In the past, people looked to child development experts, pediatricians and other parents for advice on what gadgets and tools were best for everything from how to avoid diaper rash to how to survive a long car trip with kids.。

These days, new parents can add another source of inspiration to their toolboxes: crowdfunding.。

Better breast pumps, shoes that grow with your baby, a self propelled stroller and babywearing clothing for caretakers of any sex are a few products aimed at parents that have been totally crowdfunded.。

The 。 The。Lulla doll 。 , which promises to soothe children into slumber with recordings of a real heartbeat and breathing patterns, raised $360,715 on IndieGoGo and is so popular it's currently on backorder.。Born to Fly Baby。

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The mats aren't cheap and start at $119 on the company's website for a 4' x 6' playmat. Though you can find other interlocking foam tiles at varying sizes for less money, this mat won't make you resent your child until (s)he turns 18.。

"Most of the moms who had interest in the product had never heard of Kickstarter[...] 90% of backers were using Kickstarter for the first time," Granados told。 Mashable.。Often, as was the case with Little Nomad, early backers get a better price and earlier shipment of product than if they were to wait until the item hit store shelves. 。

Thanks to crowdfunding, life with kids looks like it's getting brighter and more beautiful as parents can have more input over the design of the products they use. Could slightly less hideous play tables be on the horizon? Will children's cutlery companies take note and ban those fluorescent combinations of orange and green that seem to dominate every sippy cup and baby bowl? Granados tells。 Granados tells。