’o
`
`,,
`
`[3
`
`s
`‘j
`>
`0,000 '
`OVER
`COPIE SOLD
`5
`
`I0
`
`° Evaluates safety, convenience,
`and durability of hundreds of
`baby products
`
`I
`
`- Includes cribs, car restraints,
`high chairs, strollers, playpens,
`diapers, and baby foods
`
`V_
`
`I
`
`,{
`g; H;
`
`l
`
`a
`
`'
`
`,
`
`'
`
`‘
`
`».l_. 9
`
`V53 - With buying advice and
`, ‘I
`product recall information
`
`p
`
`‘,
`
`- Plus Consumer Reports
`brand-name Ratings and
`recommendations
`
`THIRD REVISED EDITION
`
`Sandy Jones with Werner Freitag E
`and the Editors of
`‘
`Consumer Reports Books
`
`'
`
`5;,
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1054 Page 1
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1054 Page 1
`
`

`
`THIRD REVISED EDITION
`
`Sandy Jones
`with Werner Freitag
`
`and the Editors of
`
`consumer Reports Books
`
`consumer Reports Books
`A Division ol consumers Union
`
`Yonkers, New York
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1054 Page 2
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1054 Page 2
`
`

`
`Copyright © 1991 by Sandy Jones and Consumers Union of United States, Inc.,
`Yonkers, New York 10703
`All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in
`any form.
`
`Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
`Jones, Sandy.
`Guide to baby products / Sandy Jones with Werner Freitag and the
`editors of Consumer Reports Books. — 3rd ed.
`p.
`cm.
`Includes index.
`ISBN 0-89043-360-7
`3. Consumer education.
`2. Infants—Care.
`1. Infant's supplies.
`I. Freitag, Werner, 1936-
`.
`11. Consumer Reports Books.
`III. Title.
`RJ61.J732 1991
`649’.l22’0296—-dc20
`
`Design by Susan Hood
`First printing, May 1991
`Manufactured in the United States of America
`
`Guide to Baby Products, Third Revised Edition is a Consumer Reports Book
`published by Consumers Union, the nonprofit organization that publishes
`Consumer Reports, the monthly magazine of test reports, product Ratings,
`and buying guidance. Established in 1936, Consumers Union is chartered
`under the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York.
`The purposes of Consumers Union, as stated in its charter, are to provide
`consumers with information and counsel on consumer goods and services,
`to give information on all matters relating to the expenditure of the family
`income, and to initiate and to cooperate with individual and group efforts
`seeking to create and maintain decent living standards.
`Consumers Union derives its income solely from the sale of Consumer
`Reports and other publications. In addition, expenses of occasional public
`service efforts may be met, in part, by nonrestrictive, noncommercial con-
`tributions, grants, and fees. Consumers Union accepts no advertising or
`product samples and is not beholden in any way to any commercial inter-
`est. Its Ratings and reports are solely for the use of the readers of its pub-
`lications. Neither the Ratings, nor the reports, nor any Consumers Union
`publications, including this book, may be used in advertising or for any
`commercial purpose. Consumers Union will take all steps open to it to pre-
`vent such uses of its materials, its name, or the name of Consumer Reports.
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1054 Page 3
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1054 Page 3
`
`

`
`2 B
`
`ACKPACKS AND
`
`SOFT CARRIERS
`
`baby carrier allows you to tote your baby on your body and offers a
`convenient alternative to a stroller. A carrier won't make your baby
`any lighter, but a well~designed carrier can help distribute your baby's
`weight more evenly for less strain than carrying your baby in your
`anns—and it will leave your arms free. Pouch carriers are for young
`babies who need head support. while framed carriers are for babies and
`toddlers who can already sit up independently.
`
`All babies love, and need, to be carried, but it’s hard to get much
`else done while cradling a baby in your arms. From ancient times
`onward, parents have tied babies onto themselves with animal
`skins or knotted long strips of fabric to station baby in front or
`back. There are basically two types of carriers used today: pouch-
`like fabric models that you wear either in front or on the back and
`framed carriers designed to be worn only on the back.
`Soft and framed carriers offer some advantages over other
`devices for transporting baby. For example, they offer more mobil-
`ity than, say, a stroller while boarding a bus, hiking, or getting
`through a crowd. Having your baby strapped to you offers a feeling
`of greater security than a baby seat or carrycot, which may tip over
`when your baby's balance shifts. In addition, babies are usually
`soothed by the close contact and rhythmical movements of a par-
`ent’s body—making a carrier very useful for periods of fussiness.
`Carriers can provide a physical closeness that both parents and
`babies need.
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1054 Page 4
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1054 Page 4
`
`

