Lifesavers 2014 Nashville

If you’ve checked out our Facebook page recently (and hey, if you haven’t, check it out and Like Us while you’re there–it’s the best way to get our updates and recall notices when they happen–and, let’s get real, we like it when you like us 😉 ), you know Kecia and I are in Nashville for the Lifesavers Conference. It’s a big multi-disciplinary conference and they have a child passenger safety track. Anyway . . . at breaks, we get to go into the exhibit hall and talk to the manufacturer’s representatives. Unlike the ABC Show where they send their marketing people and sometimes their CPS advocates, manufacturers send their CPS advocates and sometimes their marketing people to conferences. In other words, it’s easier to talk shop here.

Cybex

The Aton Q rear-facing-only seat (that’s a new-fangled term for infant seat, take note now) started shipping 10 days ago! It’s available in Charcoal, Ocean, Lollipop, Storm Cloud, and Autumn Gold. It’s a great fit for 20″ Romeo doll and it fits our preemie doll much better than the original Aton does–take a look:

The L.S.P (Linear Side-Impact Protection) system telescopes out of the side of the carrier and channels crash energy away from baby. And the new “Americanized” canopy provides much better coverage.

Diono

The new Diono convertible seats have an ETA of this summer. They’ll have a better idea of when they’ll appear the closer to the date of release, obviously, but it’s hard to say right now. The angle adjuster CAN be used with the new convertibles. Remember that with the angle adjuster, the child must have head control and be able to sit unassisted (there’s no age minimum anymore).

The large harness pads are optional for rear-facing, but they must be used for forward-facing.

The Cambria booster was not on display so we weren’t able to get any measurements.

Rainier

• has headwings
• 5-50 lbs. rear-facing
• 20-90 lbs. forward-facing
• 50-120 lbs. as a booster

Pacifica

• NO headwings
• 5-50 lbs. rear-facing
• 20-90 lbs. forward-facing
• 50-120 lbs. as a booster

Olympia

• 5-45 lbs. rear-facing
• 20-70 lbs. forward-facing
• 50-110 lbs. as a booster

We basically hovered around the middle booths where the food tables were. Honestly, they were empty, but we were like hawks, circling for prey. Conference-goers attack those food tables pretty quickly, so if you’re hungry and not right there, you’re outta luck.

The Cybex Aton Q, Solution Q-fix booster and the prototype new Diono convertibles were the only brand new and coming soon products displayed here at Lifesavers. However, we know new products are around the corner and we promise to keep you in the loop when we have more info to share.

Overall, the conference was great and it was wonderful to see all our industry friends again. While the CRs themselves are always exciting – it’s the passionate people behind the products who really make these conferences so valuable and informative.