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ROCK-A-BYTE BABY The supply chain is not the only sector that has embraced technology. Dandelion Chandelier, a digital luxury lifestyle magazine, cites some new baby products that incorporate technology to make life a little easier for parents and babies. Smart car seat. Cybex’s Sirona S 360 features a special clip on the harness to alert parents via their smartphone if they leave the baby behind in the car. It also notifies parents if a child unbuckles the clip, is too warm or is seated too long. And if the driver doesn’t respond to an alert about a child left behind, it alerts emergency contacts. All-in-one monitor. Miku’s Pro Smart Baby Monitor tracks breathing and sleep patterns in real time without wearables. 1080p HD video and night vision ensure video is crystal clear, while 2-way talk allows parents to communicate and verbally soothe their baby. And if anything is amiss, Miku’s app sends an alert to a smartphone. Stroller that pushes and rocks itself . E-Priam, a battery-powered and app-controlled stroller (pictured above) is powered by an electric motor to propel the walker more easily uphill or over rough terrain. The stroller’s lithium ion battery has a six-hour charge time and gets anywhere between five to 28 miles per charge.
TURNING GREEN Parents shopping for baby essentials increasingly search for sustainable options, driving manufacturers and brands to examine some of their supply chain practices. Some baby brands, for instance, are converting to packaging that uses biodegradable, compostable, or reusable materials. And, while it may be unavoidable for some items, brands are minimizing single-use plastic in the packaging and in the product itself. When it comes to materials, parents gravitate toward bamboo and organic cotton for clothing, bedding, and for both cloth and disposable diapers. They also opt for stainless steel or glass bottles over plastic bottles, and sustainably sourced and natural wood for cribs and other furniture. For baby skin care and bathing products, natural oils such as coconut, avocado, and calendula, as well as organic and plant-based ingredients such as chamomile, aloe, and shea butter, are on the sustainable shopping list.
BABY BUMP Looks like the baby supply chain will get busier this year. The U.S. birth rate continues to grow year by year, according to United Nations projections. • The current U.S. birth rate in 2023 is 12.02 births per 1,000 people. • The U.S. birth rate in 2022 was 12.01 births per 1,000 people. • The U.S. birth rate in 2021 was 12 births per 1,000 people. • The U.S. birth rate in 2020 was 11.9 births per 1,000 people. —Macrotrends
$8.46 BILLION Baby food revenue in the United States in 2023 3.5% Expected annual growth in the baby food market (CAGR 2023-2028) CHINA Country that generates the most baby food revenue globally (US$17.8 billion in 2023). FEEDING TIME
– Statista
July 2023 • Inbound Logistics 19
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