Ever see something new for parents and think to yourself, "Why on earth wasn't that around when my kids were little?"
The ABC Kids Expo showcased several hundred vendors selling just about everything you could imagine - and some things you shouldn't. I mean, I'm certain they're wonderful, but there's something odd about a mannequin gazing intently into her laptop while strapped into a hands-free breast pump.
Understand, I didn't have the time or opportunity to see every booth at the convention; I'm sure there were plenty of other amazing contraptions I missed out on. And, I'm not an aficionado on all things baby; something similar to this product may be out there already, but I haven't seen it.
Why didn't they think of this before?
One of the most frustrating aspects of traveling with Maddie when she was a baby was trying to get her and her seat in the back of the car. It can be a contortionistic nightmare, and I'd often wind up with a rain-soaked backside.
Orbit Baby, Inc. has come up with something so obvious, the entire baby seat industry should be rifling through the 'fridge for a V8. The concept is simple ... and genius.
They've created a car seat-stroller combination that utilizes a rotating dock. The car seat base, with a metal docking ring, is "permanently" secured in the back of your car. The car seat, with a mounting ring underneath, can be set in place with the baby facing you. Once secured, you simply swivel the car seat to face the front or back. See a video on the Orbit Baby system in the media player here.
I didn't actually pick up the seat; I'm guessing it has more weight to it than your average Graco. But the incredible ease of use, in my opinion, more than makes up for a couple extra pounds. Since the stroller carriage also has a docking ring, you can literally pick the seat up from one dock and plop it on another.
If I'm fortunate enough to have another child, this is at the top of the baby shower list.
Now, if they'd only invent something to pick up the pacifier from the floorboard ...