2026 Baby & Kids Trends with Jenna Polley

As Gen Z step into the parenting spotlight, their unique values and experiences are beginning to transform the baby and kids industry. From shifting attitudes toward caregiving to the rise of tech-enabled products and playful design solutions, their influence is sparking new opportunities for brands and designers.  

In anticipation of her talk at Kind + Jugend 2025, Senior Trend Editor Jenna Polley highlights the parenting mindsets and key design trends poised to define 2026, examining how future consumer insights translate into tangible opportunities across categories such as on-the-go, nursery trends, feeding & weaning, and material innovation.

On the Go: Calming Car Rides

Highlighted in our premium On The Go Design Direction: 2026 report, advancements in technology and AI are continuing to evolve, as caregivers seek products that integrate state-of-the-art tech into products, enhancing convenience. Manufacturers are developing innovative baby and children’s products that improve usability and simplify daily life, calming babies and making day-to-day experiences easier for parents and children. At the forefront of this is Evenflo SensorySoothe™, which integrates an app-connected device into the car seat handle, offering a variety of lights, sounds, and songs to soothe and entertain babies, creating a calming environment during car journeys.

Feeding & Weaning: Playing with Food 

According to the 2024 Picky Eaters report, 59% of parents are concerned about their children’s food preferences. This concern, combined with rising food costs and waste, drives caregivers to introduce playfulness at mealtimes to encourage experimentation with food. As most picky eating behaviours originate in childhood, there’s a renewed focus on promoting positive weaning experiences and fostering open-mindedness about food from birth. Our premium Feeding & Weaning – Design Direction: 2026 report explores how brands can incorporate uplifting messages on feeding to support food experimentation and create fun, immersive meal times. 

Material Innovation: Contrary Textures 

For 2026, the boundaries between hard and soft materials will blur as designers experiment with innovative processes and techniques. Outlined in our premium Baby & Kids Material Innovation – Key Messages: 2026 report, soft materials and everyday food waste become raw materials used in production processes. Hard, foam and sponge-like surface textures and materials are created through Jesmonite casting. Designers are embracing the playful nature of these juxtaposed materials and finishes, allowing them to shape unique, one-of-a-kind pieces for children’s play spaces. 

See you at Kind + Jugend in September! 

You can attend Jenna’s presentation on 2026 Baby & Kids Design Trends Tuesday 9th and Wednesday 10th September at the Trend Forum at Kind + Jugend in Cologne. For more information on the trade fair visit kindundjugend.com or get in touch if you’d like to arrange some time for a chat whilst there.