Japanese manufacturer Aprica announced yesterday the release of a new stroller and travel system, but what caught our eye was the stroller's SmartTray feature. It's a smart phone holder, not for the adult pushing the stroller, but down at the baby's viewing level.
The aluminum stroller weighs in at less than 20 lbs, touts one-handed folding capability, and a 180 degree rotating shade canopy, but we're curious what readers think of the SmartTray function. Would you use it? Is the world enough stimulation for a strolling baby? Might it come in handy if you were stuck in line somewhere? Would the other parents at the park give you dirty looks if your baby was watching videos on your walk? I'll be the first to admit that a smart phone loaded with Yo Gabba Gabba episodes has saved me more than once, but I'm not sure if I'd need it on a stroller. What do you think?
Aprica Moto Travel System Stroller in Twilite, available at Babies R Us, $299.99
(Image: PR Newswire)
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This is a terrible idea. I understand using an app to entertain a baby/toddler in dire situations (restaurants, road trips), but seriously... walks? I think nature/city streets are far more intriguing to an infant. If you can't figure out another way to keep your baby happy, you have a problem...
Really? Babies and toddlers need a smart phone holder? Does it come with Bluetooth and surround sound inside the canopy too? If I were in the market for a new stroller, I would make a point to NOT buy this one just because of this feature.
"The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages screen viewing in the first 2 years of life and recommends a daily limit of 1 to 2 hours of quality programs for older children. Several previous studies documented that US preschool-aged children watch 1 to 3 hours of television per day. Although quality educational programming does exist for 3- to 5-year-old children, television viewing (or similar screen time) before the age of 3 was associated with cognitive delays, attentional problems, and sleep disorders in observational studies."
just saying...
Can we save this for the worst baby product ever list?
K, I'm gonna get crucified for this, but I can see it. Now don't get me wrong - this definitely falls under the catagory of things parents could abuse in a serious way. But my youngest kid loves our iPad and it has saved me more than once! Should your kid be plugged in 24/7? No. But I personally use my stroller for a heck of a lot more than pleasant walks. Like Christmas shopping. or the grocery store. or a soccer game. Things that my 10mos old is over and done with in about 10 minutes. I'm not a techie mom; I cloth diaper, we buy organic and we limit screen time for all of our kids. But used IN MODERATION, this could save your tech and your sanity from time to time. (pretty pricey for the occational convenience, though....)
This may be the most depressing baby product ever. Turn your baby around and let them look at YOU.
I think it's pretty ridiculous. I totally get where AmyB504 is coming from--technology can be great in certain situations. My 4-year-old likes to ask, "Is it a special occasion?" because he knows that's when he gets to try a game on my husband's phone....like at the dr when he's nervous and bouncing off the walls before an appt. But to actually need a holder on the stroller certainly makes it sound like the child is going to use the phone a lot.
Plus, I thought kids weren't supposed to be handling cell phones often because of the exposure to radiation?
I thought I would come on and be the annoying hater, but I'm glad to see I'm in good company.
No, no, no, no, no. I'm so flabbergasted I can't even summon any other words.
My first reaction is the "ooooh no!" type. But as my kids get older (and I have more), I've realized there are times and places for things, and I've had to eat my words many times (we were NEVER going to have one of those UGLY PLASTIC exersaucers!...until I had a 3-year-old and a baby, and needed somewhere to occasionally put the baby that I knew the 3-year-old couldn't trip over her).
So I liked Amy's comment.
Of course, we don't have smart phones or iPads, so it's not really an issue for us.
But this is coming from Japan they probably have their smart phones loaded with math problems and learn to speak English apps.
Disgusting. To me, kids playing with smart phones come in second in the "bad parenting" category only to parents so busy texting, talking, and surfing on their phones that they don't have time to interact with their kids. Seriously, parents, get off your phones. And back to the stroller, if your kid needs more stimulation that the walk is providing, give him a book.