BabyTech® Awards 2023" Grand Prize, Excellence Award, and Special Award winners in each category are determined!

The Grand Prize for the best product in each of the 12 categories of the "BabyTech® Awards 2023" and the Awards of Excellence for the next best product were selected by the judging committee after rigorous screening. In addition, the "Akachan Honpo Award" by a platinum sponsor and the "Mom & Dad Community Award" by a community of moms and dads who use BabyTech were also selected as special awards.

Breastfeeding and Eating Section

Grand Prize

baby's fun!(sketchbook, Inc.)

For childcare facilities DX support service for school lunches, covering everything from menu planning to meal kit delivery and nutrition education content.

• I sympathize with your commitment to safe and secure food, as the impetus for developing this service came from the birth of your own child. As a platform for food and nutrition education, it is likely to generate a variety of projects as it connects various players and accumulates information.
• As you mentioned in your presentation, it would be nice if the service becomes more in line with children's growth through future partnerships with ICT companies. I felt the future potential of this service.

Excellence Award

Kidslation(Patchwork Quilt Co.)

Frozen infant food subscription EC with a focus on food quality, taste, and nutrition

• As a 100% subsidiary of a major food company, it would have a high level of social credibility. A business model that adds verification to the process would also be able to operate while clarifying various types of evidence. The fact that the company asks dietitians working at daycare centers to create recipes leaves room to add more professionalism to the process, and we have high expectations for this.

Children's Learning and Play Division

Grand Prize

Toy sub!(Trana Corporation)

Toy subscription that recommends and rents toys tailored to each child based on 1 million user reviews

• I liked the service because it is rooted in the idea that even after a toy has been used, there are people who will use it again, and who value things. I thought that the data on children's personalities and toy preferences accumulated through this ongoing service would be valuable.
• I think this will contribute to sustainability in terms of reducing the number of toys that are thrown away. I think it would be even better if this cycle could be turned around to a stage where the quality of new toys can be further improved.

Excellence Award

TODO English（Enuma Japan LLC)

An English learning app with an overwhelming amount of English input and an intuitive curriculum that allows you to continue learning while having fun.

• I felt that the method was solid, as it traced the process of learning a language naturally, in that you can intuitively learn the necessary foundations (reading, listening, writing, and speaking) without being conscious of "studying" English, and in that the progress of learning is objectively reported.

Crete class(AMAZING EDTECH PTE. LTD)

Math learning application starting at age 3, fostering the acquisition of number images, logic and thinking skills.

• I felt that the design is easy to understand, assuming that children will touch it, and that it is designed to make it difficult for them to perform operations other than those intended. The content of the curriculum is sufficient for elementary education in arithmetic.

Safety Measures and Monitoring Division (3 Excellence Awards were selected due to the large number of entries)

Grand Prize

Body Movement Sensor for Infants Baby Alarm E-202 (Sea Star, Inc.)

Body movement sensor for infants that can be worn in diapers. Scheduled to go on sale on January 1, 2024.

• I think this is a wonderful product that can be used as an inexpensive SIDS prevention measure, with the end user in mind being the home. It is desirable that body movement sensors for infants, which have a strong image of being used in daycare centers and hospitals, can now be introduced at home.
• The approach of reducing the risk of SIDS by increasing the chance of noticing respiratory arrest, the stand-alone sensor and alarm, and the attitude of making it something that can be used by many people at a low price are encouraging.

Excellence Award

CuboAi Sleep Safety Bundle(Un-nun Technology Co., Ltd.)

A set of baby sleep-watching camera and sensor pad with more than 20 diverse functions. It detects and notifies when the baby's face is covered or when the baby is unable to turn over. This year, more than five new functions have been added, including a coughing detection function and enhanced detection accuracy.

• I think it is wonderful that the company is not content to rest on its laurels with the general consumer support it has received at Amazon, and that it has no hesitation in adding new functions to its product lineup.

Siesta BeBe Series" body motion sensor for sleep and infants(Global Electronics Corporation)

A mat-type body motion monitoring system (by breathing) that has been installed in many medical institutions and daycare facilities. Equipped with a noise cancellation function that reduces false alarms and lost alarms with high accuracy even in places where a lot of vibration noise is generated, such as daycare facilities.

• I felt that the sensor was sincere about the fact that misreporting can worsen the working environment and reduce the reliability of the product. I also liked the company's attitude of thoroughly pursuing its own strong points. The commercialization of the product for both newborns and infants is also challenging.

