Global Leader TOMY Debuts 2017 Infant and Toddler Innovations at ABC Expo

OAK BROOK, Ill., Oct. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- TOMY, a leading global designer, producer and marketer of innovative, high quality infant and toddler products, unveils its 2017 line-up of inspired new parent essentials and engaging infant and toddler toys across its comprehensive portfolio of brands including Lamaze, Boon, The First Years, JJ Cole and John Deere. Making their debut at ABC Kids Expo 2016 (booth #3013), new introductions from TOMY's family of brands bring functionality, fashion and fun to mealtime, bath time, together time and playtime, giving today's parents (and their kids!) more reasons to smile than ever before.

"Nowhere are consumer insights more critical than in the infant and toddler categories. Understanding what today's parents need as well as what they want and bringing that into the product concept and development stage is how our TOMY infant and toddler brands have continued to grow exponentially," states Masayuki Nagatake, President of TOMY International. "This is an area of great innovation, which can be as small as developing an easier-to-clean one-piece sippy cup lid or as large as pioneering an entire category, like our Lamaze toy brand did when it launched nearly two decades ago. Our 2017 introductions showcase dynamic innovation, providing much-needed and highly-desired solutions to parenting challenges both personal and universal." 

Highlights of 2017 introductions across TOMY's family of brands include:

Lamaze — Lamaze toys share a name and high brand recognition with the most trusted resource in pregnancy, birth and early parenting: Lamaze International. Lamaze pioneered the developmental infant toy category when the line debuted two decades ago. Still created in conjunction with child development experts, Lamaze toys encourage baby to grow and develop through features that spark daily triumphs and promote together-time between parent and baby as well as activities that encourage baby to explore and learn independently. Plus, every purchase of Lamaze toys supports education and advocacy for safe and healthy pregnancy, birth and early parenting around the world!  Joining the core line of classic, shower-gift-favorites are new introductions from the take-anywhere Lamaze Clip & Go line, including Waddling Wade, Phillip the Pelican and Flipping Felipe, each incorporating signature developmental features with cute whimsical characters. New items in in the Early Learning line include Stacking Starseeker, a plush spaceship that separates into segments chock full of put-in and take-out play, and Repeat Petey, an adorable parrot that speaks when spoken to, repeating whatever baby or parent says to him! In addition, the Lamaze Soft Books line adds new titles chronicling the adventures of friendly Lamaze character faces.

Boon — Boon's passion is problem solving and ingenuity seamlessly combined with simple yet effective design. A leader in innovation and design in infant and toddler products, the Boon brand is anchored by a strong desire to create modern products that help simplify parents' lives while retaining their personal style. This year, CARE brings the signature Boon style into a health and grooming kit that makes a posh yet practical shower gift. SPIFF and TRIP riff on Boon's iconic GRASS drying rack, putting the blades of grass to work as a whimsical organizer complete with toddler grooming essentials and a travel drying rack with bottle brushes. GLEAM shines bright as a dual-ended light that projects a starry sky on the nursery wall or can be used as a flashlight with a convenient pick-up and put-down on/off mechanism.  

The First Years helps parents prepare for the unpredictable moments life throws at them on the wild journey of parenthood. A trusted partner for infant and toddler essentials for more than 60 years, The First Years adds entirely new categories as well as thoughtful expansions to current favorites in its 2017 line up. Breastflow® is redesigned, giving even more reasons for parents to rely on the only bottle designed to work just like the breast. Breastflow supports every feeding choice, whether supplementing, formula feeding, or weaning, because unlike regular bottles it is designed so baby uses two motions - suction and compression – to instinctively control the milk flow just like breastfeeding. The First Years makes toddler feeding more than tolerable with thoughtful new additions featuring unique designs as well as licensed kid-favorite characters. Building upon the convenience of the interchangeable, easy-to-clean One Piece Lid, The First Years adds stackability to the list of reasons to love its sippy cups. From Insulated Sippy Cups and Simply Spoutless Cups to Stackable Trainers and Stackable Hard and Soft Spout Cups, The First Years brings even more ways to keep toddlers hydrated while keeping parents from becoming frustrated! The Inside Scoop Suction Dip Plate adds an area for dipping to the fool-proof easy-scoop rim ensuring more successful toddler mealtimes. Also new this year are travel necessities such as Baby Bundle, Reversible Car Seat & Stroller Strap Covers, and Head & Body Support Pillows in fabrics designed to complement today's hottest color trends.

JJ Cole — JJ Cole Collections provides parents with products that represent the style they strive for with the function they need. The leader in fashion-forward, quality products for today's on-the-go parents, JJ Cole expands its Bundleme category in 2017 with new on-trend colors and a variety of new styles, including the Down Bundleme. This warm, packable option fits into an attached stuff sack for easy storage within a diaper bag, and can be attached to a stroller handle when not in use.

Adding to its current offerings, JJ Cole also debuts the new Bomber Hat Set, featuring a cozy hat, mittens and booties that are a perfect complement to Bundleme. Fashion-forward functionality abounds in this year's JJ Cole Diaper Bag line-up, featuring chic new prints and on-trend shapes including the all-new Arrington, Carryall and Knapsack bags. The Little JJ Cole Collection for active toddlers adds new kid-favorite characters including Unicorn and Dragon to the backpack line, and the all-new Memory Box provides a convenient way to store all of baby's "firsts." Also joining the JJ Cole line in 2017 is the functional Market Tote specially designed to bring signature JJ Cole organization and toting capabilities to everyday errands and the Agility Stretch Carrier in a new, on-trend gray circle stripe fabric. 

John Deere—John Deere brings farm play to kids no matter where they live, providing unique preschool learning and play experiences with classic play patterns that encourage both fun and imagination. Infant Wrist Rattles give new meaning to "farm hands" and bring the classic John Deere brand to the youngest members of the next generation of fans. The Big Scoop Tractor and Dump Truck Set features two great sandbox toys packed with a pail for hours of loading, scooping and dumping fun. Friendly-faced Johnny Tractor is the star character in a variety of vehicles including Push 'n Roll Johnny, RC Johnny, Learn 'n Pop Johnny and Build-a-Johnny options, while realistic role play sets including Deluxe Talking Toolbelt, Farm Pond Fish Adventure and Lawn & Garden Set let kids get their fill of outdoor adventure and fun!

About TOMY International
TOMY International (www.tomy.com) is a leading global designer, producer and marketer of a broad range of innovative, high-quality toys sold to preschoolers, youths and adults under the TOMY® and Ertl® brands as well as products for parents, infants and toddlers marketed under the The First Years®, JJ Cole® Collections and Boon® brands. TOMY International also markets its products under popular licensed properties such as John Deere, Pokémon, Sonic the Hedgehog, Lamaze, Zootopia, Inside Out, Miles from Tomorrowland, The Good Dinosaur, Winnie the Pooh, Princesses, Cars, Fairies and Toy Story, and other well-known properties. TOMY International's mission is to make the world smile. TOMY International reaches its target consumers through multiple channels of distribution supporting more than 25,000 retail outlets throughout North and South America, Europe and Australia. TOMY International is a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan-based TOMY Company, Ltd. (Tokyo Stock Exchange Code No. 7867). © TOMY

SOURCE TOMY International

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