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                                                                      EXHIBIT 99


IMPORTANT FACTORS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     The Company may occasionally make forward-looking statements and estimates,
such as forecasts and projections of the Company's future performance or
statements of management's plans and objectives. These forward-looking
statements, made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, may be contained in SEC filings,
Annual Reports to Shareholders, Press Releases and oral statements, among
others, made by the Company. Actual results could differ materially from those
in such forward-looking statements. Therefore, no assurances can be given that
the results in such forward-looking statements will be achieved. Important
factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ from those
contained in such forward-looking statements include, among others, the factors
mentioned below.

     NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS. From its inception through 1995, the Company
experienced rapid growth, both in sales and product offerings. The growth of the
Company has been, and will continue to be, largely dependent upon the ability of
the Company to continue to introduce new products which will be accepted by the
market. However, as a result of the Company's product repositioning, there can
be no assurance that the Company will be able to attain a vigorous rate of
growth which it had experienced previously, that it will continue to generate
new product ideas which meet the Company's profit and return on investment
objectives or that new product introductions will be well received by the
market.

    ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT NEW INFORMATION SYSTEM. The Company is in the process
of implementing a new, fully integrated enterprise-wide computer information
system. The ability of the Company to improve the management of its operations
and working capital are dependent upon the timely and successful implementation
of this system. Any significant delay or inability to adequately implement this
system would have a material adverse affect on the Company's business and its
results of operations.

    ABILITY TO MANAGE OPERATIONS AND FUTURE GROWTH. The Company's continued
success is also dependent upon its ability to manage the Company's repositioned
operation, which in turn will require it to continue to implement and improve
the operational and financial systems introduced in late 1996 and in 1997, and
to attract, train and retain qualified employees to meet the Company's needs
during its strategic repositioning and future anticipated growth. These demands
are expected to require additional management resources and the development of
additional expertise by existing management. The failure to manage its
operations effectively would have a material adverse effect on the Company.

     DEMAND FOR THE COMPANY'S PRODUCTS. The success of the Company's business
depends in large part on continued consumer demand for its juvenile and home
security products. Changes in consumer demand due to general economic weakness
or to less favorable child bearing demographics, among other factors, could have
a material adverse effect on the Company.

     RELIANCE ON CONTRACT MANUFACTURERS: FOREIGN MANUFACTURING. The Company does
not own or operate its own manufacturing facilities. Manufacturing is performed
to the Company's specifications by approximately 86 manufacturers located in
China, Taiwan, Thailand, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United
States. As a result of not owning its own manufacturing facilities, the Company
has less a degree of control over the product manufacturing cycle necessary to
bring products, both newly introduced and existing products, to market. Failure
of a third party manufacturer to produce a product according to the Company's
specifications or to adhere to the Company's schedules may have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business and its results of operations.

    Historically, the Company has derived approximately 60 to 75% of its sales
from products manufactured in the Far East, mainly in China. Obtaining its
products from foreign manufacturers subjects the Company to a number of
additional risks, including transportation delays and interruptions, political
and economic disruptions, the imposition of tariffs, quotas and other import or
export controls, currency fluctuations and changes in governmental policies,
particularly those affecting trade with China. Although, the Company continues
to explore alternative manufacturing sources outside of China, there can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to utilize alternative sources of supply
in a timely and cost effective manner.

    In addition, because the Company relies largely on foreign manufacturers,
the Company is required to order products further in advance of customer orders
than would generally be the case if such products were manufactured
domestically. The risk of ordering products in this manner is greater during the
initial introduction of new products since it is difficult to determine demand
for such products.

    DEPENDENCE ON MAJOR CUSTOMERS: CREDIT RISKS. The three largest customers of
the Company have historically accounted for approximately 40% of the Company's
net sales. A significant reduction of purchases by any of the Company's largest
customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business. The
uncertain economic environment, especially in the retail industry, could
jeopardize the business prospects of the Company's customers and impose
significant credit risks.

    PRODUCT LIABILITY RISKS. The Company's juvenile products are used for and by
small children and infants. The Company's home security products, such as the
carbon monoxide detector, are intended for protection of health and safety of
individuals. The Company carries product liability insurance in amounts which
management deems adequate to cover risks associated with such use; however
there can be no assurance that existing or future insurance coverage will be
sufficient to cover all product liability risks.
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    GOVERNMENT REGULATION. The Company's products are subject to the provisions
of the Federal Consumer Product Safety Act and the Federal Hazardous Substances
Act (the "Acts") and the regulations promulgated thereunder. The Acts authorize
the Consumer Product Safety Commission (the "CPSC") to protect the public from
products which present a substantial risk of injury. The CPSC can require the
repurchase or recall by the manufacturer of articles which are found to be
defective and impose fines or penalties on the manufacturer. Similar laws exist
in some states and cities and in other countries in which the Company markets
its products. Any recall of its products could have a material adverse effect on
the Company.

    COMPETITION. The juvenile products and home security industries are highly
competitive and include numerous domestic and foreign competitors, some of which
are substantially larger and have greater financial and other resources than the
Company. The Company competes on the basis of product innovations, brand name
recognition, price, quality, customer service and breadth of product line.

    CREDIT FACILITY. The Company is seeking financing on terms more favorable
to the Company than the terms of its current credit facility. There are no
assurances that the Company will be successful in obtaining such new financing.

    COST OF DEBT. Interest rate increases will have an adverse effect on the
Company's earnings.

    INTERNATIONAL SALES AND EXPANSION. The Company is actively attempting to
expand its international sales. In 1996, international sales represented 21% of
the Company's revenue. To the extent that customers of the Company's products
pay for their purchases in U.S. dollars, currency fluctuations which favor the
U.S. dollar could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business and
its results of operations.