Century

Century's first product, the TotToter.

Century is one of the US oldest baby brands, tracing its history back to 1961 with the launch of a baby carrier/seat called the TotToter. This was followed in 1979 by the Kanga Rock & Roo, which had the ability to rock.

The first travel system that combined a car seat and stroller—the Century 4-in-1 travel system debuted in 1993.

Both of these seats morphed into the infant car seat we know today when Century introduced the first car seat with a stay-in-the-car base in 1986, the Century 590. Century's next big innovation was the invention of the modern-day travel system, when they paired an infant car seat with a stroller.

This was a ground-breaking product—prior to the travel system, babies either were placed in a pram-like stroller with a bassinet or fully reclining seat . . . or carried in an infant car seat or carrier. The travel system enabled a parent to remove the car seat from a stay-in-the-car base and snap it into a stroller.

The success of the travel system led Century to launch additional strollers and a nursery furniture line, Okla Homer Smith. By the late 90's, Century's sales had topped $115 million

In 1998, Century was acquired by Graco for $77.5 million, which itself was soon acquired by Rubbermaid (today known as Newell). Graco only purchased Century's stroller and car seat business. The Okla Homer Smith nursery furniture business was sold to Dorel in 1998.