Behind the Brand: Monica — My Binkie Bear

Some businesses start with a spark of inspiration. My Binkie Bear started with a mother’s heartbreak.

Monica was scrolling late one night after another long day of parenting, exhaustion, and worry when she saw a video that stopped her cold — a mum sharing how she’d helped her son give up his pacifier by sealing it inside a Build-A-Bear. The story was meant to be sweet. But that night, the same mum posted again. Her son was so distraught she’d cut the bear open to get it back.

“I remember thinking, that poor mum,” Monica says. “The guilt, the sadness, the helplessness — it mirrored everything I was feeling trying to support my own kids through their struggles.”

At the time, Monica was managing multimillion-dollar vaccine contracts while her partner worked for one of the Big Four firms. Their two eldest children were facing significant mental health challenges. “We were exhausted. Just surviving. Trying to keep everything together while constantly wondering if we were doing enough.”

That night changed everything.

After seeing that story, Monica went searching for a better way — a safer, gentler, emotionally supportive solution for parents navigating the same moment. “I stayed up until three in the morning researching. I expected to find something, anything that helped parents through pacifier weaning safely and calmly. But there was nothing.”

What she did find horrified her. “Parents were cutting pacifiers, poking holes in them to make them uncomfortable — even being told to do it by professionals. The choking risk alone was terrifying.” When she reached out to major brands like Tommee Tippee and NUK, they confirmed her fears. “That was my lightbulb moment. No parent should have to choose between calm and safety. If it didn’t exist, I was going to create it.”

And so, My Binkie Bear was born — a brand built from exhaustion, love, and the determination to make parenting a little less lonely.

The Birth of a Comfort Revolution

Monica didn’t want to just design another plush toy. She wanted to change how families approached milestones entirely — through story, play, and connection rather than stress and tears.

“The idea was simple,” she says. “To help parents feel supported and to help children feel understood. Instead of forcing a change through fear, I wanted to make it something they were part of — something they could feel proud of.”

That idea became Bye-Bye Pacifier, a play-based, story-led system that gently guides toddlers through the weaning process with the help of a comforting bear and a supportive narrative that makes sense to little minds.

It wasn’t long before parents began to share their own success stories. “Seeing families connect, cry happy tears, and say, ‘We did it together,’ reminded me exactly why this mattered.”

Parenting Through Chaos and Clarity

Monica’s honesty about parenthood is one of the reasons My Binkie Bear resonates so deeply. “Parenting is constant self-doubt. You’re always wondering if you’re doing it right,” she admits. “But what I’ve learned — especially through our own family’s challenges — is that kids thrive when they feel safe and involved. Growth happens when they feel heard, not when they’re forced.”

Every My Binkie Bear system is designed with that in mind — giving parents structure and kids agency. “It’s about creating a roadmap for emotional transitions that feels kind, not clinical.”

Turning Potty Time into Playtime

Monica’s next creation, Go Time Potty Time, takes the same approach — turning one of the most stressful parenting phases into something children actually look forward to.

“It’s the first complete system of its kind in Australia,” Monica says. “Most tools give you a sticker chart or a storybook. I thought, why not make the whole thing a game?”

The Go Time kit includes storytelling characters, visual guides, and a reward chart that celebrates effort, not perfection. But the real magic? The Wizzle Fizzles — little tablets that bubble, fizz, and change colour when dropped into the toilet, turning a small step into a big celebration.

“Parents tell us their kids can’t wait to use the toilet. That’s the dream — no tears, just excitement. It’s a confidence-builder for both child and parent.”

Science Meets Storytelling

Behind every cute bear and fizzy tablet lies serious evidence-based design. “Parents are trusting us in really vulnerable moments,” Monica explains. “So everything we do has to be backed by research and guided by experts in child development and play therapy.”

But she’s equally passionate about keeping things simple. “It’s not about lecturing parents with science. It’s about giving them tools that feel doable — and giving children the comfort, curiosity, and courage to take the next step.”

When designing new products, Monica always starts with emotion. “For Bye-Bye Pacifier, I wanted to turn loss into love. For Go Time, I wanted to turn fear into fun. That balance between comfort and curiosity is what makes it work.”

Stories That Stay With You

Some of the most powerful feedback comes from parents whose children face additional challenges. “A mum once shared how her autistic son used the Bye-Bye Pacifier system and how beautifully he responded to the structure and sensory comfort. That message brought me to tears,” Monica says.

Another came from a little girl who took her Binkie Bear into surgery. “That bear became her bravery. Later, she used our potty training system as part of occupational therapy. Knowing something I created could give a child strength — that’s everything.”

Behind the Brand — and the Chaos

A typical day for Monica? “Organised chaos,” she laughs. “I’m up at 5am for weight training. It’s my sanity. Then it’s school runs, orders, calls, and emails — and at some point, hopefully, a shower.”

She finds balance through structure, humour, and mindfulness. “I practise gratitude, visualisation, and remind myself that it’s okay to let the dishes wait. My kids won’t remember spotless benches — they’ll remember how they felt growing up in our home.”

Her advice to other parents in the thick of toddlerhood? “Being present matters more than being perfect. Let them be heard, even when it’s hard. You’re doing better than you think.”

What’s Next for My Binkie Bear

As for what’s coming next, Monica hints there’s plenty brewing behind the scenes. “We’re developing new products that I can’t quite reveal yet, but 2026 is going to be a big year,” she says. “We’re focused on expanding across Australia and into the U.S. so more families can access what we’ve built.”

Her mission remains simple: to make those big, messy, emotional parenting moments gentler, braver, and more connected.

“Parenting isn’t about getting it perfect,” Monica smiles. “It’s about finding calm in the chaos — and helping our little ones feel safe enough to grow through it.”

To find out more about My Binkie Bear‘s award-winning products visit https://mybinkiebear.com/