Carlene Rotblat shares the same experiences many new mothers had when their firstborn was born. Like many new mums, Carlene found herself waking up due to her baby’s sleep patterns, or lack thereof. This took a toll not only on her physical well-being but also her mental health.
“Fluctuating hormones, frequent nighttime awakenings to feed and resettle my baby (which often took around an hour each time), and the constant feeling of uncertainty about whether I was doing things right all played a role in my postpartum depression,” she admits. “Each day felt unpredictable, and what worked one day didn’t always work the next, which left me second-guessing myself constantly.”
In her bid to bring some sense of normalcy back in her life, Carlene sought the services of a baby sleep consultant. Unfortunately, it only made the situation worse as the consultant employed ‘controlled crying’ methods, triggering further anxiety on her end. Given her experience as a nurse, she decided to take matters into her own hands, becoming a sleep consultant herself.
This proved to be an educational experience for Carlene as she gained new insights about sleep among infants and the long-term negative effects of harsh sleep training methods like controlled crying. In the process, she learned of an alternative solution: setting up a consistent and dark environment that serves to reduce stimulation among infants and get good quality sleep in the process.
This led her to developing the ‘Baby Sleep Pods’ which she eventually introduced to the market in October 2023. Made from 100 per cent permeable star mesh fabric, Baby Sleep Pod allows air through while blocking 97 per cent of light.
“By blocking out light, (Baby Sleep Pod) also eliminates distractions that can prevent babies from falling asleep or make them more stimulated. In contrast, blankets typically don’t block much light because they’re not made from dark, light-blocking materials,” Carlene explains.
The product would gain following in the market, with a presence in Amazon Australia and multiple boutique baby stores across the country. It also achieved some notable milestones. For one, Baby Sleep Pod is the only pram cover in Australia to be endorsed by the Infant and Nursery Product Alliance of Australia (INPAA). It also was a finalist in the AusMumpreneur Awards and has been nominated in the SHE-com Awards and in the Mum Central Awards for Best Sleep Aid.
This success has found Carlene struggling at times in balancing her roles as an entrepreneur and as a mother. “Balancing my roles as an entrepreneur and a mother requires a lot of intentional time management and a clear separation between work and family life,” she shares. “When I am home with my kids, my focus is entirely on them. Once they are at school or in bed, I shift my focus entirely to my businesses. It’s not always easy, but I’ve learned to be flexible and adapt as needed.”
This flexibility, alongside her persistence have been the traits that have helped Carlene attain the level of success Baby Sleep Pod has been enjoying. “Success doesn’t happen overnight, and there will always be unexpected challenges along the way,” she shares. “The key is to keep pushing forward, even when things get tough, while being open to adapting your approach as needed.”
Carlene believes that every setback is an opportunity to learn and improve. And it is important to be surrounded with a supportive network who will provide motivation and feedback that might be crucial in improving the business. “It’s crucial to stay committed to your vision but also be willing to evolve,” she says.
Amidst the success of Baby Sleep Pod, Carlene hopes to continue innovating with new products and educational resources that will empower parents with the knowledge and support they need to make the best choices for their children’s sleep. She says, “I want Baby Sleep Pods to become a trusted brand for parents worldwide, known for providing safe, effective, and nurturing solutions that promote better sleep and lifestyle flexibility for parents.”
