Dirty children are happy children – all parents know that. But how do you get the little bastards into the car or buggy without ruining everything? The Schmuki should now make everyday life easier for parents. But does he keep what he promises?
Life with small children is colorful and turbulent – and often just really dirty. Marc Duttle and David Seidewitz, who are fighting for a deal with an investor in the 6th episode of this year's season of “Die Höhle der Löwen”, are also aware of this. With her in her luggage: her motley printed "Schmuki“, Which aims to make life easier for parents of children between the ages of 3 and 6.
As fathers, we know ourselves: Children in the car mean dirt – especially when the little ones are really dirty from playing outside. With our Schmuki, your parents can still bring them home without any additional effort. It was important to us that it looked monsterly cool and that the kids had fun!
explains founder Marc Duttle the idea behind the dirt bag for the car and thus not only arouses the interest of investor Ralf Dümmel, who can finally look forward to the deal with the founders.
Schmuki is a brilliant problem solver who makes life easier for parents and keeps the car clean! Suitable for all child seats, can be used again and again. On the clean cars, set, go …
Dirty children in the car – every parent's nightmare
Like many other parents, I know the problem of filthy children's things. Especially after kindergarten, my two-year-old child often consists of more than 50% sand, earth and mud. And even after the weekend trip to the forest, the mud pants could stand alone with dirt. Just jump into the car quickly? Can you forget if you don't want to do the basic cleaning immediately afterwards.
So far, my solution has been very pragmatic: Put a garbage bag underneath and protect the car seats as well as possible. It doesn't look nice, but it does its job when you've finally managed to pull the sack over all the relevant places. Until then, the impatient child is screaming in his arms and any help comes too late for the upholstered seats under the kicking children's feet.
The Schmuki promises a practical solution
The "Schmuki" is supposed to help. Instead of getting dirty in the car, the little filthy sparrows simply climb into the sack beforehand and only then are lifted into their child seat. At least that's the theory. The child can then be buckled up in the sack through appropriate recesses – regardless of the model of the child seat, the developers promise. When you get home, the dirty Schmuki is cleaned with a damp cloth or in the machine at up to 30 degrees.
Actually a great idea that Marc Duttle and David Seidewitz present in the lion's den. But does the Schmcki stand up to the practical test? I wanted to test that, even if my little one is actually still a little too young for the Schmuki.
This is how the Schmuki works
- Open the side zip.
- Let the child get into the Schmuki and close the zipper.
- Buckle up the child and their Schmuki in the child seat.
- Clean the Schmuki at home with a damp cloth (or in the washing machine)
According to the founders, the Schmuki is also suitable for buggies. An area of application that is much more interesting for me personally, as we always drive without a car in the afternoons.
The Schmuki in the everyday test
Editor Ulrike Kaschuba: All the daycare parents with whom I only spoke about the product idea were enthusiastic. Parents of older children in particular sighed that they would have liked to have had such a product sooner and that it would have saved them some trouble. So I was all the more curious to take a closer look at the Schmuki.
The first impression
The first impression was very positive – both with my son and with me. No sooner had he discovered the colorful packaging than he naturally assumed it was a toy for him and withdrew with it to a quiet corner to inspect it in detail. He also unpacked Schmuki made some impression on him. It is printed on a large area and is brightly colored – and so gives a toddler a lot of exciting puzzles.
Quite different for me: The principle was immediately clear and I was particularly impressed by the high-quality workmanship and robust material. I also like that the founders really thought about details that are crucial in everyday life with a child, such as the adjustable braces and the recesses for the belt. However, the Schmuki got a point deduction for the chemical smell that immediately spread throughout the room. Before using it for the first time, I had to ventilate it thoroughly.
Get in and go?
However, my son's interest immediately fizzled out when I opened the side zipper and asked him to get in. This is where the greatest difficulty actually arises for me: getting the child into the Schmuki, especially when you are alone. Convince my tired, dirty toddler after kindergarten or the playground to get into this sack? No chance!
Unfortunately, with us every attempt degenerated into a power struggle for which I no longer have the strength after work. That may be completely different when the children are older and are not already in a phase where “No!” Is the answer to everything. This is probably why the developers only recommend the Schmuki for children from 3 years of age. Then it's a great idea that will certainly make everyday life a lot easier for some parents.
My conclusion on the Schmuki
The basic idea of the Schmukis immediately convinced me and with its high-quality workmanship and the pretty print, the implementation is also very successful. But whether the dirt bag can actually be of help in everyday life depends on the respective child and their willingness to cooperate. I'm guaranteed to put it away carefully and try it again in a year. Perhaps he will then become a constant companion on our everyday adventures – he deserves it!