Chester County mom creates solution for baby bottle refusal

In Chester County, United States, Julianne Gardner, a mother, faced significant challenges when trying to bottle-feed her son, Blake, who was exclusively breastfed. This struggle with bottle refusal is a common issue among many breastfeeding mothers and can lead to some having to resign from their jobs. Gardner's experience and a background in research led her to investigate possible solutions. She found evidence suggesting that the scent of mothers could help trigger sucking reflexes in infants. This discovery prompted her to innovate a product called Bottimals, which effectively combines a baby bottle with an animal lovie that contains a heart-shaped pad. The unique design of Bottimals allows mothers to wear the scent pad in their bra, absorbing their natural scent, which can then be incorporated into the lovie. This method keeps the comforting smell of the mother close to the baby while they attempt to feed from the bottle, helping to ease the bottle-feeding transition. By putting the scent pad inside the lovie and attaching it to the bottle, babies have both the comfort of a stuffed animal and the familiar smell of their mother, making the feeding process more soothing and effective. Since starting her business, Gardner has made Bottimals available for purchase on her website and in over 15 stores at a retail price of $29.99. The product has received positive feedback from parents, including Maddy Thomford, who shared her experience using Bottimals with her daughter Charlotte. Thomford noted that the combination of the mother’s scent and the lovie provided reassurance to her child during their first bottle-feeding while she was away. Gardner manages her Bottimals business from her home in Phoenixville, primarily during her children's nap times. She expressed gratitude for the support received from the community, which helped her refine and test the product. When addressing the broader benefits of Bottimals, Gardner stated they are beneficial not only for infants who refuse bottles but also for those who may become distracted or refuse to finish their bottle during feeding. Gardner's entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to solving a common problem for nursing mothers highlight her commitment to improving the bottle-feeding experience for families.