Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Koslov-Barski.
Karen, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
As a parent, we all know how difficult the transition from birth to 6 months can be… sleepless nights, confusion, just not knowing….. feeling overwhelmed, trouble feeding baby, Colic issues and of course—the wonderful hormonal shifts that make us laugh, cry and scream all at the same time. Most parents are taught about the comfort and benefits that are achieved from Swaddling, which has been practiced for thousands of years. What we don’t know from the get-go is what a pain in the butt it can be. Wrapping baby.
Rewrapping baby. Wrapping baby. Rewrapping baby…. and so on. On and on and on it goes, all night long. My little Bella’Mar was born 5 weeks early, but that surely did not stop her mighty mouse strength and attitude! She wanted to sleep at night, but as she moved about she unraveled herself within 15 minutes. . . all night long. Just after unraveling herself, her rooting reflex kicked in and she brought her swaddle blanket right up over her face and mouth, covering her airway. Time and time again, I found her red and sweaty with the swaddle blanket up and over her face. As an RN, I knew this was not a safe situation. I searched the internet and local stores, trying every baby swaddle available to me- and nothing worked for her. What frustration…
Even as a seasoned parent, there are still new issues arising, as every baby is so unique.
We needed to keep our daughter Bella safe and comfortable. Getting up every 2 hours during the night can be draining for not only mom but everyone in the house – both emotionally and physically. Every bit of help is a gift and a savior! As an RN and mother, I sought different products that would work for the baby and myself on a few different levels. First, to swaddle my baby for her safety and comfort, to prevent her from scratching herself and also prevent startle reflex. It needed to be comfortable and to stay put! Velcro almost always detaches as baby stretches during the night, and blankets unravel and may overheat baby, or end up over the baby’s face contributing to SIDS.
I needed something that would stay intact and snug, but at the same time, allow the baby to stretch out if she needed to, where the fabric would then automatically re-conform to a snug cocoon-like or peanut shape afterwards. After searching every store and website for a swaddle product that would “stay put”, on went my creative hat. I sewed and sewed until Bella was “contained” with a gentleness. No “arms pinned to the side swaddle”, a stretchy but effective peanut, which was ergonomic to her shoulder, waist and hip curves. It did help that I was an RN with some understanding of body mechanics and essential movement.
After a month of prototyping, Woombie was born. After further testing and research, our product was launched nationally December of 2007, and Worldwide in late 2008.
Parents love Woombie because of its easy IN/OUT design, stay put zipper which will not open or unravel and its unique 4-way stretch material. In a nut-shell, Woombie helps to maintain the comfort levels of both baby and parent, easing undue stress and promoting a more peaceful environment, which is great, greatly needed and appreciated during the first few months of life during the transition from the womb. Needless to say, I wish I had the Woombie with my 2 daughters before Bella. It has helped me, my husband Stash and our babies Bella, Bryce and Brody tremendously! So many new parents and babies are achieving a smoother transition from womb to 6 months after using the Woombie.
KB Designs is a family owned business which was built with the love and safety of babies in mind – with a sensitivity towards mom’s and dad’s needs too. All of our products are geared towards the theme SWADDLE, SNUGGLE, AND SLEEP. We are Environmentally conscious, as all of our products are manufactured in an eco-friendly factory and manner. No harsh chemicals, no flame retardants. We practice strict compliance per CPSIA standards. Strict safety testing using CPSIA standards and testing in a CPSIA third-party accredited testing facility is the top priority. If we do not pass testing, we do not sell products!
Has it been a smooth road?
The road has not always been smooth, however, the bumps taught us valuable lessons!
We are big believers in the “Law of Attraction”. It was evident that once the idea was generated and solidified- and we were excited and energized about it- people appeared in our lives to help us flow down the river of creation. From logo designer, to website builder to factories and mentors. It was the perfect “flow” for us to get from idea to market!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Woombie USA – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Our business is called Woombie, by KB Designs LLC. We create products for babies with the theme “swaddle soothe sleep”. We specialize in accessories and “must haves” for babies! We have over 20 patents on our designs, which helps us to set our line apart from others.
Since 2007 we have expanded to add sub-brands in several categories such as Mod’Swad®. My Feel Better Buddy, TackSaver®, MantraLove®, KaiaPapaya, Woombie MedPODS®, Mommy Concepts, Chewlery® and more! We are most proud of our growth, and the fact that we stop to listen to feedback from parents to expand our products and brands.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the culture here and all that it offers to families! The traffic is challenging but the benefits outweigh that!
Contact Info:
- Address: 15355 Tullgean Drive Milton GA 30004
- Website: www.woombie.com
- Phone: 1.844.966.6243
- Email: sales@woombie.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woombieusa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/woombieusa/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/woombieusa
Image Credit:
Michele Reed Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
