Parent-friendly Products

KidSwitch Light Switch Extender


111313_KidSwitch_LogoGreg O’Sullivan is president of Just Kids Inc., makers of the KidSwitch Light Switch Extender, a nifty gadget that helps toddlers reach up and turn the lights on or off.

Greg and his wife Wendy started manufacturing and selling what they call a “helping hand tool” 18 years ago as a side business … which has grown into a full-time, family-owned, North Carolina-based small company selling more than 400,000 switches and counting.

KidSwitch attaches easily to a light switch and extends down vertically 12 inches to a toddler’s reach, which gives a child independence and parents a chance to teach their young children a necessary task. It can also instill the concept of “green living” very early on, encouraging kids to save energy.

111313_KidSwitch_productBut I’m getting ahead of myself here – the biggest advantage of KidSwitch is the safe solution it provides to help young children reach up and operate room lights on their own, so parents can rest easy.

Helping Children Reach for the Moon! Winner of Creative Child Magazine’s Seal of Excellence in 2010, KidSwitch is also honored with the Buzzillions Reviewer’s Choice™ Award for the nation’s best child safety product. “It is amazing to see how far our product has come,” Greg says. “I created KidSwitch after my own daughter fell off a makeshift ‘ladder’ that she had built out of toys in an attempt to reach her light switch. Years later, it is so rewarding to read the many positive reviews from parents who share their own stories about how KidSwitch is helping make their and their children’s lives a little easier.”

Wendy explains that the company name represents members of the family:

J stands for daughter Jordan
U stands for “Us” (we are all in this business together)
S stands for younger daughter Samantha
T stands for Taylor, the O’Sullivan’s inspiration

Just Kids it is – very nice!

Babyhome


110613_Babyhome_02Spanish child care company wins 2013 SheKnows Parenting Award.

Based in Barcelona, Spain with offices in New Jersey, Babyhome offers a dynamic range of award-winning, high-quality, stylish, functional and affordable child care products, including highchairs, a wooden cradle collection, strollers and more.

Congratulations! This year, Babyhome’s Emotion stroller is selected as Best Everyday Stroller in the 2013 SheKnows Parenting Awards.

We are honored to be the recipient of this coveted award from one of the leading lifestyle sites for women. Our Emotion stroller being selected among the hundreds of submissions they received is an incredible achievement.  Thank you to the SheKnows editors and of course to our Babyhome fans worldwide for their votes.

-Stellario D’Urso, vice president, sales and marketing Babyhome USA

The lightweight Emotion stroller is designed with the latest trends for functionality in mind, perfect for parents looking for affordable luxury. Emotion comes complete with an adjustable seat that will hold up to 55lbs – plus a mosquito net, rain shield, footrest, waterproof canopy, large shopping basket and removable wheels (wow!) – all folding easily into a compact, practical package, too!

110613_Babyhome_SheKnowsAwardLogoBigger and Better. SheKnows is an award-winning women’s media platform and a top lifestyle site. SheKnows’ fourth annual Parenting Awards recognizes products and services for children and parents that stand out in the areas of functionality, durability, innovation, convenience, price and overall excellence. The SheKnows editorial team reviewed nearly 200 products, and the SheKnows user community cast more than 18,000 votes to help choose this year’s winners. Categories ranged from baby gear and pregnancy essentials to baby and toddler toys and tablets for kids.

The SheKnows Parenting Awards are a great resource for parents who want recommendations on products and services that are vetted by their peers, especially as the holiday season approaches. Each year, the Parenting Awards gets bigger and better. We are proud to work with so many great companies and would like to extend our congratulations to Babyhome.

-Kristin Bustamante, SheKnows editorial director

For more information about the SheKnows Parenting Awards and to view winners, finalists and the Editor’s Choice picks in each category, click on the logo above, or visit http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/awards/parenting-awards-2013.

  • Another Hilary Abbott Communications, Inc. client! Children’s Retail Today publishes new posts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. If you want to get the word out about your innovative, imaginative and inspiring products for children, contact me today!