Hello! Family. HaloCoco/HaloPochi/HaloMoni(Kokuyo Corporation)

A terminal to monitor the location of family members (Harokoko) A tag to watch for forgotten belongings such as calligraphy tools (Harotagu), a button to press when an errand is completed and record it in an app (Haropochi), and a smart monitor that allows parents and children to exchange messages (Haromoni)

• While there are competing products in the single product category, I feel that they are very useful as an integrated group of tools that can be linked together, can record actions and connect to communication, and can communicate remotely without the use of a smart phone. We look forward to seeing more new devices from this family in the future.

Safety devices to assist in preventing pick-up buses from being left behind

Grand Prize

B-004 Safety device for "Sustainamotion" watch-over system (SM-AS)
(Samurai Sword Co., Ltd.)

Automatic detection type safety device conforming to MLIT guidelines. Installation cable is also included in one package, enabling installation in 2 hours per unit.

• I think this product was developed with an awareness of what kind of functions would be safe and easy to understand when viewed from the perspective of the general public, not necessarily because it is in the childcare industry. The product is also highly versatile throughout society, and we can expect to see it expand into many other areas in the future.
• I was surprised at the current lack of progress in the installation of automatic detection safety devices in pick-up and drop-off buses, despite the tragic accidents that have occurred. I thought this product would reduce the possibility of accidents by being introduced by next spring.

Excellence Award

Anti-left behind in car device SOS-0006(TCI Corporation)

Conforms to MLIT guidelines. Visually checkable. Simple operation with only one button. Constructed with highly reliable parts that only a manufacturer of safety equipment for special vehicles can provide. Can be installed in as little as one hour.

• From special vehicle monitoring to developing a product to prevent being left behind on buses. I think it is wonderful that you have made the product more practical by reducing malfunctions. The fact that we were able to use examples from South Korea, an advanced country in the field of anti-leaving devices, was also a step forward because of our advanced efforts.

MAMORU(H.K.S. Co., Ltd.)

Conforms to MLIT guidelines. Automatic detection. While other companies require the driver to press the confirmation button at the end of the bus every time the engine is stopped, this product has a unique specification that requires the confirmation button only when the key is removed. This product reduces the number of times the confirmation button needs to be pressed in many daily tasks such as car washing, refueling, and parking lot transfers.

• With so many products being released by various companies, it is necessary to improve convenience, and I thought the tuning of the equipment to be closer to the driver, as only an auto parts company can do, was excellent.

Fertility and Pregnancy Department

Grand Prize

Postpartum care application mamaniere(POLA Inc.)

Analyzes the mental and physical condition of mothers using our unique facial analysis technology. We propose care and information recommended for postpartum mothers in their current situation. Supporting the unstable period of physical and mental health by collaborating with multiple postpartum care services.

• The concept of the program is wonderful in that it is based on the idea of "creating a society in which postpartum women can live their postnatal lives with a relaxed mind and body." The program's strength is its ability to analyze the state of a woman's face to understand her condition, which leads to self-care and awareness of the need for help from those around her.
• The website offers free "facial analysis" to help postpartum mothers who often put off taking care of themselves mentally and physically, and I believe it will be a great help to mothers around the world. I felt that the production, which was sponsored by a number of companies, made good use of POLA's corporate image.

Health and daily care Department

Grand Prize

Dental Light - a new way to visualize dental plaque and promote plaque removal.(Dentoppi Co., Ltd.)

A device including a filter that can reproduce plaque visibility by the QLF method in a compact and inexpensive manner. Visualization allows efficient removal of plaque and prevents the harmful effects of "overbrushing".

• The ability to check for over- or under-brushing of toothpaste for only 800 yen is revolutionary. Sales channels are likely to increase in the future.
• The concept of various risks for periodontal disease has become increasingly important in recent years. Dental care is essential for everyone from infants to the elderly. I am looking forward to seeing this product spread in many areas in the future. The concept of various risks of periodontal disease has been gaining importance in recent years. Dental care is essential for everyone from infants to the elderly. I am looking forward to seeing this product spread in many areas in the future.

Excellence Award

Cranial orthopedic helmet Qurum + fitting support app metto ( metto for doctor )(Japan Medical Company, Inc.)

Development of cranial deformity correction helmets, which until now have only been available in Europe and the U.S., for comfortable use in hot and humid Japan and other Asian countries (Qurum). An application that allows doctors and patients' families to manage treatment progress and support wearing the helmet (metto).

• I feel that advocating the concept of "early consultation with a specialist for baby head distortion" is an area that has not been well recognized in Japan until now. I thought that a support application would provide peace of mind by comfortably performing the correct helmet fitting and visualizing the results of treatment.

Smart Bath Mat(ISSIN Corporation)

Automatically record your weight just by getting on the scale every day. Free yourself from the stress of getting on the scale. Allows you to unconsciously measure your weight, an important indicator of your health. Suitable for pregnant women, babies, and infants.

