How Bottimals Was Born From 2AM Feedings
From Bottle Refusal to Breakthrough: How Bottimals Was Born
Starting a business is hard. Starting a business as a mom, with toddler and a newborn baby and a bottle in your hand (that your baby refuses to take)? That’s next-level chaos. But that’s exactly how Bottimals was born.
The “Aha” Moment That Changed Everything
I never planned to become an entrepreneur. I was simply a mom trying to get my baby to take a bottle. After endless tries, tears (theirs and mine), and sleepless nights, I realized something powerful: a mother’s scent comforts and calms babies.
If I could bring that familiar scent into bottle feeding, maybe — just maybe — my baby would finally accept the bottle.
That spark of an idea turned into Bottimals: the scent-infused bottle-lovey. This soft, plush attachment slides right onto your baby’s bottle and holds a washable scent pad that carries mom’s comforting smell. What started as one mom’s last-ditch solution to bottle refusal has now become a feeding essential for families everywhere.
The Mom Behind the Mission
When you're a mom, your time is no longer your own. Every nap time becomes a work sprint. Every bedtime is a brainstorm session. My husband's office became my inventory warehouse, and my kids became my reason to keep going—even on the toughest days.
What made it worth it? The messages from other moms who said Bottimals changed everything — that feeding time went from a battle to a bonding moment. That’s the kind of impact that keeps me inspired.
You can learn more about the science behind scent and bonding— it’s truly fascinating how biology and comfort go hand in hand.
Building a Business, Raising a Family
I won’t sugarcoat it — there have been late nights, early mornings, and moments of overwhelm. But there’s also been joy.
I celebrated every tiny win — designing packaging during nap time, reading that first glowing customer review, or seeing Bottimals featured in the news.
Running a startup while raising kids has taught me that growth doesn’t have to be fast — it just has to be consistent and purpose-driven.
Lessons From the Bottimals Journey
1. Start messy. Bottimals didn’t launch perfectly—and that’s okay. You learn as you go.
2. Work with what you have. Time, space, resources—they’re all limited as a mom. Be scrappy and smart.
3. Stay close to your “why.” For me, it’s helping other moms feel seen, supported, and a little less stressed during feeding time.
4. Ask for feedback. Real moms helped shape Bottimals into what it is today. Listen to your people.
5. Let your kids see you build. They’re watching your resilience. That’s powerful.
6. Ask questions. No question goes unasked. Find a mentor or another professional resource. I started with SCORE due to their vast number of resources (including free mentors!) for entrepreneurs. LaunchBox is another great resource that can connect you to mentors, attorneys, and other professionals in the entrepreneurial space.
To the Mom With a Dream—This Is Your Sign
Maybe your idea came during a 2 a.m. feeding, like mine. Maybe you’ve been sitting on a solution that could help other families.
Whatever it is — don’t wait. Start now. Start tired. Start scared. Just start.
Bottimals was born from exhaustion, love, and determination. If I can do it, so can you.
✨ Shop Bottimals here and bring calm, comfort, and connection back to feeding time.