About the Invention

Women from the beginning of time have created infant carrying devices of all kinds, from the sling to the aboriginal Cradle Board, both to keep baby happy and to free mother's hands.

Judy Pettersen's infant daughter, Michelle, was a particularly fussy baby. The carriers that Judy tried with baby Michelle proved to be uncomfortable and ineffective. When she complained to her husband Clarence, he said, "If you don't like any of them, why don't you make something better." Judy took up the challenge and created the Baby Trekker™ in 1986.

The Baby Trekker™ is designed for newborn to three-year-olds. Soft-bodied and padded, babies can face in or out. The Baby Trekker™ is designed to be used both as a frontpack and a backpack. The Baby Trekker™ is a Manitoba success story. What started out as a home-based business out of Judy's kitchen now operates out of production facilities in Flin Flon, Manitoba. The Baby Trekker™ is sold around the world through Pettersen Infant Products, Judy and Clarence's company.

About the Inventor

Judy Pettersen never intended to be an inventor or an entrepreneur, yet the development of the Baby Trekker™ taught her how to be both. At her kitchen table, she learned how to sketch, measure and design the new style of baby carrier. Once the Baby Trekker™ was ready for sale, she put on the entrepreneur's hat and gave demonstrations to friends and relatives, attended trade shows, and worked on business development.

It wasn't always easy. Finding enough time to develop the carrier was a challenge. At the time, Judy was busy with two small children and pregnant with a third, and Clarence was teaching school. As well, there were legalities that had to be taken care of, such as patent protection. Once the baby was born and her product patented, she started a home-based, cottage-industry style business with sewers working out of their homes.

All her efforts paid off. In August 1999, after nine years as a home-based business, Pettersen Infant Products moved to a separate manufacturing facility. The Baby Trekker™ is sold through retail outlets and through mail order. In 1997, Judy received the Home Based Business, Manitoba Women Entrepreneur of the Year Award.