`
`1 0
`
`GUIDE TO BABY PRODUCTS
`
`There are use differences between soft and framed carriers. Soft
`fabric carriers are for the most part designed to give head support
`to a very young baby, with the weight of the baby carried almost
`completely on your shoulders. Framed carriers are designed to be
`used after a baby can sit up independently, an ability babies usually
`develop between six and seven months of age. These models offer
`some structural support by redistributing the baby's weight on
`your upper body instead of placing all of it on your shoulders.
`
`some Disadvantages of Carriers
`Most manufacturers claim that their packs are constructed to carry
`children until they weigh about 30-35 pounds, which is around
`to find that your child is too
`
`ison to your own size is an is
`purchasing this product. A tall, strong parent will probably manage
`carrying a baby or toddler quite comfortably, while a short, slender
`parent may struggle with the discomfort of the carrier's straps cut-
`ting into the shoulders and the imbalance caused by baby's
`increased weight. Also, keep in mind that your child will probably
`have lost interest in being confined to a carrier long before three
`years of age—in fact, around the time the child starts to walk.
`All carriers tend to be quite awkward and difficult to mount on
`ack of it. Bending over with your baby
`,
`d dangerous for the baby.
`ly easy to buckle or tie on; but some
`are difficult to put on without the help of another person. Hefting
`your baby or toddler around to the back in a frame carrier or pull-
`ing the baby around from back to front for dismounting is unwieldy
`at best. Some framed packs have built-in stands that help make
`back-mounting easier.
`In an informal survey, we found that parents were most likely to
`complain about aching backs, shoulders, and calves when their
`baby exceeded approximately one-fourth of their own body weight.
`Frame carriers usually felt most comfortable when parents were
`able to use long walking strides, as during hiking. On the other
`hand, they felt least comfortable when they did a lot of stop-and-
`go walking, as in shopping malls. Most parents found that their
`
`m
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1054 Page 5
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1054 Page 5
`
`

`
`BACKPACKS AND SOFT CARRIERS
`
`1 1
`
`comfort level could be built up with time and practice. But since the
`baby's weight increases quickly, comfort can change to discomfort
`quickly.
`As with all devices that restrict a baby's movements, use of a
`carrier should not be a substitute for allowing your youngster nat-
`ural freedom to crawl, walk, and explore under your supervision.
`Once your baby is over seven months of age, you should limit the
`time in the carrier to less than an hour at a time.
`
`Buying Advice
`
`When shopping for a carrier, you should try it on for comfort.
`Check to see that the shoulder straps are amply padded and that
`they stay in place without slipping. Leg holes for baby should be
`wide (but not so wide as to let the baby slip through) and soft so
`that they don’t bind the legs. The strap’s hardware should be easy
`to operate and should hold securely without slipping. Clasps, espe-
`cially those that fasten in the back, should be easy to open and close
`with one hand, since you're likely to have your baby in the other
`arm when you're putting on or taking off the carrier. Fabrics should
`be easy to wipe clean.
`You may discover that your baby protests loudly to being zipped
`into a carrier, perhaps because of oversensitivity to confinement,
`especially to pressure on the back of the head. The only way to find
`out how your baby will respond is to try a carrier out with your
`baby in it, preferably before you purchase it.
`A pouch-type carrier provides more head and postural support to
`a young infant than simple soft seat carriers. Carriers that consist
`of only a seat and a small head support in the rear may allow a baby
`to lean over or fall out the side.
`
`Soft carriers
`
`‘ Soft carriers are especially serviceable during the early weeks and
`months after birth, when most babies are easily comforted by phys-
`ical closeness. Fussy babies can often be calmed by being strapped
`onto a parent and rocked or walked.
`There are three major varieties of soft carriers: those that resem-
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1054 Page 6
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1054 Page 6
`
`

