Latest news with #UPPABaby
The Hill
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hill
The US can have tariffs on baby safety products or a baby boom, but not both
President Trump has voiced a desire to ignite a new 'baby boom' in America, floating a $5,000 baby bonus and other policies aimed at spurring family formation. But the administration's tariff policies are now undercutting that vision — even in the wake of a U.S.–China trade deal that brings some clarity to parents and industry, but not nearly enough relief. The recently finalized trade framework sets a nominal 55 percent tariff on most Chinese imports, including baby and child safety products, down from the 126.5 percent peak earlier this spring. That's a welcome improvement, but it is still more than double the rate from before the trade war began. For essential products such as cribs, car seats, strollers and safe sleep spaces, that's a huge added cost; one that shows no signs of going away. These aren't luxury goods. Many are legally required. All are foundational to the health and safety of young children. Yet the White House has confirmed it will maintain the 55 percent rate, with no exemptions currently planned for baby products and no clear timetable for further relief. This leaves families facing steep prices and mounting uncertainty, just as the administration is trying to encourage more Americans to have children. The good news is, the White House can fix this without derailing its deal with China. All it needs to do is exempt from the tariffs all products essential to the care and protection of babies and children. The first Trump administration exempted these products in 2018, and the current administration floated doing so again a few months ago. But now the pause seems to have put such an exemption on the backburner. That's a mistake. Baby and childcare products are uniquely vulnerable to tariff pressure: More than 90 percent are imported from Asia, with the overwhelming majority manufactured in China. Even with the new framework in place, U.S. importers remain hesitant. They don't know if the deal will hold, and they don't want to ramp up orders only to see tariffs spike again. A permanent exemption for baby products would eliminate that uncertainty, and protect families from sudden price shocks. Otherwise, the severe price increases we have seen are likely to continue. Before the new deal, strollers had risen in price by anywhere from $150 to $450. A popular UPPABaby car seat has increased in price by more than 40 percent, despite efforts to absorb cost. The vast majority of brands and products are facing similar increases. We anticipate an average overall price increase of around 30 percent across critical baby and child products. Beyond the price crisis is a looming product shortage. Manufacturers who slowed production during the tariff surge are now in limbo. Retailers are stockpiling inventory where they can. As one told us, 'If I could fill a warehouse with car seats and strollers right now, I would.' Without relief, families will be forced into painful — and risky — choices. Picture a single mother whose car seat is damaged in a minor crash. She is legally required to replace it, but she either can't afford a new one or can't find one in stock. She considers buying a used or counterfeit seat of questionable safety or continuing to use the damaged one. Parents should not be forced to gamble with their children's safety. Although the administration's goal of reducing America's reliance on foreign manufacturing is understandable, the realities of this sector require a different approach. Baby and child safety products are highly regulated and built through decades-long partnerships with specialized factories abroad. These supply chains can't be replicated domestically overnight, nor can most families afford the price increases that would come with reshoring. A 2021 Pew survey found that cost was the most commonly cited reason non-parents were unlikely to have children, and those costs have increased steadily since. A 2022 report from the Brookings Institution found that inflation had added more than $26,000 to the cost of raising a child, hitting low-income families hardest and pushing many to delay or scale back their plans for children altogether. Tariffs shouldn't make that burden worse. A broad exemption for all essential baby and child products would provide certainty regardless of how the broader China deal unfolds. It would support struggling families, stabilize the industry and bolster the administration's pro-family goals. Without the exemption, the consequences won't be measured in dollars alone, but also in risks no parent should have to take.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
I Test Drove the UPPABaby Vista V3 Stroller for 9 Months—Here's My Honest Review
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and some items may be gifted to us. Additionally, PureWow may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here. You can learn more about that process here. Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Read the original article on Purewow. Value: 17/20 Functionality: 19/20 Portability: 19/20 Aesthetic: 19/20 Safety: 19/20TOTAL: 93/100 It was 2018 and I was about to welcome my first-born son. Stroller decisions were top of mind and everyone had an opinion. I took my research to the Brooklyn streets and noticed that most parents relied on UPPABaby's Vista model. ('It has the flexibility to accommodate two,' one mom gleefully told me, referencing the option to purchase an additional RumbleSeat. 