• I like the approach of promoting the simple habit of getting on the scale and working with the analysis and coaching software. I also like the MV of health promotion for a world full of life.

Electric Nasal Aspirator SHUPOT(Pigeon Corporation)

Twice the suction flow compared to existing products. Nasal drain catcher to reduce the cleaning area. Electric nasal aspirator with various innovations such as sound-absorbing materials for quiet operation.

• It is wonderful that we have reduced discomfort by making the product easier to use by realizing "efficient nasal aspiration" and "further easy care" as a result of further improvements after the development in 2018!

Commemorations, Records, and Memories

Grand Prize

Plump hand memory(CreativePocket Corporation)

Unlike handprints and footprints stamped with ink, this kit uses resin that feels almost like human skin, allowing you to leave a three-dimensional handprint and footprint as a record of your baby or child's growth.

• Following the printer that turned 2D into 3D, the idea of coming up with a product service that is not just a shape, but also a feeling, is a hat-tip to the company. I take my hat off to the company for coming up with the idea of making a product service that is not just a shape, but also a feeling. I hope that the company will continue to create services that allow us to preserve the process of our children's growth through the power of their ideas.
• I thought the idea of preserving the sensory experience was wonderful. I think it is an interesting way to preserve information felt with the five senses, which is different from the information that remains on video, by focusing more on reality or combining the senses.

Excellence Award

Echo Photo Poster" made from echo photos(Idea Puzzle Design Office)

EC, a semi-custom echo photo poster production service that can be completed on a smartphone using echo photos given at ultrasound examinations during pregnancy checkups.

• I feel that the environment in which echo photographs are casually displayed is in itself a place of acceptance for children and leads to the formation of attachment. The fact that the design is so casual and celestial, and that there are so many different variations, makes me feel the power of family relationships and design, and the power of design to be close to the child.

Parent Support Services

Grand Prize

Pair Chill, a talk app that connects single parents in similar situations and allows them to consult with each other(General Incorporated Association Pair Chill)

A talk app where single parents from all over Japan can casually chat and discuss parenting, work, finances, housework, etc. with other single parents in diverse circumstances.

• I could see that you are earnestly tackling the difficult area of applications to relieve loneliness in accordance with the circumstances of single parents. I would like to support them.
• As the coined term "lone parenting" suggests, the mental distress caused by the loneliness of single parents can be a harrowing experience for both the parents themselves and their children, and I commend the company for creating a system that is easy to understand for single parents with low IT literacy and for successfully lowering the registration hurdle.

Excellence Award

CHARICO(JR East Urban Development Co.)

Subscription-type service that combines a fixed-rate rental service for electric bicycles for children, a necessity for the child-rearing generation, with a dedicated bicycle parking lot near a station.

• Electric bicycles for carrying children are highly convenient, but there are issues such as cost and longevity of use, and many households have trouble finding a place to store the bicycles. We hope to realize such problems as a mobility sharing model.

Parenting application "cope"(Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd.)

A parenting app that supports childcare by working with families for 1000 days from pregnancy to childcare.

• The first 1,000 days of pregnancy. I thought it was good that the service could be used free of charge to provide a guideline for comfort during this important period that builds the foundation of the child's mind and body. It is wonderful that the service also serves as a marketing tool for Glico.

Male Maternity Leave Support

Excellence Award

OYA.NOTE, a maternity preparation management service for couples working together(Hahakala Corporation)

A service that allows couples to share and manage birth preparations even before the birth of their child. (Name changed from Wedoo when Qualified was awarded)

• I thought it was an interesting system from the perspective of managing childcare preparation as a couple through tasks, and the discount rate for supplies changes depending on the husband's participation rate. I thought it would be easier to use if the required tasks were tailored to individual circumstances.

Career Support

Grand Prize

Career support services for working mothers centered on MAMABOLAN
(mog Inc.)

An online service for working mothers to think about their own careers and expand their possibilities, centering on "MAMABORUN," in which working mothers on childcare leave intern at other companies.

• I thought this service was possible only because the organization is capable of providing various entry and exit services that provide career support from the perspective of parties working while having children. It seems to be a step toward a society where people can work in a lively and well-balanced manner.
• The service is designed to follow up on the career development of working mothers by proposing and consulting on ways for working mothers to return to work, change jobs, or start their own businesses, etc., a system that will greatly benefit both companies and mothers, and is highly evaluated for its linkage with the current background and expected future effects.

Excellence Award

MOMIT - a learning lab for mothers(Stance Dot LLC)

Online IT learning school for moms. One-on-one lessons and tailor-made curriculum support a variety of learning styles to fit each mom's needs.

