Slumberkins

What is Slumberkins?

Slumberkins makes kids’ toys such as cuddly stuffed animals and blanket hybrids. When the toys are paired with a Sleepytime Rhyme book or Affirmation Card, they help kids to learn social-emotional education such as mindfulness, transitions, relaxation, and self-esteem. Each stuffed animal is filled with therapeutic skills and techniques that help kids sleep better while simultaneously learning necessary skills.

Who Owns Slumberkins?

The company was founded by Kelly Oriard and Callie Christensen, high school pals and educator mums that turned entrepreneurs. They are the current co-CEOs of the business. While Callie Christensen started as a Special Education teacher at Evergreen Public school before joining Camas School District, Kelly Oriard was a prevention Specialist at Trillium Family Services before going on to join Portland Public Schools as the school’s counselor.

Founder’s Story

Kelly and Callie, best friends since early, started Slumberkins to help solve the problem of kids turning up in school with little or no emotional wellness at a very young age. They learned how to sew and began to address emerging emotional issues such as relaxation when going to bed and bullying in the products they made.

They started selling these products on Instagram where their business grew by a fortune. Their motivation is based on the idea that interaction of a child and the parent or caregiver and sensory stimulation is an important factor in determining how the kid develops. Their goal is to see kids develop and grow with a sense of high esteem and confidence, inspired by the interaction they had with their caregivers.

The two ladies seek to use their background in education and counseling to integrate children’s products into everyday family life and routines to normalize long conversations between children and caregivers and parents.