It’s not surprising why you’ll get curious about who invented the pillow pet because Jennifer successfully created an innovative product. You read that right; a woman named Jennifer invented this unique and highly-functional product. Jennifer Telfer is the founder of Pillow Pets, and she and her husband earned well from these stuffed animals that flatten out to a pillow.
This article will discuss more this mom entrepreneur to hopefully inspire you. You’ll also find more about what motivated this invention and get your creative juices flowing. You’ll be amazed how something that started from $800 becomes a household name.
Who Created The Pillow Pet?
As briefly mentioned, Jennifer Telfer invented Pillow Pets. This innovation has become a favorite among parents because it allows kids to have a toy and a pillow to sleep with. According to the website, Telfer’s oldest son had a stuffed animal that he loves so much, regularly sleeping on it that the toy has flattened out.
Being the owners of CJ Products, Telfer and her husband made the Pillow Pet. The product has become so popular that they managed to earn as much as $300,000 during their first year. And if the numbers still don’t impress you, by 2010, Pillow Pets revenues hit $300 million.
Impressive numbers
What’s even more impressive is that Jennifer and her husband Clint started the Pillow Pets company with only $800 from their savings. It’s awe-inspiring how this innovative and quality product has become so popular continuously. However, kids have always loved the security stuffed animals offer, and combining it with something cozy such as a pillow will surely be a favorite among them.
Over time, Pillow Pets have grown to other products such as Sleeptime Lites, Jumboz, and Minis. Telfer continues to create a product that will suit everyone that the products have sold 70 million pieces worldwide. Overall, Pillow Pets’ story is undoubtedly inspiring and continues to prove that creativity pays big time.
What Inspired The Pillow Pet?
The concept of the Pillow Pet came from Telfer’s oldest son. As mentioned earlier, he had a favorite stuffed animal that he sleeps with so much; it had flattened out. With this came a product that kids can use as stuffed animals and a pillow for bedtime.
If you’re already familiar with this product, then you have probably seen the most popular one, which is the Snuggly Puppy. The company started selling them in mall kiosks until 2009, where they enter the retail scene. By the next year, Pillow Pets have advertisements on television that allowed them to be known worldwide.
Continuous innovation
And as time pass, the company continues to create innovative products. More than a stuffed animal that kids can use as a pillow, Pillow Pets have also introduced Glow Pets and Sleeptime Lites. With this new product, the company has also found a way to offer another kid favorite: night lights.
However, what makes Pillow Pets a successful brand is not just because of its unique and innovative products. It’s not enough to offer cute products that kids will beg their parents to buy. Instead, the company ensures that its dual-function products are also of an optimal quality that families love them from naptime to travel rides.
Sleep And Kids
Sleep is vital for kids and adults alike. However, it can be tricky to ensure that our young ones have enough sleep hours every night. Unlike us, it’s hard to reason to kids and explain why they need to stick to a bedtime schedule.
A good start is sticking to a daily night routine and ensuring that their rooms are cozy and inviting for rest time. Comfortable beds and pillows will help them fall asleep faster and avoid random waking times during the night. The Pillow Pet’s invention provides kids the security from their favorite stuffed animal and as a comfortable pillow for sleep.
The importance of transitional objects
According to the Children’s Hospital of Chicago, toddlers can have security items like stuffed animals to help them feel comfortable sleeping. However, be mindful of the size of toys you include to avoid suffocation risk. Babies under seven months old should never sleep with toys in their crib for this very reason.
Overall, kids appreciate pillows like the Pillow Pet or any small object to sleep with because of the comfort and connection it provides. Remember that your child is still adjusting to being separated from you during nighttime, and transitional objects like these toys help them feel more secured. Pillow Pets can serve as a transitional object to help a child move from a sense of self merged with a caretaker to being a separate individual.
Conclusion
All parents aim to ensure that their kids have a good night’s sleep. And one question that might pop to mind is who invented the Pillow Pet? The invention of a stuffed animal that switches to a pillow offers both safety and coziness for kids is undoubtedly an impressive idea.
Jennifer Telfer noticed her son’s favorite stuffed animal has started flatting out. This gave her an idea to create a product that kids can play and sleep with, thus making Pillow Pets. Over time, the company grew and became a household favorite, and nowadays, they even offer an array of products not limited to the traditional Pillow Pet.