Before she was “The Sleep Whisperer” Karoline Babaian was a lot like the new moms: Tired.
A Certified Pediatric Sleep Coach and busy working mom, Karoline dreamed of deep, restful sleep for her baby. While conventional wisdom promoted a standard cry out approach to sleep training, Karoline knew that one type was not her style, nor for the families, she wanted to help. Hence, The Sleep Nest® was born. Over time, she gently helped her first daughter get to sleep, fine-tuning a process over the years which became well known nationwide, and among mommy groups on social media, helping hundreds of families finally get some rest. Because no two children are alike, Karoline tailored her method for her daughter. Friends and friends of friends began calling Karoline for sleep help to get a more custom, individual-based approach.
With each family she helped, she grew and learned and modified her method. Karoline has gained community recognition as an expert on baby and child sleep. Her step-by-step method, and one-of-a-kind coaching, has empowered families all over to find a more, customized, and successful sleep approach.
How do you differentiate yourself from other Certified Pediatric Sleep Coaches?
I try to stay true to the one thing that got me started in the world of pediatric sleep; listen to the parents’ needs, and understand what each individual family is requiring. I take into account the child’s behavior around sleep, and that helps me understand what is missing from their sleep regimen. Actively listening has allowed me to connect with my clients more emotionally, and this is an area of topic that involves high emotions.
Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.
I am a single mom of two girls 6.5 and 4.5, in a great co-parenting relationship, ambitious and motivated by life and my kids. About six years ago, I decided to leave the workforce to raise my first-born, Belina. Soon after, I realized she was having trouble falling asleep. It started to progress starting 6mos of age, and by 10/11mos, we were having hours of sleepless nights. I Googled one day “how to make my child fall asleep”, and I came across “sleep training”. Once I sleep trained her, the company I used reached out to me and invited me to become a Certified Sleep Coach. Since then, I have changed lives of countless families struggling with their children’s sleep. I went into it at first because I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. But once I realized I the profound effects of better sleep, I was even more passionate for all the right reasons: to help as many families get better sleep, like we did!
What are some of your favorite things about what you do?
I love working with families from all backgrounds and locations, all striving for the same thing: better sleep! It is incredibly rewarding seeing my clients overcome their challenges around sleep training. Seeing how my clients underestimate their emotional strength, and proving themselves wrong by sticking through, is by far my favorite aspect. At the end of the day, when their child is rested and happy, the parents are happy… and so am I!
What does it take for someone to get started with their own side hustle in your line of work? How does someone start their own business like yours?
Vision is everything. Visualizing what you want to offer, to what audience of people, and how you want to better someone else’s life through your services/products is vital. The rest is logistics. It’s a journey, NEVER a race.
If you could tell tired desperate parents one thing, what would that be?
There are solutions, seek help! Sleep solutions are geared to provide your baby the proper environment, quality, and amount of sleep that promote healthy sleep habits. You do not have to suffer, thinking you are sacrificing for your baby’s betterment.
Can you give young parents tips who are having crying babies at night?
To the first-time parent, young parent, and to the third-time parent…it is OK to look for help! Baby cries have a variety of reasons, but the two most common things we (as parents) think of are hunger or pain. The reality is, sometimes it’s neither!
What is the biggest key to healthy sleep?
Structure/routine. Setting healthy sleep habits is fundamental.
What mistakes do parents make when they have baby sleeping issues?
Normalizing sleep issues has been the biggest trait I have come across. Let’s say you have friends or parents who tell you that “it’s ok, it’s just a phase” or “it’ll get better” or “enjoy them while it lasts” etc. But the one that is suffering night after night, is you. Even worse, your baby. These types of comments and innocent suggestions can lead a parent to feel submissive to their family’s existing sleep problems, leading many parents into chronic sleep issues, and even postpartum depression. If a family thinks they have sleep issues, then it is their absolute right to look for solutions. Like the saying goes, “to each its own.”
Where do you get your inspiration from daily?
I get my inspiration from my girls. I go to bed grateful, and wake up grateful. One thing I always remind myself of is that not everyone has everything, but if what you have makes you happy, then you have everything.
How do you stay motivated?
I’ll be honest, I have days where I feel like I’m dragging, just like everyone else. One thing that helps me is to write my goals down for the day, no matter how small they are or seemingly insignificant, and cross them off (like, literally cross them off with a pen). We can be motivated by so many external factors, but in order to STAY motivated, it’s more mental. I remind myself that each day is a new day to be our best. It is a chance to start over, especially if you had a rough day prior. But to forgive ourselves, in the midst of our tough days in order to stay motivated in the long run, is what I call self-love.
Find out more on https://thesleepnest.com
& follow on social media: https://www.instagram.com/thesleepnest/ https://www.facebook.com/thesleepnest
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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