Just when you think you’ve seen it all, CES 2020 brings a ton of new innovation in baby and kids tech. In many cases, the products are designed to promote education and safety. In some, they actually help simplify tasks for parents. Here’s a selection of some of the most interesting baby and kids tech products we’ve seen so far.
Lumi by Pampers System
Yes, someone has finally done it. Procter & Gamble has found a way to develop a smart diaper. It includes a sensor on the front that can track useful information, logging everything in an app, like sleep patterns including how long your baby slept, when you nursed, and the last time you changed a wet diaper. It comes with a 1,80p HD wide angle video monitor with night vision, two-way audio, room temperature and humidity. The diaper has Velcro closures for a secure fit. The idea is to use the data to help develop patterns and routines with your baby.
Roybi Robot
This adorable companion for kids is a fun toy but its primary purpose is for education. It’s an AI-powered STEM-based little robot that aims to help kids develop their language skills. They can learn new words and how to spell them in their primary language and older kids can start learning a second language. Geared towards kids aged 3 and older, there are more than 500 lessons and stories, and kids can enjoy personalized learning sessions. Parents, meanwhile, can keep track of progress through smart reports delivered to their mobile devices. They can see, for example, how many new words their child has learned and if they have correctly spelled them.
Coolpad Dyno
This wearable for kids launched last year at CES, but it has been redesigned to be slimmer and sleeker, and with new features. Instead of the previous tire-like face, the new face is still round but much thinner. Designed for kids aged 4 and older, there are two user
interfaces, one designed for younger kids and another for pre-teens who have more autonomy. While it does track activity and tell time, the primary purpose of this watch is for safety and security. Parents can set up a geofenced area then let their kids freely play outside or go to their friends’ house. But if the child leaves the predefined perimeter, the parents will receive a notification on their mobile devices. There’s also an SOS button on the side the child can push at any time to alert their parents if something is wrong. It comes with both a green and orange band in the box and more fun colours and patterned bands may be available when it launches. The battery lasts for up to 2.5 days before it needs recharging and it comes with a pre-installed SIM which requires a 4G LTE wireless plan. It’s compatible with both Android and iOS devices and is dust and splash resistant.
UBTech Robotics JIMU FireBot Kit
UBTech is known for its wonderful kids toys that promote STEM development and help kids learn the basics of coding. But a few new robot designs shown at CES are sure to get kids excited. One in particular is the FireBot (available at Best Buy), a mythical dragon design. Like all other Jimu robots, the FireBot is a robotic building block system that helps kids hone their skills in robotics. Once it’s fully put together, they can use a mobile device to code it to do different things and engage in fun and creative play.
4moms mamaRoo Sleep Bassinet
The 4moms MamaRoo Sleep Bassinet gained a lot of attention for its smooth, rhythmic motion to keep a baby entertained when you set them down to relax for a while. With several modes that mimic different ways you might rock a baby, and integrated speakers and music connectivity, it’s no surprise it has been a hit. Now the company has come out with a sleeping solution that works much the same way. It uses the same calming and soothing motions, including car ride, wave, kangaroo, tree swing, and rock-a-bye, along with vibrations and five speed options. It also has four built-in white noises, rain, ocean, fan, and a shush, or you can wirelessly connect a mobile device and play whatever you want. A timer in the app helps you manage bedtime routines. It has a firm mattress and fitted sheet, making it comfortable sleeping quarters for a baby.
Play Shifu Plugo Learning Piano, Alphabet Kit
You might already have seen the Plugo AR gaming system for kids that’s designed to promote STEM skills (rather, STEAM, which also includes the Arts.) It consists of a Gamepad and various Gamekits you can also alongside a tablet to play various educational games. Designed for kids aged 4-10, it’s a great way to combine learning with fun. Two of the newer Gamekits include the learning piano (already available at Best Buy) and the alphabet kit.
The learning piano is a tiny piano with eight keys that kids can tap on alongside a video of a song that shows them which key to press based on colour-coded dots. As a coloured dot falls to the bottom of the screen atop the appropriate key, press that key. There are about 100 songs now ranging from classic nursery rhymes like Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star to well-known tunes like Happy Birthday and even modern day hits like Happy. By the time the kit launches in March, Play Shifu expects to have about 300 songs. And more will be added over time through app updates.
The alphabet kit, meanwhile, is sort of like Scrabble for kids. It includes a container with tiny letter pieces that kids place in slots in order to spell different words while playing various in-app games. The idea is to help build their vocabulary, word usage in sentences, and grammar, including nouns, verbs, and so on.
BuddyPhones Cosmos
Dubbed the only headphones for kids with active noise cancelling (ANC) technology, the Cosmos have a button on the side kids can adjust to turn ANC on or off to cancel out surrounding noise when needed, like on an airplane. Like other kids’ headphones, they limit decibels to protect young childrens’ ears. But they uniquely have three listening settings that are adjustable based on the child’s age, setting, or parents’ preference. You can select from 75dB for toddlers, 85dB for kids, and 94dB for travel mode. They can run for up to 18 hours, can work without a charge via the included cable (without ANC), and are designed to be durable with an included travel case. Another neat feature: they can be daisy chained with up to four other compatible BuddyPhones headphones for sharing a single audio source. They come in two designs: the pink unicorn and midnight blue dragon.
baby brezza Formula Pro Advanced WiFi
The baby brezza Formula Pro Advanced has been on the market some time, offering a clever way for parents to store, warm, and dispense mixed formula for their babies with the push of a button. The latest model, which will be released some time in June, adds Wi-Fi capability and an app so you can remotely make formula so it’s ready by the time you grab your little one, change their diaper and get ready for a late night feeding session. Add water to the dispenser, fill the airtight canister with formula, and when it’s time for feeding, press a button in the app and it will mix and dispense in seconds. You can set the right temperature in the app and choose how many ounces you want. The average family will refill the machine every 2-3 days, and the app will track feeding so you can keep on top of schedules and how much your baby is eating.
Check out lots more cool stuff from CES 2020 at the Best Buy Blog.
