July 2009 New Specialty Toys — Safety

The innovative design and palm cushion of the Squeez-Ease prevents scratching the face and promotes sensory development in newborns. The design of the Squeez-Ease allows fingers to be free for exploration and sucking, allows for tactile development of the fingers, decreases sudden jerking of the hands and calms baby, and improves awareness of hands when cushion is squeezed. Made of an ultra soft blend of bamboo and organic cotton. This product received a 2009 Top Choice Award from Creative Child Magazine.
Past Videos: Product demonstration

This wrap-and-tie crib rail cover is designed to protect baby and protect cribs from teeth marks. It is lightly padded with a waterproof layer, and machine washable in soft Sherpa fleece. The product is available in solids of chocolate, natural, white, pink, blue and sage green, as well as the company's Max and Maya dot print. It may be purchased in one long piece for the front or back rails of the crib, or two short pieces for the side rails of the crib. "[It's] tie on, not Velcro, so can be knotted, which makes it difficult for a child to remove from crib," Marchelle Lyons, marketing coordinator for Trend Lab, told TDmonthly. "[The] waterproof layer prevents the chewing and drool from soaking the wood of the crib." Launch date: May 2009.

The Jing Joe Cooling/Warming Infant Pad is a 9.5" x 14" nylon pad with a built-in fan that draws in ambient air and delivers it out the front mesh spacer. The pad is design to fit easily in a car seat, stroller, swing or bouncer to provide a cushion of air for a child to sit up against that will keep them dry and comfortable without compromising the safety. "[An] opening on each side of the pad accommodates [the] shoulder strap so as not to compromise intended safety features, and also allows use of accessories, such as [the] padded head support and shoulder strap padding. Adjustment to the shoulder straps is required depending on size of the child," Anthony Tong, president of PaTongco LLC, told TDmonthly. The Jing Joe has received the following awards: 2009 Mom's Best Award; 2009 The Toy Man Seal of Approval; 2009 The Toy Man Award of Excellence; and 2009 The Toy Man Editor's Choice. Launch date: February 17, 2009.

The 100-percent Silicone Bottle has no open pores to harbor bacteria, thereby ensuring baby is getting nutrition as pure as nature intended, without the harmful leaching of harmful chemicals. It is BPA Free, phthalate free and latex free. This bottle won a 2009 Top Gear of the Year Award from Shape You. "[The] 100-percent Silicone Bottle collapses as air is released, giving baby a bubble-free feeding, reducing the likelihood of colic, reflux and spit-up," Nicole Strand, in sales administration at Prince Lionheart, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.