2026 ABC Kids Expo: Exciting Things to Come!
Vegas Twist: See the showgirl in the background with the champagne skirt? 😃
The ABC Kids Expo is always a blast, even though there were some notable absences this year. One thing we kept hearing - from old friends and new faces we met along the way, is just how small the baby industry really is. Year after year, we find ourselves reconnecting with familiar faces, catching up, and sharing memories.
Of course, ABC Kids Expo is also the perfect place to check out the newest baby gear hitting the market. We’re excited to share some of our favorite finds below. As for the products still under wraps, you'll have to stay tuned a little longer! 🤐
Axkid
We finally have a car seat company that starts with the letter “A.” Axkid released their rear-facing only seat and their belt-positioning booster seat earlier this year.
Axkid One 3
Driftwood Beige
Glacier Lake Blue
Rear-facing only
Weight limits: 5-11 lbs. with optional infant insert accessory, 11-65 lbs.
Height limits: up to 49”
Features:
Rigid LATCH installation to 40 lbs., then rigid LATCH WITH seat belt installation to 65 lbs.
Load leg
Anti-rebound bar
Adjustable legroom
FR-free
Recline dial on car seat between child’s legs adjusts recline
MSRP: $899
Axkid will have accessories available for purchase in the future, including a vehicle seat protector.
Axkid Up
Belt-positioning booster
Weight limits: 40-120 lbs. HBB
Features:
Rigid LATCH
Load leg
Adjustable foot rest
Adjustable seating height: 3 heights
Tallest shoulder belt guide of any booster at 24”
Side impact pod
Removable torso wings for narrow 3-across situations
FR-free
Foldable with handle for travel
MSRP $499
Measurements:
24” belt guide
~17” widest point at arm rests, 15” with torso wings removed
A gap of up to 4” is allowed behind the booster, but the booster must be in contact with the vehicle head restraint at the top and at the bight (seat crack) at the bottom.
Baby Trend
Baby Trend was the surprise of the show! They are making improvements to current products—no more “front entry” belt path on the Hybrid (follow your manual or call them for more clarification)—and are designing new, more user-friendly car seats and strollers. The new car seats won’t be out until next year, so until then, enjoy some pics.
York compact 30” wide double stroller. Wider seat on the left accommodates infant seat attachment. Available at Target.
Unnamed rotating car seat
Britax/Romer
In addition to the new Galaxy360 rotating car seat Britax launched earlier this year, they will be releasing a Galaxy360+ with upgrades that include a load leg and ventilated fabrics. Availability will be Q3 of this year.
On the Romer side, Ryla makes its debut. Ryla is based on the Galaxy360+ with other upgrades including rigid LATCH installation and FR-free covers made from recycled materials and (clean!) ground oyster shells. Availability will also be Q3 of this year.
Britax Galaxy360+
Romer Ryla. Is it green? Is it gray? We couldn’t decide. What we did decide on was that it was a beautiful color (Sedona Sage).
Chicco
Chicco showed the new Fit360 SE rotating car seat and updated fashions.
Chicco Fit360 Zip
Chicco Fit360 ClearTex & Fit360 SE ClearTex
Cybex
Cybex highlighted their Platinum lineup with the Cloud T infant seat, Callisto T rotating seat, and Solution T belt-positioning booster seat. All of the Platinum seats feature premium fabric wrapping and plastic color matching. The Cloud T infant seat (available now in City Grey for $649) and Solution T booster seat (available in June for $349) both feature rigid LATCH installation and the Cloud T also has a lay flat feature and load leg.
Callisto T
5-50 lbs. RF, 26.5-65 lbs. FF, 40-120 lbs. BPB
SensorSafe chest clip
QuickSpring Harness System
Coming in July
$799
Doona
The big car seat news of the show was the Doona X! With it’s lay flat feature, soft open stroller feature, and base with rigid LATCH installation and load leg, there are many improvements over the Doona + which will continue to be sold. We have an article comparing the new Doona X and the Doona + here.
Doona X (blue canopy) left vs. Doona+ (gray canopy) right
Doona+ (gray canopy) left vs. Doona X (blue canopy) right with 6 month old dolls
Doona X with zip off canopy and storage basket
Doona X (far side) in lay flat mode
Canopy comparison
Doona X recline mode
Doona X base with load leg & lockoff
Maxi-Cosi
Some Maxi-Cosi seats that were prototypes last year are ready for sale this year.
Ambra
Infant Seat, pronounced ahm-bra
4-30 lbs.
Rigid LATCH
Load leg
Tension Fix indicator if using seat belt for install
Recline squeeze handle that you push or pull to adjust the recline
MSRP $399
Sela
All-in-one, pronounced like Stella
Weight limits: 5-40 lbs., 30-65 lbs., 40-100 lbs.
Features:
Double-ended rigid LATCH (35 lbs. RF, 40 lbs. FF)
Seat belt lockoff for forward-facing only
8 position recline
Cup holders are optional for U.S. (mandatory for Canada); BTW, these cup holders hold juice boxes too
Pure Cosi flame retardant-free fabrics
18” top harness slot height
MSRP $399
UPPAbaby
UPPAbaby didn’t introduce any new features to their car seats this year, but they did announce a new stroller, the Kona ($649.99). It’s a mid-size stroller right between the Minu V3 and the Cruz V3. It’s not small enough to be travel-sized and fit in an overhead bin on an airplane, but it’s got the functionality—including lay flat for newborns—of a larger stroller without the bulk. Release date is September.
Kona
Kona with 6 mo doll
Kona canopy extended
Kona frame with Mesa V3
They’re also retiring the Jake fashion, a fan favorite for a long time. Jake is being replaced by James, an inkier, edgier black. I know, I know…. but think about how many different whites there are when you go to buy white paint, right? We’ll miss Jake, but he has a life to live now and James will fill his shoes admirably.