Clever Relish


Solving life’s parenting problems with panache.

101513_CleverRelish_jillThrough partnership with the undiscovered genius of parents across America, we will deliver smart products that dress up your life while empowering the growth of strong families.

The CleverRelish™ company is the brainchild of Jill Carreiro, an engineer, salesperson, lifelong tinkerer and clever Mom of four children –which means Jill has endured nearly six straight years of diaper changes looking at that same ugly plastic baby wipes tub with every change.

Total inspiration for improvement, don’t you think?

101513_CleverRelish_WipesWrapsPatent Pending, Made in the USA. One day Jill realized, why can’t baby wipes tubs simply become part of the décor?! And with this “aha” moment, she started development on her first CleverRelish product, a simple, elegant solution to add style to your life.

101513_CleverRelish_01As the world’s first interchangeable decorative cover available, WipesWraps™ by CleverRelish™ transform unsightly baby wipe tubs into pretty room accessories, an inventive, quick-fix that stretches on to dress up any environment.

Massachusetts-based CleverRelish recently shipped 2,500 units of WipesWraps exceeding its initial goal –and for a small, privately-owned and entrepreneurial business, this is a fantastic accomplishment!

“The commitment to our mission of building this business and innovating new products is unwavering,” Jill says. “As a mother and business woman, I understand our customers, which shows in the design of our flagship product line that has people desiring the unexpected and purchasing products that have the ability to turn something boring into something fun.”

101513_CleverRelish_02Celebrity Fave. Hollywood Moms from Jennifer Garner to Kate Hudson rave about their new fave accessory, and with more than 4,000 social media followers, the company is receiving accolades from customers -and media- around the world.

Have a Clever Idea of your own? “CleverRelish prides itself on being an advocate for entrepreneurs thinking outside the box and strong women everywhere taking risks to make a difference for themselves, their families and the world around them,” Jill says. “We vow to support other small and local businesses, advocate for their success and recognize their brilliance and ingenious efforts, which provide inspiration and motivation to the growth and perseverance of CleverRelish every day.”

If you’re a clever inventor with a cool idea for kids or the home, tell Jill about it by emailing idea@cleverrelish.com.

My Child’s ID app


A parent’s proactive approach to being prepared.

Imagine … not being able to find your child. In that moment of panic, would you be able to describe to authorities what your child looks like?

Could you list your loved one’s daily medications in an instant?

Can your loved one’s caregivers assist in a crisis?

081513_MyChildsIDMy Child’s ID can help.

This new app from Peanut Butter and Jelly Partners developers stores all the pertinent information on your child or loved one -with up to four photos to help with visual identification in case of emergency.

Great app not only for your children’s safety but great for elderly parents and even pet information. I love it! Good job!

-Sharri B

Simply fill in all information in one location on your smart phone or tablet. The app stores all medical alerts, vaccinations, etc. as well as physical descriptions, physical marking and contact info for parents and caregivers. My Child’s I.D. also lists important actions to take immediately if your child or loved one is missing, and has the ability to share it with others via email.

Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 5.1 or later. Optimized for iPhone 5.

Name Maker Personalized Labels


Back-to-School means time to label your kids’ stuff!

081413_namemaker_01Save time and money with Name Maker‘s easy-to-use personalized clothing and waterproof sticker labels.

Woven Fabric Clothing Labels. Printed with non-fade ink, these labels iron on easily and are made to withstand washer/dryer/commercial laundering and dry cleaning for the life of the garment. Stick ’em on your kids’ clothes, jackets, uniforms and book bags.

Waterproof Personalized Sticker Labels are great on lunch containers, water bottles, school supplies and sports/dance gear. Dishwasher, microwave, ‘fridge and freezer safe. These waterproof stickers are also a must for school kids with allergies and other medical conditions.

081413_namemaker_04On-trend Designs. Kids love the cool-looking styles and Moms love not digging through the lost and found or replacing expensive supplies.

