Getting the kids to bed is no easy task.
Some nights it seems to require a library stack of children’s books, other nights it’s just a waiting game for the tiredness to take over.
After her husband told her about a specific night’s sleep struggle with her daughter, Jessica Carson thought there must be a better way to deal with this evening routine.
On her morning commute the next day, she came up with a name and began brainstorming a product to make bedtime a simpler task for parents. The Bedtime Box was born.
She began developing The Bedtime Box during an entrepreneurship class at CU's Leeds School of Business Evening MBA Program.
Now, nearly two years later, she’s ready to make the first large order of The Bedtime Box.
The box is a one-stop shop for getting your children to bed. It includes a white board routine checklist, Shep the Sheep stuffy, a bedtime book, sound machine, nightlight, sippy cup and stickers. The Bedtime Box currently costs $50 on the company's IndieGoGo campaign.
Each item in the box plays a role, but it’s the white board checklist that Carson said is most vital.
“The routine is the most important thing about this,” she said. “Within five nights my daughter was following it.”
The checklist includes basic pre-bed tasks, including putting on pajamas, brushing your teeth and reading a story. When the task is complete, children are instructed to put a check mark on the white board.
While the routine is designed to help children fall asleep quicker, Carson said parental buy-in is key.
“I liken it to a diet, you won’t lose weight simply because you say you’re on a diet. If you want your child to go to bed, the parent needs to be committed to this process,” she said.
The Bedtime Box is wrapping up an IndieGoGo campaign, having raised nearly $4,000 of a $20,000 goal. The funding will be put towards ordering the first 1,000 units, which Carson hopes are delivered by April.
Once Carson receives the first order, she aims to get The Bedtime Box in local boutique children’s stores across the state. She will also begin selling The Bedtime Box online.
Carson, who authored the original book Connor and Shep go to Bed, will be producing a series of books to create a subscription model. She’s hoping to create enough books to send one out per month.
“I’ve always wanted to write a book, but I never had finished one. I wrote a screenplay once and produced that, but it was awful,” she said with a laugh. “But, this was fun.”
As a parent of two, Carson understands the difficulty surrounding bedtime. She’s hoping her product will alleviate stress and return joy to bedtime.
“What I try to let people know is bedtime is a struggle, and it’s not unique. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent,” she said. “I’m trying to make bedtime fun for them and I’m hoping this can improve lives for parents.”
