pacifier-weaning-blog

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(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbildrILu7g)

[pacifier-weaning-blog]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbildrILu7g)

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(via Ditch The Dummy - The One Step Pacifier Weaning System)

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Had to share this @WeHeartIt http://weheartit.com/entry/262366112/via/oliviatayler

[pacifier-weaning-blog]

Yes it's a problem - Yes it's now solved! check this out.

[pacifier-weaning-blog]

This is great - Joeys always up for anything, as long as he's in front of a camera!

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Pacifier Weaning Age? Don't Leave It Too Late!

Pacifier Weaning Age? Don’t Leave It Too Late!

Pacifier Weaning Age?

Pacifier Weaning Age? Before This Happens!

Pacifier Weaning Age? I would say well before this happens! A few years ago, while working as a teachers’ aide at a Special School in Ireland, I remember a little 5-year-old girl, whose teeth were actually worse than this. The teacher told me her parents still gave her a pacifier at home.

According to an article from the “Pediatric…

[pacifier-weaning-blog]

Weaning Pacifier “Ditch The Dummy”

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Florida Mom Creates Brand New Pacifier Weaning System

Florida Mom Penny Angela decided to create an all new Pacifier Weaning System after recognizing a gap in the baby market when trying to wean her 2 year son Joey off his pacifier.

Penny Says: “Joey would not part with his pacifier. The only time it actually came out of his mouth was when he was eating. Every time I tried to take it away,  or pretend to lose it, he screamed and cried, wouldn’t sleep. I was at my wits end.

Then a friend suggested poking a hole in his existing pacifier, as this renders the pacifier unsatisfying for the child. I tried it and it worked. Within a few days Joey actually weaned himself, just put it aside one day and that was that!

Don't Snip Holes In Your Child's Pacifier

Then I came across an article on this "do it yourself method" it could be pretty dangerous, the pacifier loses its integrity when altered and slivers of silicon can become in-bedded in the child’s gums, or bits can break off and even create a choking hazard!

Obviously I was pretty horrified, but knowing this method does work, I decided to create a pacifier weaning system along those lines, but with a manufactured hole, still work’s the same, but it’s totally safe.

The Journey

I searched the web for similar products, the only tangible pacifier weaning system I found (besides books) was a set of 5 pacifiers reducing in size. This looked great, and I’m sure it works, but priced between $20 and $30 depending on who’s website you place your order, it’s pretty expensive for the average parent. I wanted to be able to retail my product for less than $10 including shipping.

Originally I came up with the name “Binky Stop” but after research, found the word ‘Binky’ was trademarked. Trying to use the name in any shape or form would result in a cease and desist letter from the company’s law team! So were most pacifier related catchy names. I was born in England, we call pacifiers ‘Dummies’ and so ‘Ditch the Dummy’ was born.

Then the work began. Patenting a product firstly is a must, Ditch the Dummy is now patent pending.

Well, I didn’t even know what a CAD Drawing was until an American manufacturer explained, getting a CAD (3 D computer drawing) is the first step. Okay not very difficult or expensive, just searched for CAD companies on the internet, and picked one.

Manufacturers

Then submitting to manufacturers, firstly I approached American companies. The first looked great; they were already making a child’s product. But when they eventually returned my call, explained they were not open to more business. 

Another came back with a quote of $7.00 per unit for a 5,000 minimum order, but the cost would go down to around $5.00 for 20,000 units and without packaging. (I was hoping to sell these for less than that, not to mention i didn’t have all that spare cash).

Another wanted $10,000 for tooling then $4 per unit, again without packaging, but he did have a friend who would package the product. I didn’t pursue for how much per unit the friend would charge, I’d basically had it!

Not having the confidence to contact a Chinese Manufacturer directly, I began to search for an American Company that sourced Manufacturer's in China. Basically a middle man. I found quite a few of those. But they all seemed to require paying before they actually did anything, and this was $1,000’s of dollars (before you even got a quote!)

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think there are quite a few scams out there for the non-suspecting new Entrepreneur. Especially since “Shark Tank” has gotten so popular!

Then by chance I came across a company who would do all the leg work with China. Got me a fantastic quote, including packaging and all for just 10% of the order cost, which was to be paid after production and the product was on the ship!

Mentoring

Another company I found on the web called “micromentor.org” this site is worth its weight in gold, and it’s free. I found my perfect mentor Anthony, he helped with our website – he basically built it! Now he’s on board with marketing tips and best practices.

I went to Fiverr.com for my logo. A great site for any kind of artwork, logo’s or basically anything you may need for a business, and yes, prices do start at just $5. Found a great guy in India who came up with the perfect logo,. My husband Tony, created the packaging artwork on photo shop, job done!”

Ditch The Dummy

Penny’s new Weaning Pacifier "Ditch The Dummy" is now available for purchase on her new website www.ditchthedummy.com and retails for just $6.95 plus s & h.