A leading manufacturer of top-quality labels for 75 years, Name Maker uses a unique nine-step process for personalizing products. Name Maker also employs trained artisans who personalize ribbons, napkins, gift wrap, bags and boxes, favor containers, as well as labels in custom made sizes, care content and origin tabs. The company’s personalized gift wrap recently won the Best New Product Award at the National Stationery Show.

Celebrity Favorite. Atlanta, GA-based Name Maker, Inc. was established in 1938 as a fabric label company in New York City. Bernie Bryan, president of Notions Unlimited, bought the company in 1950 and rebuilt all of the original machinery for the Atlanta plant.

Bernie’s daughter Cheryl Dorrell joined the business in 1990, developing several new products, then becoming president in 1996. The company’s personalized packaging concepts have attracted celebrity customers such as Oprah, Martha Stewart, Darcy Miller, Reese Witherspoon, Julia Roberts, Dakota Fanning, Katie Couric, Tricia Yearwood, David Copperfield, Marcia Gay Harden and Fredric Fekkai, among others.

081413_namemaker_03

Talking Tips for Kids


071013_TalkingTipsForKids_FionaBarry_02Where babbling babies become talented talkers.

Speech and Language Therapist Fiona Barry develops effective strategies for you to use every day to boost your child’s speech, language and communication skills. Fiona writes and presents her findings in a series of videos available at www.talkingtipsforkids.com, a nifty website where parents can help their children thrive in the nursery, in school, on the playground -and later in the workplace- by becoming happy, confident, chatty children.

Good talking and listening skills are the key to your child succeeding in life … Parents are the key to unlocking their child’s talking talents, and it’s never too early or late to start!

TalkingTipsForKids videos are packed full of useful tips to boost a child’s communication skills. Designed to fit seamlessly into a parent’s everyday routines at home, the advice is based on research and evidence from current clinical practice.

071013_TalkingTipsForKids_LogoA Speech and Language Therapist since 2004, Fiona received a BA Honours in English Literature and Linguistics from the University of Kent, Canterbury and a Master of Science degree in Speech and Language Sciences from University College London. “I also have two boys of my own,” she says, “who have given me the best insight into how children learn to perform what I think is the greatest magic trick of all time – how to turn ideas and feelings into words and sentences!”

Fiona says children who have a good foundation in talking and listening skills are more likely to grow up to make friends easily, do well at school, stay out of trouble with the law and thrive in the workplace.

Baby K’tan


060413_BabyKtan_manThe awarding-winning baby carrier that slips on like a shirt and fits like a wrap.

Florida-based Baby K’tan is best known for its innovative newborn carriers. Since 2005, the company has grown to include clothing and accessories – and will soon be débuting  a new and improved K’tanCloth to the market.

060413_BabyKtan_clothThe Baby K’tan Baby Carrier is an innovative soft cotton baby carrier that blends the benefits of a sling, wrap and carrier. It is a ready-to-wear wrap that enables parents and caregivers to comfortably carry children from birth to three years) in a variety of positions.

Our goal is to help parents feel comfortable in their busy babywearing lives!

060413_BabyKtan_clothesThe idea for Baby K’tan grew from a desire to achieve just the right kind of parent-child bonding. The Chesal and the Wernick families each were raising a child with special needs, and they themselves bonded together. With a desire to provide their babies with the sensory nourishment they require for optimal development, while also wanting to carry their babies as much as possible, they produced their own ideal carrier, which became the basis for a wonderful business.

Personal Fit. Baby K’tan combines style, ease of use and comfort for busy parents and caregivers. Lightweight and compact like a sling, it goes over both shoulders to evenly distribute baby’s weight like a structured carrier. K’tan gives a personal fit with no wrapping, buckles, snaps, rings or hardware.

060413_BabyKtan_awardsThe Baby K’tan Baby Carrier is made entirely of soft, breathable 100% cotton knit fabric that is strong enough to hold a child from 8 to 35 lbs. The unique double-loop design, which provides added security for carrying baby and privacy for mom while nursing, also has an adjustable back support band.

A great Father’s Day gift!

Madpax


052313_MadPax_01‘Funk’tional backpacks that are the talk of the town.

