Skip Hop Props

OK, yes, several weeks have passed since the ABC show, and I’m still playing catch up. I’m carrying around a Stokke tote bag filled with press kits and catalogs and notes on a bunch of vendors and items I still haven’t gotten to. It’s frustrating, but I’m chipping away. Today, I’m tackling Skip Hop.

Famous now for their simple yet brilliant idea to make a diaper bag that also could attach to a stroller, the Skip Hop team is continuing to demonstrate that their problem-solving approach to design does not begin and end with a diaper bag. At the ABC show, they showed a range of new items, from feeding plates to bedding. But they also continue to develop and improve their diaper bags.

For me, the most exciting introduction is the Via Backpack, a sleek, boxy bag that’s packed with pockets and can be worn on the back or strapped to a stroller. People have been begging for a Skip Hop backpack, and the Via does not disappoint. There is also a Messenger version of the Via, which will replace the Expo. Both bags will stand upright on the floor, and they have contrast interiors to make it easier to find your car keys among the clutter.

The Duo and Dash are both getting some upgrades, significant enough to earn them both the subtitle “Deluxe Edition.” Magnetic closures and PVC-free changing pads are two of the major developments, but the new Shuttle Clips are the crown jewel. These ingenious little connectors make it totally effortless to go back and forth between the stroller clips and the shoulder strap. I can’t begin to describe them, but they are, as we say in this neck of the woods, wicked cool.

The new City Chic bag is the first bag design from Skip Hop that isn’t really unisex. It’s a tote-style diaper bag that includes a take-away clutch for mom. The bag is constructed from matte-laminated cotton canvas and trimmed with leather. The four fabric patterns are contemporary and feminine, and like all Skip Hop bags, you’d probably keep using it long after your baby is out of diapers.

In the feeding department, I loved the Palette Plate. Shaped like an artist’s palette, this plate comes with three colorful drop-in bowls that are microwave safe AND they come with covers. The base is non-skid with a built-in bowl and a spot for a sippy cup, plus matching utensils are included. It’s perfect for the early days of feeding, as you’re trying several different types of food at each meal, and then as kids get older, it’s great for finicky eaters who don’t like to have their peas encroaching on their mashed potatoes. They’ve also introduced Table Fun, a 5-piece melamine feeding set that comes in three different designs by illustrator Eleanor Grosch.

Lastly, they were showing two bedding sets in a partnership with Bananafish. The designs were exactly what you’d expect from Skip Hop – modern and tasteful, but the 400-thread count sheets were really nice – crisp and cool to the touch, and soft as baby skin. It’s well-priced, too. According to my notes, the set will retail for around $220.

As for availability, all of these items are expected to arrive in October and November.

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