Busy Baby Mat on 'Shark Tank': What is the cost, who is the founder and can it stop babies from throwing toys?
Raising a baby is without a doubt one of the most rewarding yet challenging jobs in the world. From having countless sleepless nights spent feeding them to trying to figure out why they're having another one of their crying episodes, babies can be exhausting on your body.
Busy Baby Mat founder Beth Fynbo experienced it first-hand, thanks to her two children, and also watched her girlfriends fret and fuss over their babies. This made the Minnesota-based entrepreneur come up with a solution that would not only calm down the babies but also give the parents some much-needed momentary respite from constantly cleaning up after their children. So Beth came up with a small line of baby products that seems to have left both the babies and the parents grinning from ear to ear. Read on to know all about this unique range of baby products that promise to keep your babies engaged, while you can get some downtime.
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What is Busy Baby Mat?
Babies have the ability to make anything they can get a hold of into a toy. For instance, food, cutlery, anything and everything can become a source of entertainment. You may have come across the sight of babies throwing stuff on the ground, and watching their parents or caretakers run frantically to pick it up. While it's a fun activity for them, the same can't be said for the parents/ caretakers.
So Beth created a unique product known as Busy Baby Mat. At first glance, Busy Baby Mat might just look like countless other feeding mats that are currently available in the market. But what sets Busy Baby Mat apart from all the existing mats is its silicone suction cups that are underneath the mat, this ensures that the mat can be stuck on any plain and flat surface without the risk of the baby tugging at it or throwing it away. So, now that we know the babies can't throw away their dinner plates, the next step would be to ensure that their toys too are secure.
Since many babies love to have their toys with them at all times, Beth designed silicone toy straps that can be looped around either the stroller straps or the corner of the mat, and attached to the toy so that the baby can't test the theory of gravity with their toys. The latest addition to the Busy Baby Mat range of products is a silicone teething and training spoon. The product's curved design ensures that just the right amount of food is picked up, and the baby can't choke on it, while its textured surface helps babies to soothe their sore gums while teething.
Who are the founders?
Beth and her brother Eric Fynbo are the founders of Busy Baby Mat. According to the Busy Baby Website, Beth, who is a veteran just like her brother, came up with the idea of creating Busy Baby when she was out to lunch with friends and their 1-year-olds. She watched the kids "play fetch with their moms", throwing their toys and watching their moms go get them. She thought there has to be something she could buy for her son so they can enjoy a peaceful lunch. Beth couldn't find anything online, so she made it herself, her website says.
She created the mat in 2017 using household products and later that year sent a video of her prototype to friends and family. "Then, a brilliant idea popped into my head! Since then, I've been working hard to make the Busy Baby Mat a reality and reduce stress with infants and toddlers! Sometimes Life is a Little Easier with a BUSY BABY!" she explains on the website. Eric joined Busy Baby to help out his sister, Beth, with running the business. He spent five years in the Army and 12 years in retail before jumping onboard the Busy Baby venture.
What is the cost and where to buy it?
You can get your very own Busy Baby silicone placemat for $24.99, while teethers cost $9.20. You can get these from the brand's website here.
How is the company doing?
Things seem to be going really well for the company, as they launched a new product in February 2021- a Buys Baby Teething Spoon. The unique spoon has curved arms to prevent choking, and a textured handle for easy grip, alongside a textured base for teething gums.
Who will steal the deal?
Lori Greiner aka the QVC Queen is mostly likely to close the deal considering she has baby products in her portfolio.
'Shark Tank' Season 12 airs every Friday at 8/7c only on ABC.