Mike Cordovana and Tina Huber make ultra cool backpacks for creative kids … and their parents! The team experiments with ways to construct backpacks that make them stand out in a crowd.

MadPax backpacks are like no other –the cutting edge, origami-inspired designs scream individuality in a unique and wildly fun way!

Each creation conceived enters the ‘fabratory’ as a double dare of design and possibility. We add the punk, passion and purpose, dab out the drab and add the rad.

052313_MadPax_02Is it creature, myth or magic? A huge celebrity favorite –count Britney Spears, Hugh Jackman, Naomi Watts, LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian as customers- MadPax packs are available in a range of sizes, including Full Size, Half Size, Nibbler (a name I really love), a fully-insulated lunch pack and the Mighty Bite, to stash the small stuff.

052313_MadPax_03Once the creator behind custom homes, Mike Cordovana is the company’s math and manufacturing wizard; Tina Huber adds the funk as “sorceress of sales and marketing.” This duo has plans for additional Madpax -including halfpax, packs for littles under five, lunchboxes and accessories.

Pax on, I say!

Cool-it Caddy


Freeze and go portability for outdoor-enthusiast-moms and people of all ages!

The idea came to founder Deborah Vinci one steamy summer afternoon while golfing in the Arizona desert. She’s a true lover of the warm weather and sunshine … but melted lip balm, lipstick, make-up and sunscreen ruined in the heat, not so much. So Deborah created Cool-it Caddy™ cosmetics coolers through her new venture, Vinci Designs, LLC.

052213_Cool-ItCaddy_01No More Meltdown. Now, spending time on the fairway, tennis court, beach, lake or playground no longer spells *meltdown* for your take-along stuff.

The patent-pending design of Cool-It Caddy uses an integrated coolant with lightweight insulation layers to keep contents cool. That means your lip balm, sunscreen, lipstick –even heat-sensitive medicines and snacks maintain their integrity under even the hottest conditions.

The sleek, haute design makes them convenient enough to slip inside purses, briefcases, fanny packs, golf bags, backpacks and diaper bags – so you stay fresh, no matter what the score – or the temperature.

052213_Cool-ItCaddy_IcePopsJust Pop and Play. Just pop the Cool-it Caddy into a freezer until frozen. Put you stuff inside and go do your thing. On the course. On the boat. On the go. Courtside. Beachside. Poolside. Car Rides. Playtime!

Currently, Cool-it Caddy products, including Cool-it Caddy Classic, Cool-it Caddy for Men, Cool-it Caddy Contempo and Icepops-  are sold online and at retail locations across the country, as well as private golf clubs and resorts.

SoYoung


Lifestyle bags and products with a celebrity following.

052113_SoYoung_backpacks_02Canadian mom Catherine Choi is the founder of SoYoung, a line of diaper bags, lunch boxes, cooler bags and accessories designed for the modern family. The line is characterized by clean lines, elegant functionality, tough-yet-tender fabrics and lovely silkscreen graphics, which come together with great urban appeal.

In the instant we meet our child for the first time, we are transformed by the sudden expansion of our hearts in a way we never thought possible. SoYoung is about acting on this inspiration. It’s about the pursuit of possibility and watching an idea blossom into reality.

Catherine’s Aha Moment. With no previous background, Catherine simply decided to design a better diaper bag! The process took four years to bring to market, but for her, it was a profound conviction, a sign you could say.

052113_SoYoung_lunchbagscoolersThe name of Catherine’s company –SoYoung- is actually her Korean name, one she tried hard to leave behind, yet became the nature choice for a business name of her own.

“Our products strive to add beauty to the everyday moments of life with children,” she says. “We treasure the unexpected moments of joy and laughter set against the backdrop of raising a family.”

052113_SoYoung_logoThe Toronto-based company with a celebrity following –like Halle Berry and Heidi Klum- is launching a new collection of waxed canvas bags and a new diaper clutch, available this August.

Sold across Canada, the United States and internationally in Australia, New Zealand, Kuwait, Hong Kong and Singapore.