Barbara Michaud has developed an animal-shaped infant soother holder which clasps on to the side of a baby's crib. The baby's parent places a spare soother in the animal's mouth so that the baby always has a soother nearby. The product is not yet on the market, but should be shortly.

A prototype was created in 1998, which has been used to demonstrate the product to potential customers and investors. Barbara has hired an engineer to draw the plans for the production mould, and hopes to go into production soon.

As a new inventor, she passes on the following to other women. "It's been like school. I have learned a lot about patents, manufacturing and molds. Be patient. It takes a long time, especially if you have to do it yourself."

About the Inventor

Barbara Michaud was born in Edmunston, New Brunswick in 1962. After high school, she completed two years of business courses towards a degree in business and is still taking courses. She has learned even more about business from the experience of developing her product, especially about patents and manufacturing.

In 1994, she got tired of always looking for her baby's pacifier under the crib. She wanted something attached to the crib to store the pacifier so that her baby Kera could find it without needing mom or dad's help. Bringing the idea to the market has been a long slow process. She has the patents and the molds and is now ready for manufacturing which will then lead the way to the marketplace. Fisher Price has shown interest in the product. Barbara is married to "a really nice man" and they live together in Clair, New Brunswick with their three children. Her company is called "Kera's World" after her daughter.