Latest Thing    By: Kim Boatman --  Staff writer for SV Magazine Michaela Schierman of San Ramon models the Baby Comfort Strap. Photo: Patrick Tehan As a grocery store checker, Karen Alvarez did more than scan bar codes. She watched toddlers teethe on germy shopping-cart handles. She winced when they toppled out of the carts. So Alvarez, a Dublin mom of three, came up with the Baby Comfort Strap. The strap is a simple contraption, a padded cloth front attached to an adjustable nylon belt that snaps behind a child when seated in a shopping cart. The strap, which retails for $5.99-$9, limits a kid’s mobility in the shopping cart. But most carts come with safety belts, right? ‘‘No. 1, they’re inconsistent. No. 2, they’re filthy or broken. And No. 3, they buckle in front, so older kids can let themselves out,’’ explains Alvarez. She recommends her invention for children ages 6 months through 2 years. Alvarez, 35, who still works full time as a grocery store merchandiser, has sold more than 10,000 of the straps in the last couple of years. She recently licensed the product to a manufacturer who intends to distribute the strap in kids’ outlets nationwide. Sales are projected at 100,000 this year. Alvarez says she will measure her success a little differently. ‘‘You know you’ve made it when statistics for shopping cart safety improve.’’

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