How safe is ordering online?
Ordering from onestepahead.com or leapsandbounds.com is extremely safe. Through the use of industry-standard encryption technologies, you can feel safe knowing that your personal information is being received securely and is safe from any misuse. Please click here for more information.

Do you sell/share my email address with other companies?
No! Your email address is used exclusively by us to communicate with you regarding your order, or (if you subscribe to our free email newsletter) to notify you of special promotions and offers.

Ordering & Payment

How do I order online?
We strive to make it as easy as possible for you to order online. When shopping, simply add an item to your shopping basket from any product page. Select a size and color (if applicable), choose a quantity and click "add to basket". Then, follow the remaining on-screen directions. (Hint: if you see something in our catalog that you want to order online, use our Catalog Quick Shop feature for speedy, easy shopping.)

Will I receive a confirmation of my order?
Yes. Within two or three minutes of placing your order, you will receive an email confirmation. (Also check for it in your bulk or junk folder, the email might have accidently been filtered). If you did not receive this confirmation, please email customerservice@onestepahead.com or call Customer Service
One Step Ahead: 1-800-950-5120
Leaps and Bounds: 1-888-203-2265
(7 AM to 6 PM CST)

Which credit cards do you accept?
We accept Mastercard, American Express, Visa, Optima, Discover Cards, or JCB (Japanese Credit Bureau). If you prefer to pay by check or money order, please mail your order with payment. Click here for our mailing address.

Do I have to pay sales tax?
A sales tax of 8.0% is added to each order shipped to an Illinois address, in compliance with the law. Orders shipped to all other locations are not charged sales tax.

What are your return/exchange procedures?
We guarantee every item we sell. If you would like to return or exchange an item you may do so at any time. Click here for more information about our guarantee.

When will I receive my backordered item(s)?
Once the out-of-stock item arrives in our warehouse, it will usually ship within one business day and you should receive the item via standard shipping in 6-10 business days. A shipping confirmation will also be sent. If an item is out-of-stock for more than three weeks, we will send an email with an updated arrival date.

Will I receive a shipping confirmation?
Yes. Each morning shipping confirmations are sent for items that were shipped the previous day. For dropship items, the shipping confirmation is sent after the vendor has notified us that your order was shipped, which may be a week or more after your dropship item was shipped. If for any reason you do not receive a shipping confirmation, please email customerservice@onestepahead.com or call One Step Ahead customer service at 1-800-950-5120 or Leaps and Bounds at 1-888-203-2265 from 7 AM to 6 PM Central time.

Can I fax or mail in an order?
Yes. To ensure that your order is accurate, print and complete an Order Form. (Credit card number and signature is required for faxed orders)

Creating an Account

Why should I create an account?
Creating an account makes it even easier for you to shop with us in the future. For example, once you set up an account, we will "remember" your shipping addresses for future orders, which will save you typing time. In addition, you can check the status of your order at any time or review your complete order history. Creating an account also gives you access to our convenient gift registry and wish list feature. Click here to create an account.

I forgot my password. What now?
No problem. Go to the account login page, enter your email address and click on "Forgot Password?".

Can I store addresses?
Yes. Once you have set up an account, you can create your own personal address book. This will save you time on future orders. Click here to create an account.

Shipping and Handling

What are my shipping options?
For most items, you can choose between Standard Shipping (6-10 business days), 2-Day Express Delivery (2 business days) and Overnight Delivery (1 business day). However, certain items (such as those we are personalizing for you, as well as items shipped directly from the manufacturer) may require anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks for delivery, as indicated in the item description. In these cases, 2-Day Express Delivery and Overnight Delivery is not available. In addition, some oversized items cannot be shipped express or overnight. Click here for details.

How much does shipping cost?
Shipping charges (excluding oversized and drop-ship items) are based on the total value of your order. Click here for more information.

When will I receive my order?
Orders shipped via Standard Shipping usually take 6 to 10 business days to arrive. However, 2-Day Express Delivery or Overnight Delivery are available on most items. 2-Day Express Delivery orders arrive in two business days while Overnight Delivery orders arrive in one business day. Please note that some items (such as those shipped directly to you from the manufacturer) can take anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks to arrive, as specified in each item description. For personalized items, please add 3-5 business days to the expected delivery time. Click here for more information.

Do you accept international orders?
Yes. Please click here for information about an International Shipping Quote.

General Questions About Our Merchandise

Do you have retail stores?
Yes, we have one Outlet Store located in Lake Bluff, IL. We also offer two catalogs titles and our website. We have found that our customers appreciate the convenience of at-home shopping. Purchases can be made online, by telephone, by mail or by fax. Click here for more information.

I see that you are no longer carrying an item I previously purchased. Does this mean it has been recalled or that you found it to be of inferior quality?
No, not at all. Products are discontinued for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, a manufacturer is unable to supply us with the quantity we need. When this occurs, we may replace that item with a similar product by a different manufacturer. In addition, we are continually "upgrading" our products with new models that offer additional features, in which case we discontinue the earlier models. Furthermore, when a product fails to meet our sales objectives (indicating that most of our customers have no need for it), we cease to carry it.

