SOFT furnishings entrepreneur Jayne Dolder has launched a new and improved, award-winning product design, made especially for newborn babies. The innovative Bambeano® Baby Bean Bag is designed to help parents enjoy intimate moments with their babies during the first few months of their lives.

Originally designed for Jayne’s first child Jasmine, the Bambeano allowed Jayne and her husband and business partner Mark to multi-task at work and at home in the North-East, while never having to miss a moment with their new daughter. The couple are co-owners of Bazaar Group, a soft furnishings specialist based in Cramlington, and together with their team of designers, they developed the UK’s first baby bean bag in 2008.

“We were a few years into growing our soft furnishings business when Jasmine was born," says Jayne, a former North-East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year. "We had made considerable investment into the business and couldn’t afford to lose track on development. At the same time Jasmine was so dependent on me and I knew she was going to grow up so fast. I couldn’t bear the thought of being apart from her and needed a safe place for her, where we could see each other at all times and she would feel comfortable.

“The baby bean bag quickly became Jasmine’s favourite place to be and I was keen to share our new invention with other families. It’s now loved by babies all over the country, has drawn attention from celebrity mums and won an industry leading Mother and Baby Award in 2015 for Best Nursery Product.”

Bambeano customer reviews and feedback saw parents across the UK testifying to multiple benefits of the product. “It was fascinating discovering all the ways other parents were enjoying using the baby bean bag, from having a comfortable and visible place to put baby, where family and friends can gather round for that all important first sight of baby, to those private moments when it’s just you and your baby and you get your first giggle face-to-face," says Jayne. "It was these memorable moments that drew us to improving the safety, comfort and style of the design.

“We took the original bean bag design and completely re-engineered it from the inside-out. This meant developing an advanced inner liner, which contains an internal wall to control the bead flow and a foam panel sewn into the surface to create a stable seat area. This innovative structure is designed to enhance safety, first and foremost, but it also creates a natural position for the baby’s body, improving the overall feeling of comfort.

“The inclined back of the bean bag provides the ideal position for babies to take in all the new world around them. Babies feel cosy and safe, which makes it perfect for a daytime nap, plus, having a bit of independence each day is important for both baby and parents.”

The Bambeano is specially designed for newborn babies aged up to six months and is made with a 100 per cent cotton cover that is machine washable.

"It’s really important to use natural fibres, particularly for babies with sensitive skin," says Jayne. "I'm a parent of two and would never sell a product I wasn’t happy for my own children to use. The Bambeano was designed especially for Jasmine and we are very proud of its success to date. With its improved design, it’s an entirely new product that stands to be loved by a new generation of babies all over again.”