`
`1 2
`
`GUIDE TO BABY PRODUCTS
`
`ble zippered pouches with an inner fabric seat for the baby; those
`that are simple, soft seats that hold the baby like a small pair of
`pants; and those that are designed to hold the baby balanced on
`your hip. Most soft carriers are designed so that the baby faces you,
`but there are a few models that also give the option of facing the
`baby outward toward the world. If the pouch comes with a head-
`rest, check it for comfort with your baby inside. Such a carrier will
`adapt better to older babies if the headrest is removable. If elastic
`is used in the leg area, test to be sure it's stretchy and won't con-
`strict your baby's legs. The carrier should be completely washable.
`
`Less-Expensive Strap-on Carriers
`
`These carriers are usually designed only for young, relatively small
`babies. Most of them come with headrests that are either perma-
`nently attached to the carrier or designed to be removed when your
`baby outgrows the need for such support. They have minimally pad-
`ded shoulders and are usually tied or fastened on with adjustable
`latches. The advantage of the strap-ons is that they are less cum-
`bersome and usually less expensive than bulkier pouch counter-
`parts. The disadvantages are that strap-ons are difiicult to put on
`without the help of another person and they offer little or no sup-
`port for the infant, who may topple out when an adult leans over.
`We recommend that you try the carrier out before buying it and
`use caution when wearing it.
`
`Petitioner Ex. -1 054 Page 7
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1054 Page 7
`
`

`
`BACKPACKS AM) SOFT CARRIERS
`
`‘I3
`
`Soft carriers
`
`Note: These products were not tested by CU. This listing does not include all
`models available. but is instead a selection of some widely distributed models.
`Descriptions and Special Features are per authors‘ observations and
`manufacturers’ claims.
`
`MODELAWPRICE
`
`DESCRPTION
`
`ConturvSunotK-Ioourou
`Sott Pouch Carrier
`(Model 130-mo. $40-$45)
`
`Padded. adhistable shouder
`straps. Detachable, padded
`head stppon. Elasticized
`expansion band at leg
`holes. "Ot.ick<:inch" buckle
`for easy puton. Poly-cotton
`with terry htetior.
`
`comtey cantor
`($45 plus $3 shipping)
`
`Widelabricshouder
`supportsralherthan
`
`SPECIAL FEATURES
`
`Rear storage pouch.
`Detachable hood for
`cold or wet weather.
`Extension piece. "Daddy
`lor larger-sized
`
`adults.
`
`Baby flowed to face
`inward or outward.
`Avaiable in medium or
`
`Fisher—Price Ride Along
`carrier
`(Model 9108. $35)
`
`Grace courlor Baby
`carrier
`(Model 5650. $40)
`
`grocery cart with Velcro
`tabs. Removable bib.
`
`Two expandable. flap
`top pockets to carry
`smal items.
`
`Padded leg holes.
`Babies can ride lacing
`outward. Carrier has six
`points of attachments.
`
`Sing sidesare
`cushioned.
`
`Baby can ride lacing
`frontward or outward. or
`on adut's back.
`
`shoudastrapscushioned
`headandbacksxppon.
`Squeeziwaleasebuckles.
`Zppersoneachsideto
`ph;ventoaptu"ngbdJy's
`
`Seat formed from doth
`panel. Waist but transfers
`weigit to amlfs lbs.
`Shoulder straws lasten with
`squeezerelease buckles.
`
`Fabric. Ian-folded sling worn
`over one shoulder. Adjusts
`by c’nd:'ng fabric through
`dual Oings. Babies reohe
`hmrnock-style. Todclers
`stradde adult's hb.
`
`liicarrierslilgwith
`patentedwaistbelttocany
`baby'sweignt.S‘ngle
`paddedshouderstrap.Two
`plasticsqueezerelease
`buokles.Babymustbeable
`toholdheadxp(approx.
`loumonths).
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1054 Page 8
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1054 Page 8
`
`