How do I know if an item is available/in-stock?
You will know at the time you order the item. When you are choosing the size, color or other product options, you will see a box next to the item indicating if the product is in stock. (We try very hard to keep our inventory up-to-date.) If an item is currently out-of-stock, you will see the date it is scheduled to arrive in our warehouse. Once the out-of-stock item arrives in our warehouse, it will usually ship within one business day and you should receive the item via standard shipping in 6-10 business days.

How will I know if my backordered item is not coming in on schedule?
If an item is backordered or out-of-stock for more than three weeks, an email with an updated arrival date is sent.

I saw an item I wanted in one of your older catalogs, but I can't find it in your current catalog or on your web site. Is there any way I can purchase that item?
There very well may be. Sometimes, if we only have a small quantity left, we discontinue advertising that product in our catalogs. Also, because of space limitations, not every item we offer appears in every catalog. However, all available products are featured on this website. If you cannot find the item you're searching for on our website, please contact us and we will help you to find an alternative. (We can also tell you why we discontinued a specific product.) For help locating or substituting an item, email us at customerservice@onestepahead.com or call us at 1-800-274-8440 or 1-800-477-2189.

Navigating Our Site

I can't find an item on your website, but I know it's in your catalog. Can I still order it on your website?
Yes. Go to Catalog Quick Shop, which allows you to easily order any catalog item online. Enter the item number, and you will be prompted to specify size, color, and quantity. If for some reason you still can't locate the item, please email customerservice@onestepahead.com or call 1-800-247-8440 for One Step Ahead or 1-800-477-2189 for Leaps and Bounds.

Can I place an order for items from both the One Step Ahead catalog and the Leaps and Bounds catalog at the same time?
Yes, of course you can. You can order from both catalogs online! Click here for more information. In addition to convenience, when you order from both catalogs at once, you only pay one shipping charge!

How do I get more information about a product before I purchase it (such as the manufacturer's name and assembly requirements)?
Click on the "Details" tab on the product page for more information about a given item. If you still have questions after that, then please email us at customerservice@onestepahead.com. Include the item name, item number, and all of your questions, and we will make every effort to respond within 24 hours. (You can also call us at 1-800-274-8440. One of our representatives will be happy to assist you.)

General Questions About Our Site

Can I use a One Step Ahead or Leaps & Bounds catalog gift certificate to shop online?
OneStepAhead and LeapsAndBounds gift certificates can be redeemed online (on either onestepahead.com or leapsandbounds.com), over the phone, or by fax or mail.

Can I purchase a gift certificate at onestepahead.com or leapsandboundscatalog.com?
Yes, you can! Visit our Gift Certificates page for more information.

Is gift-wrapping available for products I buy online?
Yes, we offer convenient gift-wrapping services on most products, which you order during check out. Some items, such as oversized items or those shipped directly to you by the manufacturer, cannot be gift-wrapped. In this event, you will be notified when you reach the gift-wrapping portion of the check out process.

What products are available online?
Our entire inventory is available online! You will find all the items featured in our current One Step Ahead and Leaps and Bounds catalogs and much more. Our website features additional departments and expanded product categories, plus items featured in previous catalogs. In addition, new items often appear online before they appear in our catalogs so our online customers often have first pick of new items.

How do I sign-up to receive a catalog?
If you have made a purchase, you will usually receive a catalog with your order and you will be automatically added to our mailing list. If you have not made a purchase but would like to receive a catalog, please click here.

Click here to browse our Spring 2013 Catalog

How do I remove my name from your email newsletter and/or your catalog mailing list?
Each email newsletter includes instructions for removing your name from our email list. These instructions are found at the end of the newsletter. If you would like to stop receiving our catalog, email your request to customerservice@onestepahead.com. Include your name and address as they appear on the catalog, along with the information printed in the two colored boxes that appear above your name on the back of the catalog.

How do I contact One Step Ahead or Leaps and Bounds?
You can contact us by email, phone, fax or mail. Click here for specifics.

When I see these icons in the product detail page, what do these icons mean?
Good question! These icons are intended to provide you with valuable, at-a-glance product information. Here's the key to the icons you'll find throughout our site:

Parent-Invented

This product was created by a real-life mom or dad in response to his or her own parenting needs. These parents found a better, faster, or safer way to get a job done. One Step Ahead plays an active role in advising parent entrepreneurs on how to bring their products to market.

Award-Winning

This product has received one or more awards for excellence in design, quality, educational or developmental play value, or some other important feature. Some of the more prestigious awards include those bestowed by The National Parenting Center, Dr. Toy, Oppenheim, and Parent's Choice, among others. We love award-winners, so you'll see this one frequently!

One Step Ahead Exclusive

You can't find this product anywhere else! Because One Step Ahead is the leading mail order supplier of baby products, we often have exclusive access to some of most exciting products on the market. In addition, when we can't find the perfect product, we make it ourselves∧ it's ours alone!

Email Sign Up

1-800-274-8440