'The storage space is so good, you won't need a car,' another exclaimed.) At the time, my focus was entirely on baby #1, but it felt like a good investment. I was sold. Back then, my test was of the OG model—and, while I loved it, I had some notes. In comparison to other strollers I've tried, the original Vista wasn't as smooth when making twisty turns around potholes on the street. The straps were also occasionally finicky to adjust and click into place. The bassinet, which I also used by my bedside thank to this handy stand ($200), didn't have a ton of breathability. Enter UPPABaby's brand-new Vista V3 model (not to mention the 2024 arrival of my second-born son, now nine months) and all of these details have been addressed. But that's not all: Over the course of my test drive, the number of times I thought to myself wow, how great is this stroller was vast. Here, the many reasons it's a stand-out. How I Tested the UPPABaby Vista V3 Stroller Rachel Bowie While I relied on the Doona Car Seat and Stroller for car travel and easy transitions from the road to baby's room while snoozing, I'm a Brooklyn mom and I walk everywhere. I needed an everyday stroller that was sturdy and robust. The aforementioned ample storage space was a must—enough to fit groceries, but also my older son's backpack and school supplies—I also wanted a stroller that could support a range of ages and stages. The Vista V3, which can by outfitted with a bassinet ($280), was the perfect option to help me transition from the newborn phase to my now upright and babbling nine-month-old, which is exactly the length of this test. I've relied on this stroller to walk the round-trip four miles a day to pickup and drop-off with my 7-year-old; I've stuffed it in the trunk of our car for vacations to Washington D.C., Massachusetts and more. I've toggled the RumbleSeat from backward-facing to forward-facing as my baby gained more head control. I've used it in snowstorms, rainstorms and more. All this is to say that I've put the V3 through its paces—and I'm totally impressed. MY UPPABABY VISTA V3 STROLLER REVIEW What I Love About the UPPABaby Vista V3 Stroller Rachel Bowie The most noticeable difference when I first tested it out is truly the maneuverability and the suspension. What I lamented in the OG edition (wheels that got stuck on a sidewalk lip, for example, and required an extra bit of elbow grease to traverse) has all been upgraded and improved. In fact, the newer model offers an especially smooth ride on difficult terrains: I found it significantly easier to zig and zag around people on the sidewalk and also to push one-handed than its predecessor. It also meant that my infant stayed sleeping longer in most circumstances—the biggest win. I also love the addition of the five-point harness (which was added in the Vista V2 model, too), as well as the magnetic clasp. This means that strapping baby in so that they are safe and secure feels rather brainless. The various straps almost find each other—that's how strong the clasp is—while still staying child-proof. They're also easy to adjust without having to remove baby from the seat, helpful as your baby rapidly grows (or even just falls asleep in an awkward position). Other details worth calling out: The addition of a mesh panels to the bassinet and the option to winterize the toddler seat with a padded insert. I was particularly thankful for the added ventilation while pushing my newborn around on Halloween this past autumn, when temps somehow were still in the high 80s in New York. My baby snoozed happily but had a nice airflow at the same time. The storage continues to be a stand-out (I've fit everything from a farmers' market haul to my son's scooter beneath baby); ditto the peek-a-boo spot on the toddler seat. (I love—and wish all strollers offered—a non-disruptive panel that you can roll back to get a quick peek at baby while sleeping.) Also, not for nothing, but this stroller still looks brand-new after nine months of use. (I got it in a darker color—the Noa—but it's certainly worth noting.) The Specs and Safety Ratings You Need to Know Rachel Bowie The newest features of the Vista V3 include the enhanced FlexRide suspension, the all-weather toddler seat, the new magnetic buckle system and reflective trims of the wheels and under-carriage basket for added visibility while strolling. This stroller is also equipped to accommodate up to three children (the third older child can hop on and ride along thanks to UPPABaby's PiggyBack Ride-Along board, $180). In total, there are over 30 different configurations available While the bassinet is now sold separately, your infant can ride in the RumbleSeat from birth with the inclusion of the infant SnugSeat. Without the SnugSeat, this stroller is designed to be used for kids ages 3 months to 50 pounds. (The bassinet and the SnugSeat extend that life span to 0 months.) The basket can accommodate up to 30 pounds of storage and the stroller also features an easily adjustable handlebar to help accommodate parents of different heights. From a safety perspective, the Vista V3 is Green Guard-certified, which means it has been tested and evaluated above and beyond the government standards when it comes to chemical emissions limits. The leather used on the stroller is also REACH compliant certified for over 200+ chemicals. The Only Flaws About the UPPABaby Vista V3 My biggest gripe about the new model is a surprising one: The pedal lock sometimes gets stuck. This doesn't compromise safety—it mainly sticks when unlocking the stroller from a resting position, so I just have to press my foot on it an extra time. I do think it still is a bit cumbersome to open (you have to un-latch a tab on the side), which means that two hands are always required. The Vista V3 does stand upright on its own, but the footprint is still a bit large. That is countered by the sturdiness it provides, but you want to be sure you have space in the entryway—or your apartment hallway—even if it is fully closed up. Final Thoughts UppaBABY I love this stroller. It maneuvers well, it transports a ton, and it offers peak comfort and performance for baby and mom. The toddler seat can be adjusted to an impressive variety of angles to increase comfort; the UPF 50+ canopy provides ample shade; overall, it's an exceptional experience from start to finish. While the improvements may seem minor at first, the devil's in the details. I love the upgrades that have been made to the Vista design and stand behind them as worth the investment. (And I'm not the only one: The UppaBaby Vista V3 just won the Best Stroller award in PureWow's annual Happy Baby Awards for 2025.) $1200 at pottery barn kids $1200 at amazon Is the Doona Car Seat & Stroller Worth It? Here's My Honest Review
