone material is durable while still being reactive to baby.
Safety Category: Qdos Zero-Screw Furniture Anti-Tip Kit
Patented, new technology. Traditionally, you screw into the furniture and into a stud behind the wall. Qdos requires no screws, but use unique hooks, that go into the wall between studs, leaving only tiny holes. IKEA and other “tip over” recalls and accidents in the news. Market NEEDS easy, safe solutions. Qdos installs easily, is safe, holds up to 150 lbs. Nothing similar on the market. Hot topic - Parents need safe, easy. No tools required. Pushing the hooks through the drywall is easy and safely secures connection to the wall. Modern, sleek design, flexibility. You can screw the product into furniture and stud, if you prefer. Nice covers for both the wall piece and furniture piece. User friendly. You pull UPWARDS to tighten. Most kits on the market you have to pull DOWNWARDS, getting your arm in between the furniture and the wall.
Child Restraint Category: 4moms Self-Installing Car Seat
Four out of five car seats are installed incorrectly, which means they’re not safe. The new 4moms self-installing car seat auto levels and tensions itself for a correct installation. Each time the carrier is connected to the base, the car seat runs a final system check to verify a correct installation. The seat also includes a smartphone integration for additional safety alerts, and to address other key areas of misuse.
Nursery Category: Happiest Baby SNOO, Smart Sleeper
Exhaustion is new parents’ #1 stress. Yet, despite the ubiquity of this problem, infant sleepers have not evolved in 1,000 years, until now…Introducing, SNOO, the safest, most effective baby bed ever made! Invented by renowned pediatrician, Dr. Harvey Karp, author of The Happiest Baby on the Block and creator of the 5 S’s, in collaboration with world leading designer, Yves Behar, and MIT-trained engineers. SNOO’s groundbreaking technology helps infants and parents get the sleep they need. Its robotic system quickly boosts sleep and automatically responds to crying with increasing levels of sound and womb-like motion, often soothing upsets in seconds; Clip-in swaddle is hip safe, reduces overheating, secures to the bed keeping babies safely on the back (only bed meeting all AAP safe sleep recommendations); Weaning function allows easy transition to a crib. By boosting sleep, SNOO may prevent depression, breastfeeding failure and infant death from unsafe sleeping practices.
Play/Entertainment Category: Skip Hop Explore & More Baby's View 3-Stage Activity Center
Designed in collaboration with a pediatrician, our baby activity center supports a “whole body” approach to play and learning. With toys that can be positioned anywhere for baby, it features a 360-degree rotating seat that turns and stretches for bouncing. Our unique Discovery Window lets baby see their feet while they play to learn cause and effect. As baby grows, our activity center converts for easy cruising—ultimately becoming a clean, sturdy table for coloring, playing and more.
Infant/Parent Care Category: Project Nursery Parent + Baby SmartBand with two additional bands The Project Nursery Parent + Baby SmartBand is a first-of-its-kind wearable device created specifically for parents and powered by world-class technology. From scheduling and tracking events for mom and baby to streamlining digital communications, the SmartBand offers thoughtful features and capabilities to simplify daily family life and keep Baby and Mom healthy through infancy and beyond.
On The Go Category: Fisher-Price® On-the-Go Baby Dome
The On-the-Go Baby Dome is perfect for naptime or playtime at home or on-the-go –featuring all of the functionality of a playard, but with the flexibility to use it indoors and out. Since launching in January 2017, this item has taken off at retail and we’re chasing inventory to keep up with demand! Parents love how easy the Dome is to assemble, how spacious it is for baby, and how light it is to transport (did we mention – it folds flat!). Millennials’ well-documented passion for travel doesn’t stop as their families grow, so the need for easily portable solutions that allow for parents to care for their little ones wherever they go will remain. The colorful geometric pattern on the machine-washable padding is inspired by contemporary trends in home décor identified by Fisher-Price Creative Director Jonathan Adler. To lend itself to outdoor use, the product also features a canopy that protects baby from sun (UPF20) and bugs.
Carriers Category: AEGIS Neonate Medical Wrap
Neonate medical wrap, first wrap to be used in hospitals immediately after birth, hands free, skin to skin. Reduce hospitals falls and hospital acquired infections to mom & Baby. Aegis is being recognized as the " Seatbelt of Maternity."
Stroller Category: F2 AF + Joint
The Combi F2 Stroller is as light as a feather, weighing in at just 8.6 pounds! Perfect for travel and the on-the-go parent, the F2 folds compactly using just one hand. A mesh seat provides ultimate breathability and a reclining backrest allows little ones to rest at any time. The extended canopy protects from the elements while the sleek, innovative design provides a stylish alternative to the typical umbrella stroller. The F2's shock-absorbing frame and one-touch 5-point harness provide the ultimate in safety and comfort. A convenient storage basket is an accessible home for all essential items. Connects two F2 AF Strollers or F2 Plus AF Strollers to create twin strollers.
Honorable Mentions:
Nanobebe for the Breastmilk Bottle
Prince Lionheart for the IllumiPAD Illuminating Changing pad
Zippyjamz for the ZippyJamz Sleeper
Voting is now open for the JPMA Parent’s Pick Awards, where parents nationwide can get a sneak peek at the newest baby gear hitting the market and vote for their favorite “must-have” product. The voting runs May 1- 13 via babysafetyzone.org.
Products are evaluated and judged on their innovation, marketability, trend-setting potential, appeal and usefulness by a selection committee of industry media representatives and retail buyers.
The Innovation Awards Competition started in 1989 as the Most Innovative Product Contest and has evolved through the years to become a highly recognized competition. It was officially renamed the “Show Off” Product Competition in 1992, however in 2003, JPMA decided the contest should be called the “Innovation Awards” to more accurately represent the focus on innovation.
ABOUT JPMA
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) exists as the voice of the industry on quality and safety for products intended for babies and children. We do this by:
• Advocating for safety through product certification programs and legislative and regulatory involvement;
• Supporting a broad and diverse membership through member-only programming and industry promotion;
• And by acting as a comprehensive source for baby product information and education.
JPMA members represent 95 percent of the prenatal to preschool products sold in North America. To find out more information about JPMA, our certification program and products certified, and for a complete listing of JPMA Members, please visit http://www.jpma.org. Follow JPMA on Twitter @JPMA and connect with us on Facebook to learn about additional safety tips and JPMA initiatives.
Kelly Voelker, JPMA, http://jpma.org, +1 704-769-5537, [email protected]
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