Inspiring Conversations with Melise Campbell of Lily Bean Pacifiers

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melise Campbell.

Hi Melise, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Lily Bean is a reflection of everything I have always dreamed of and was divinely blessed to learn as a mother. After we welcomed our long-awaited twin boys earlier than expected, they spent precious time in the NICU. It was in these precious moments I saw a need for something different in the pacifier industry. Within the next two years, our family grew by two Autism Spectrum diagnoses and one beautiful baby girl. Our daughter Lillian is named after my husband’s late grandmother, “Lily Bean” who our company is named after.

One night after sleep deprivation and a long 3 am nursing session with my daughter Lillian, I approached my husband with the concept I thought of nontoxic one-piece pacifiers. With sky high safety standards featuring a 90-degree handle, a space for breathing, ZERO plastic pacifier, no plastic cheap packaging, sustainable, machine washable, and a cylindrical shape – recommended by professionals across the board. No questions asked – he supported my dream, as I had supported his dream of starting and running a flight school for 7 years and counting.

And we brought Lily Bean PacifiersⒸ to life.

I began my research.

I didn’t JUST want the cleanest, safest, most sustainable, affordable, prettiest, and developmentally beneficial….perfect paci- (as if that wasn’t a big ask) I wanted a brand – a village – a group of women who relied on each other like a village. Even if it’s miles apart. I saw the need for a VILLAGE of support.

We were never meant to do this alone.

I want a unicorn brand.

Mothering these three children ushered me into a passion for safe chemically clean, sustainable, and beautiful products and Lily Bean’s single-piece, notched nose space, aesthetic color story is the exact pacifier saw the need for years ago. With a design now known as a patent-pending under-nose shape known as the registered trademark “NoseNook™”.

The one-piece and non-toxic medical grade silicone pacifier with a nose space to breathe sustainably packaged paci on the market.

I vividly remember the numbers of my children’s health improving within moments of pacifier use – (our wonderful NICU nurse at Honor Health actually cut our Avent pacifier with scissors to accommodate their tubes for air and nutrition in their little noses.)

Because of choking hazards and accident reports, the One-Piece concept is extremely important. Recommended by AAP, Mayo Clinic and many more.

Being a mother is everything to me, as I’m sure it is to you too. I am so grateful we have found each other through Lily Bean and I look forward to seeing your little ones being the literal faces behind the change I dreamed to see in the world. From mom to mom truly, you’re doing amazing. You are magic.

Being a mother is everything to me, as I’m sure it is to you too. I am so grateful we have found each other through Lily Bean and I look forward to seeing your little ones being the literal faces behind the change I dreamed to see in the world. From mom to mom truly, you’re doing amazing. You are magic.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
So many small bumps but the one that comes to mind is staying focused and TRUE to the brand and what we stand for staying loyal to being the safest and most recommended by professionals – and not falling for “what sells, what’s popular, what everyone else does, what the algorithm likes, bringing on MORE products,” etc.

Staying focused on being the master of pacifiers instead of a one-stop local baby shop will pay off in the end. I plan on dominating as the pacifier queen as opposed to just another baby brand. Slow, steady and laser focused.

As you know, we’re big fans of Lily Bean Pacifiers. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are KNOWN for our NoseNook™ safety features which include our patent pending design. 100% BPA, PVC, phthalate, lead, and latex free.

(Prior to LBP, I didn’t know how many harmful materials were LEGALLY in our children’s products.)

“The goal of Lily Bean PacifiersⒸ is to give the babe a better pacifier option and mom and dad far less to worry about. Not profit margins.” Every step of the design process includes opinions and recommendations from mothers, fathers, pediatricians, naturopaths, NICU professionals, and pediatric therapists including occupational, speech, physical, and feeding.

Our 90° handle was created with development in mind. We have seen babies early as 5 pounds reach for our 90° handle to explore their emerging fine motor skills. Very different than all the completion, our one-size design discourages pacifier use beyond 24 months. Fit for premie – 24 months. ONE SIZE. The longevity of the product goes beyond pacifier use to be upcycled as bath toys, ice filled teethers, ring popsicles, pool toys, chewys and MANY more uses.

Dishwasher safe.

Zero plastic/reusable packaging.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking.
Risk. Financial. Reputation.

Seven years ago, my husband and I begin to fight school Sierra Charlie Aviation where he has exponentially grown with good morale, hard work, and staying true to his brand. Seeing what he’s done with the brand has always felt intimidating for me to step in the shoes of a businesswoman while raising our disabled kiddos at home felt so risky.

One of my favorite, motivational quotes is “Every success story begins with a single step”. Running a business, I see dominating a chunk of the market eventually, and still being able to homeschool my autistic twins and keep up with being a stay-at-home mom.. was incredibly daunting. But my kids with disabilities keep me working hard to show them that we don’t let life circumstances set us back. We just try harder.

My wonderful supportive husband, who has never doubted me for a single second keeps me going.

Always striving to be intentional, clean, superior and affordable.

I personally run my media accounts and customer service because kindness and treating new parents with love, empathy and support is my number one priority with customer interactions. As we grow, it feels bittersweet looking for people to add to the team to hand over the reins. Grateful is an understatement. And thank you every LBP customer for their support on this journey.

Available on Amazon!

Pricing:

• Two silicone pacifiers for $10 and beautiful recyclable packaging.
  • 9 packs for $30-35 (trust me, you’ll need 9. They disappear like dryer socks and hair ties)

Contact Info:

• Website: lilybeanpacifiers.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/lilybeanpacifiers?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Image Credits
Amanda Riley and Calah Kahler