• As the value of earning substantial income while improving skills in a little time spreads, I think more and more people will participate. Although not directly related to child-rearing, it is likely to be popular among fathers in their 40s and older.

Childcare ICT Division

Grand Prize

Childcare Bank! Palette(Nextbeat Inc.)

Staff management tool specialized for childcare facilities. Engagement survey (visualization of empathy, relationship, and trust toward the facility and corporation) to prevent personnel outflow, retain childcare staff, and solve management issues.

• I think the DX support is attractive because it increases the engagement of childcare workers with the preschool, which leads to value creation as human capital. I think it is good that it is connected to support for the director, who is also a manager.
• The high turnover rate in the industry as a whole is a chronic problem, and since the retention of childcare workers is directly related to the trust of parents, improving the retention rate is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately. While there is originality in using a system to connect those who provide management and those who receive it, the challenge is to lower the hurdle for new introduction.

Excellence Award

Childcare Bank! Connect(Nextbeat Inc.)

Management system specializing in shift attendance and staff management functions for the childcare industry. The system reflects the opinions of more than 20,000 childcare facilities throughout Japan that have transactions with the company's recruitment support service for childcare facilities, "Childcare Worker Bank! a recruitment support service for childcare facilities.

• I thought the impact was significant in that it helped to advance the DX of childcare centers by pinpointing labor management, creating a comfortable work environment, and increasing the time for communication within the centers to improve the quality of childcare.

Brain- beacon Childcare Tracker(MJ Corporation)

Real-time detection of preschoolers' whereabouts using beacons. Detection of approaching dangerous areas and escaping from the preschool. Data such as the behavior of each child at a specific time and contact information with friends can also be used for verification purposes.

• The development of a system using beacons as a tool to prevent the recent sad accidents in childcare facilities is mind-boggling. The accumulation of aggregate data will not only prevent accidents and ensure safety, but is also intended to be used for the content of childcare, a product that makes the most of the company's past achievements.

Reliefnap Beacon Watch(YEC Solutions, Inc.)

Beacon-based monitoring service. Bus mode to monitor the number of people getting on and off the school bus to prevent forgetting to pick up or drop off children. The "Watch over the children" mode allows you to easily check the number of children at the time of departure from the school or the park for out-of-school activities. The app notifies you if a child leaves the caregiver after getting off the bus to prevent lost and found children.

• Even if it is a human error, accidents involving left-behind should not happen. I think this is a very good, simple and efficient function to reduce the incidence rate to as close to zero as possible. To further reduce the incidence rate, I think it would be an even better function if there were a system plus a human check function.

Home Appliances for Child Care and Household Use

Grand Prize

Healsio Hot Cook(Sharp Corporation)

This automatic cooking pot responds to the need for easy preparation of delicious homemade food at home while saving on household chores. It automatically controls "stirring" and "heat control," which until now could only be done by standing over the pot. It also has a recipe download function and a recommendation function.

• It is interesting to note that in response to requests from households with children that they want to make baby food easier to prepare, the company has responded by developing a "portioned baby food" menu with advice supervised by the Mother and Child Nutrition Association, and that the company has responded to changes in how people interact with food as a result of the Corona disaster.
• Housework as well as childcare should be done regardless of gender. Even those who are unfamiliar with housework can cook efficiently and have more time to devote to childcare and hobbies, which may give them more peace of mind.

Excellence Award

Lodina" (with Life Assist 2), a new house-building concept(LIXIL Housing Research Institute, Aiful Home Company / LIXIL Corporation)

This smart home comes standard with LIXIL's IoT Home Link "Life Assist 2". It also allows basic operation of lighting fixtures, air conditioners, and home appliances, as well as surveillance cameras, front door unlocking and locking, and opening and closing of shutters and curtains via smartphones and smart speakers. Childcare Life Assist, a childcare IoT package designed to watch over children and prevent crime, is also offered.

• In the market of housing, which is essential for daily life, covering security, convenience, and eco-friendliness would add color to daily life. As the number of dual-income households increases, the need for an easy way to watch over the safety of children is likely to increase.

Munchkin Electric Baby Swing(DADWAY, Inc.)

This electric baby swing is simple to operate and swings comfortably from side to side. It is lightweight, easy to transport, and can be stored in a crevice when not in use.

• The lightweight and compact design makes it easy to install at home. The design is also simple and stylish, making it easy to accept in any home.

special award

Akachan Honpo Prize

Digital photo album "Omoidebako"(Buffalo, Inc.)

Digital photo album that stores photos and videos taken with a digital camera or smartphone and allows anyone to easily review them on a TV

Mom & Dad Community Award

CuboAi Sleep Safety Bundle(Un-nun Technology Co., Ltd.)