An Open Letter to Graco

To Whom It May Concern,

Last weekend, I was at Toys R' Us, where I purchased (among other things) a Graco Pack 'n' Play playard. My wife is expecting our second child in a week or so, so we were buying some last minute necessities: an umbrella stroller, some changing pads, a couple skids of newborn diapers, etc.


For moms who know, and the rest of you can go to hell.

We decided to buy a new Pack 'n' Play, even though the one that Zo used is still in fine condition. It's well-travelled, having accompanied us on many cross-country flights and drives as well as a long weekend in Tokyo when Zo was a tiny baby. We decided to go with a new one, though, and ship our old one to Grandma's house, because of the nice features and decent price on this particular unit.

When we got it home and I grabbed the box to get it set up, however, I noticed the slogan on the box:

Graco: For Moms Who Know.

We're big fans of Graco products -- our Metrolite stroller has served us very well, as did our Infant Safeseat -- so when it came to buying a playard there was really no competition. But this slogan ceratinly gave me pause. I love being a parent, and I like gadgets. I like buying stuff, and when the stuff I buy is for my kid, well, that's a plus because I get to feel virtuous, like the hours I spent comparison shopping whatever will result in my kid being happier, healthier, and/or smarter. Granted, a playard isn't going to do that, but believe me when I tell you a playard isn't the only thing I've had a hand in buying for my kids.

A slogan like that might have made sense thirty years ago, but it's a new age. Nowadays people like Alternadad, Metrodad, and The Blogfathers, to name only a few, are taking a much more active role in the parenting of their child. At the very least, they're involved in the buying decisions for the family, and since that's what this is really about maybe it's time to move into the 21st century. Since the only reason you give a product a slogan is to move more product, don't you think you should think about using a slogan that won't turn off half of the buying public?