Friday, July 24, 2009 | Read more at BabyShopMagazine.com

Kind + Jugend 2009

The latest trends for babies and toddlers

Learning games are becoming increasingly important

Kind + Jugend, the world's largest trade fair for children's outfitting, will take place from 17th to 20th September 2009 at Koelnmesse. Major exhibitors from around the world will present their latest products and collections in the product segments of children's furniture, textile outfitting, prams and buggies, child safety seats, hygiene items, baby and toddler toys as well as fashion for babies and toddlers. New trends can be seen in all areas—even before the start of the fair.

Toys for early learning

Promoting the development of babies and toddlers is more important today than ever before. In response, the manufacturers are offering a wide variety of educational toys to promote early learning. The range even includes early learning toys for babies, who discover the world by using all their senses. The toys provide lots of fun and learning assistance for both babies and toddlers. Here the manufacturers are focusing on unusual and pedagogically valuable ideas, as well as on design and safety. In this area you can expect lots of new products which show how the development of logic, language and dexterity can be nurtured through play. The materials used to make these toys include fabrics, plastics and a lot of wood. Soft cuddly toys made of plush continue to be in demand. The unusual designs, some of which are produced in limited editions, will appeal not only to the little ones but also to teenagers and adults.

Individual and functional children's furniture

As in the other segments, the nursery segment is shaped by a demand for quality products. Solid wood furniture made from light beech, birch and maple are especially trendy. However, combinations of solid wood and wood veneer, as well as MDF product ranges in white, pastel or light natural wood colours, are also very popular. Woods like walnut and the colour noccio create a contrast to a light base tone.

Overall, the trend is towards long-life products which can be used to serve multiple functions. The furniture is becoming less childlike and playful and is increasingly characterised by unusual shapes and subtle colours. Matching accessories give the room a personal touch. Here the spectrum ranges from subtle patterns to bright colours. The vast range of shapes, colours and materials meets customers' desire for individual design.

Numerous options for different combinations

In the prams segment the focus is on design and functionality. Here too, the trend is towards individualisation: design, colour and technology are tailored to the specific needs of the parents. The prams all feature special functions and can be used in many different ways. Thus combination prams remain very popular. The design is sleek and the technology is modern. Small, functional and lightweight frames, which can also be made from aluminium, are very trendy. The colour range tends to be subtle, and the prams can be combined with brightly coloured add-on seats.

Safe and comfortable child car seats

The internationally standardised Isofix system has for years now ensured that the installing of child car seats is a simple and user-friendly process. From February 2011, all cars must be equipped with the Isofix system. Innovations will be presented in the area of seatbelt fastenings with an adapter for pram attachments and baby carriers. Traveller systems offer the possibility of using the child seat as a pram attachment or a pram seat. The focus here is on simpler handling. The seats combine sophisticated design with high functionality. In addition to safety aspects, the manufacturers have paid special attention to the comfort of the baby or child. It is therefore a matter of course that the materials and textiles used are child-friendly, sweat absorbent and fashionable. The colour palette is muted and elegant, with combinations like blue/grey or green/black that match the car or the pram. The patterns are based on a clear design vocabulary.

Fashion with special details

Babies' and children's fashion is characterised by loving designs which also reflect the trend towards individuality. The designs range from traditional and elegant, right through to fresh and peppy. Special prints with a mother ofpearl effect or silver shimmers spice up a single-colour outfit. The same applies to the intricately designed appliqués. In addition to the basic combinations of white, navy and blue, which draw attention with their unusual details, colour combinations like green/natural/beige, brown/pink and yellow/purple are becoming increasingly popular.

Textiles and children's outfitting

The manufacturers will present products that meet ecological and organic standards and feature the corresponding seals of quality. In addition, comprehensive UV protection is also playing a major role in babies' and children's fashion, as well as the textiles used for accessories in nurseries and prams. Here, natural products like cotton are used as well as fabrics that repel water and dirt.

Throughout the children's outfitting products segment, the trend is towards items that blend into the home environment. As a result, the traditional colours white, pink and blue are making a comeback, while unusual limitededition items, e.g. in gold, are also in demand. Licensed figures that the parents are accustomed to also remain popular.

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