Our Story

I needed a solution for my child’s filthy car seat!

The NIKO was invented after a marvelous-but-messy day at the beach. When it was time to go home, my two-year-old was covered in sand!
 

Two-year-old Niko's day at the beach
Two-year-old Niko's day at the beach
 

I stopped laughing when I looked at the car seat—I knew I’d be dealing with sand for MONTHS. The towels I brought were useless, since they’d cover the safety straps.

I’m an entrepreneur and news reporter who lives in Southern California. I’m really busy, and my son is the most important thing in my life. I don’t want to shy away from fun just because it’s messy. But I can’t waste an hour cleaning the car seat after every adventure.
 

Jinah with her son Niko
Niko and me, today
 

A week after the beach situation, I was talking to a friend in rainy Seattle—she was complaining about the mud and slime on her son’s front-facing Graco. The next day at work, ANOTHER friend was complaining about her daughter’s carsickness and what it did to her Britax.

And then a few days later, my son had a diaper disaster on the ride to daycare. I decided the universe was sending me a message.

Back then, I couldn’t find any soft fabric car seat covers for children. So I started playing around with making my own. I tried different fabrics and designs, and friends and neighbors helped me put them all to the test.
 

NIKO prototypes
Niko testing out early NIKO prototypes
 

After two years of experimenting, I had:
  • A design that fit almost every brand of front-facing car seat
  • Fabrics that were soft and durable
  • Waterproof seat panel that stopped most messes
  • A comfortable and cozy design
 

Proven, Tested, and Certified

Fast-forward to today—CalSpan Laboratories have put the NIKO through extensive crash testing and certified that the NIKO does not interfere with ANY safety features of the car seat. Also, the NIKO is patented! Finally, the NIKO is trusted by countless families to make car travel more convenient, more hygienic, and more comfortable for their children.

What started as an idea turned into a product that's sold all over the U.S. I’m especially proud that we didn't cut corners or lower our standards at any point. No other children's car seat cover on the market has the safety certifications, quality, or track record like the NIKO.