`
` L
`
`14
`
`GUIDE TO BABY PRODUCTS
`
`Soft carriers (continued)
`
`MODEL AND PRICE
`Snugll Legacy Soft Baby
`Cartier
`(Model 018. $50)
`
`DESCRIPTION
`Adjustable. thickly padded
`shodder straps. Padded leg
`holes Outer pouch
`removable lot hot weather.
`
`SPECIAL FEATURES
`Inner seat adjusts from
`birth to 18 months.
`Padded head and back
`sipporl for baby.
`Removable bib. Cradling
`position for nursing or
`sleeping.
`
`Recall
`
`K-mart Infant Soft Carriers, style numbers 9401, 9402, and 9425,
`manufactured since October 1988, have been recalled because
`infants can fall out of them. These carriers are made of blue or gray
`washable fabric and can be worn by an adult in front or in back. If
`you have purchased such a carrier, return it to K-mart for a refund.
`
`Metal-Framed Packs for Toddlers
`
`The advantage of purchasing a metal-framed carrier for your tod-
`dler rather than relying on a fabric carrier after your baby can sit
`up on his or her own is that you get a better distribution of support,
`which can ease strain on your shoulders. Also, the frame creates a
`spacious seating area, so that your toddler can see the world over
`your shoulder without his or her legs or head being confined. Since
`tots may be tempted to climb up onto the seat, it is critical that you
`fasten restraining straps securely to prevent your child from fall-
`ing out.
`'
`
`
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1054 Page 9
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1054 Page 9
`
`

`
`BACKPACKS AND SOFT CARRIERS
`
`‘I 5
`
`Metal-Framed Packs for Toddlers
`
`Note: These products were not tested by CU. This listing does not include all
`models available. but is instead a selection of some widely distributed models.
`Descriptions and Special Features are per authors’ observations and
`manufacturers‘ claims.
`
`MODEL AND PRICE
`
`DESCRPTION
`
`SPECIAL FEATURES
`
`Artsanaot America
`Chlcco Backpack
`(Model 388. $45)
`
`Ligitweight. tubular-
`alurninum frame with
`nonskid. locking
`kickstand. Adjustable
`adut waist strap. Padded
`straws and front ral.
`
`
`Removable. padded
`headrest. adjustable
`infant seat and seat belt.
`
`Gerry Deluxe
`Kiddie Pack
`(Model 073, $50)
`
`stand.
`Wide-ange
`padded foam straps. and
`front rail.
`
`Headrest. storage pouch.
`padded hip belt for adult.
`Adjustable inner seal lor
`baby.
` e—j
`Sameasabove.
`
`Gerry Kiddo seat
`Model 070 has
`(Model 048. $30)
`adjustable inner seat with
`Kiddy Pack
`storage aea below.
`(Model 070. $40)
`
`
`Gerry Ultra-Deluxe
`Kiddie Pack
`(Model 083. $60)
`
`Three~position frame
`adjusts to edits height
`Padded headrest for
`chid's head. neck, and
`back. Thickly padded
`shouder straps with
`adjustable acrossthe-
`chest stemun strap.
` j.j_
`
`Large. removable
`storage pouch with side
`pockets. Over-the-
`shoulders safety harness
`for chid. Adjustable inner
`seat. Wide. padded h'p
`belt for adult.
`
`Handy Chair
`Dandy-Handy
`chair Backpack
`(Model 9118. $55)
`
`Removable. washable
`seat; safety harness;
`side storage pockets;
`sunshade. (Less
`expensive Easy Going
`available. with fewer
`features.)
`
`Rear—fac‘ng carrier with
`kickstand. adult waist
`strap. Frame can be
`converted into regular
`backpack.
`
`Tough Traveler Kid
`Carrier
`(Model 1370. $107)
`
`Adjustable bucket-type
`seat with lootrest; safety
`harness; mesh back
`panel for adult:
`waterprool. zippered
`storage bag; seat can be
`removed for washing.
`More expensive model
`(#1385. 3135) available
`tor rugged hiking.
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1054 Page 10
`
`Petitioner Ex. 1054 Page 10