Do It All Mamas (& Papas): Meet the mom behind Modern Mommy Gear

December 27, 10:36 AMEarly Childhood Parenting ExaminerAngele Sionna

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Robin and her son Levi

In today's Do It All Mamas (& Papas) feature Robin K. P. Morris, mom to 18 month old Levi Bentley and founder of Modern Mommy Gear.

Examiner: Tell me something unique/interesting about yourself.

Robin: Pregnancy complications placed me on complete bedrest for 16 weeks. I was fortunate to be able to do most of it at home, but I had to find creative ways to entertain myself each day. My son had more handmade blankets, hats and sweaters than we could count. I am blessed to have such a wonderfully supportive husband who juggled all the cleaning, shopping and cooking with a hectic work schedule for four months, and great friends who stopped by with new books and hot lunches each week. As my body swelled with our growing child, my sweet husband even shopped for my maternity clothing and bras! 

Examiner: What is your business all about? 

Robin: Modern Mommy Gear (www.ModernMommyGear.com) is a full-service online retailer for eco-responsible gear. We offer everything from modern cloth diapers and organic baby carriers to pet supplies made from recycled material and non-toxic cleaning supplies. Our goal is to make shopping for green gear for babies, parents, pets and the home simple. Consumers can find all of their eco-responsible parenting products from more than 70 manufacturers all in a single online store.

Examiner: What is your favorite product that you make or sell and why do you like or recommend it?

Robin: As a parent, I can honestly say that I am most excited to offer the top rated brands of modern cloth diapers to our hip, urban parents around the world. We have been using cloth diapers exclusively on our son, Levi Bentley, since the week he came home from the hospital and feel they were the single best investment we made in baby gear. Designed by moms, today's modern cloth diapers are contoured to hug your baby and are made with Velcro waists and elastic legs for a snug fit and even have an attached waterproof outer layer for leak protection. No more rubber pants, giant safety pins or folding, and they can be laundered at home.

Examiner: Why did you start your business?

Robin: While I was on bedrest for 16 weeks, I spent a lot of hours at home alone, with little more than bad daytime television to occupy me while my husband was at work. Thanks to a wireless internet connection, I spent a lot of time online researching everything "baby". It was during this time that we discovered modern cloth diapers and made the decision to strive towards living an eco-responsible lifestyle. While the green movement is gaining momentum, many of the non-toxic, organic, sustainable or unique mom-invented products are still produced on a small scale and not available at the big box retail stores. I was fortunate to come across some of these amazing products during bedrest. Since I was unable to go to the local baby store in person, I purchased the majority of our son's baby gear from small, mom-owned companies online. Most parents don't have the time on their hands that I did during bedrest, so I set out to create the go-to online store for modern-chic parents to purchase the top-rated, mom-tested green gear for their families. Overtime, we've grown to include a variety of eco-responsible products for babies, parents, pets and homes.  

Examiner: What secret do you have to share with other parents about "having it all" with your family and business?

Robin: Becoming a small business owner requires a tremendous amount of work in a variety of specialties. I often put in more "hours" working on the store than the standard 40 hour work week. However, operating a online store from my home allows me the opportunity to set my own schedule. I can spread 50+ hours over 7 days/24 hours. I work before my son wakes up, during nap time, and at least once a week pull an "all nighter", allowing me to spend the days with our son visiting the zoo, going to story hour at the local library, and attending playgroups. 

Examiner: What is the number one piece of advice you have for other parents?

Robin: We believe in the philosophy that children learn best by example. I would encourage you to let your kids observe you making the right choices for your family, your finances, your community, and the earth. Whether you are choosing cage-free eggs at the grocery store, donating clothing to a shelter, building a compost pile in the backyard, or packing their lunch with reusable water bottles and bamboo utensils, you are teaching them to become responsible, caring citizens of the world they live in. Actions really do speak louder than words.

Examiner: What is your (and your kids) favorite family activity?

Robin: We actively strive to expose our son to as much as we can. Denver is home to a myriad of great sports teams, cultural activities and community events. Since the week he came home from the hospital, we've taken him to restaurants, festivals, sporting events, and museums. We are season ticket holders for University of Colorado Football and Colorado Avalanche Hockey, and are members at the Denver Zoo and Denver Botanic Gardens. Each month we seek out new places to take him to. Whether it is a children's play, the high school soccer championships, the Santa Train, or the Cider Days Festival, our favorite family activity is just spending time together.

Examiner: Anything else you want to add?

Robin: We are constantly seeking high quality, environmentally friendly, sustainable products to keep families happy and the planet healthy. Please contact us if you make, sell or use a green product that you think other parents would benefit from knowing about. We especially love supporting locally-made or parent-invented products!