From The Straits Times    |


1. PACIF-I SMART PACIFIER, US$39 

The Pacif-i Smart Pacifier is no ordinary baby’s soother. The pacifier, which is available for pre-order, communicates with an app (available on iOS and Android) using Bluetooth. You can trigger an alarm on the pacifier if it has been misplaced (a boon should you drop it while exploring a foreign city), and even track your child when he’s using it. It also has a sensor built into the teat, so you can monitor your little one’s temperature. Available from bluemaestro.com.

2. 4MOMS ORIGAMI, US$849.99

If there’s one stroller worth wrangling through the airport with hand luggage and baby in tow, it’s the Origami – particularly because it automatically folds (and unfolds) itself. The folding mechanism is battery-powered and recharges when you push the stroller, thanks to generators in its rear wheels. It also comes with ports so you can charge your smartphone and other gadgets. What’s more, it has running lights to make you more visible when it’s overcast, and an LCD display to tell you the distance you’ve travelled on foot with your little one, among other things. Available from 4moms.com.

3. UBOOLY, US$29.95

Kids may have met their match with this toy, which can entertain most four- to eight-year-olds for an entire long-haul flight and beyond. The Ubooly app (available on iOS and Android), combined with its plush casing, becomes an interactive character that remembers your child’s name, responds to voice commands and encourages kids to do an ever-increasing range of activities, from playing a game  to learning a language. It’s a great way to soak up the culture of your holiday destination! The memory-foam casing can withstand a three-storey drop, so your smartphone is safe. It also comes in a Jumbo (US$59.95) version for tablet. Available from ubooly.com.

4. HEREO, US$179 (includes a three-month subscription)

Never lose Junior in a restaurant or big city. Aside from being a bright and colourful kids’ watch, the HereO also has a built-in real-time GPS, so parents can monitor their child’s whereabouts. Use the free app (available on iOS and Android) to program in safe zones, so you’ll receive a notification when your kids arrive or depart from the specified locations. The Panic Alert function allows children to send you an alert, which pinpoints their exact location and provides directions if they’re lost, hurt or in danger. The HereO is also water-resistant, so it’ll survive the occasional water spill. It’s available for pre-order from hereofamily.com.

5. BABY GIGL, €100

Changing time zones with a baby can wreak havoc on feed times. Thankfully, Baby Gigl, a plastic casing which you insert a milk bottle into, will soon help you keep to your child’s feeding schedule. Available from September, it comes with an app (available on iOS and Android), which tells you when your little one’s last meal was, drinking time and how much milk or formula was consumed. It provides feedback on how to hold the bottle for a better flow, which helps prevent colic and gas – a blessing for new parents. Available from slowcontrol.com/en

This article was originally published on SilverKris.com. 

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