The Little Bug Story

The Little Bug story starts with a mom and her mission to help other parents or caregivers catch some shut-eye, while also supporting the military community and busy parents.

Rebecca is a nine year military spouse, with two children under three years old. Prior to starting Little Bug, she worked in the corporate world but found she wanted a career that brought her greater meaning and allowed her to help other moms and families deal with separation due to work and life’s many circumstances.

Comfort and Security

Since Rebecca is a military spouse, mama, and a small business owner, she understands the challenges associated with military life, separation and how hard it can be to comfort a little one when part of the family dynamic is away. To support other families who deal with these same stressors, she created Little Bug Lovies —the perfect premium stuffed animals to give your child a sense of comfort and security when they need it most! The Little Bug lineup consists of Bev Bear, Henry Sloth, and Rory Lion!

Lovies can offer a familiar sense of security and home, wherever in the world we may be. So let your little one know that you’re never far away—no matter where life takes you!

The Comforting Benefits of Little Bug Lovies

Anxiety
Sleeplessness
Tantrums
Scary Thunderstorms
Self-Soothing & Coping Skills
Independence
And much, much more!

Our Favorite Feature

You can zip an article of clothing into the pocket of the lovie and your little one can enjoy a soft plush toy that has the secure, familiar scent of their parent or caregiver. Not only is it a practical way for families to stay connected, but it also teaches kids an invaluable coping skill!

So while parents may have to be away, the Little Bug lovie gives kids an extra layer of comfort with a new plush that’s a calming aid and best friend all wrapped into one!

Given San Diego's large military population, we're confident that Little Bug's lovie is a great resource for all families, military families in particular, with young children. This is a truly special comfort item not only for families who may be separated from their loved ones due to deployment, but also for many other circumstances that may cause separation anxiety.

As an awesome extra, Little Bug founder Rebecca donates a portion of profits to military charities, providing support for the community she serves. Through her selfless pursuit of helping others, Rebecca has revolutionized the way military families stay connected and has given comfort to many children in need.

We caught up with the entrepreneur and OWNER OF THE LITTLE BUG STORE to talk motherhood, MILITARY LIFE, and finding a career doing what you love WHILE HELPING OTHERS.

How did you start your business?

My husband’s mom wrote an inscription on the back of a picture that she gave us when I was pregnant with my son and it said “you will raise a beautiful little one” so initially we were going to name the company Little One. After she passed when I was 8 month pregnant, we decided to change it to Little Bug because we kept seeing lady bugs land on us and felt like it was signs from her. So, the name Little Bug with the lady bugs in the logo is what we went with!

How Has Your Business Addressed an Important Need?

As a mom of two, and military spouse, I started Little Bug to help moms and families through challenging times. Every child deserves something, that'll bring them comfort, and joy, especially during times of uncertainty and transition for toddlers. It's usually something like a security blanket or a lovie. Little Bug specializes in high-quality lovies that are so, so cute. But what sets Little Bug apart from the rest, is our unique stuffable design for military families and any family going through difficult times and separation. This feature is especially meaningful when my husband is away for Military training or exercises. I wanted to find a way to make my son feel closer to him, so I took one of his old t-shirts and had him help me stuff the lovie with it. This has brought him, and his sister so much comfort and joy during this time. And there's so many other things that you can stuff these lovies with, whether that be their favorite toy or a photo of a loved one.

What is the best part about running your business?

The best part of running this business is seeing customer photos of their children making memories and absolutely adoring their lovies. I really do feel like by running a business that incorporates comfort and joy, we are able to touch the lives of so many people and become such a special part of their family through our lovies.

As a business owner what trials do you face?

There are so many things to learn when it comes to being a new business owner and on top of that I am a mom of two wild kids under three, so our household is always moving. But I think I thrive in chaos… so far it seems to be working for us. It’s a constant juggle!

Do you use sustainable practices?

All of our packaging is biodegradable even down to the tape we use to close our mailers. We adore our lovies characters and the real life animals that they represent so we strive to make our packaging and business as sustainable as possible each day.

What makes your business unique from others of its kind?

We have so much heart. This really is a family effort. I am packaging orders with my toddlers at my feet and responding to messages as I make Mac and cheese for my son and carry my daughter on my hip. I’m in the midst of this crazy thing called motherhood so I feel like I can really relate to the audience that we are sending our lovies to. I see you mommas and I’m right there doing it with you!

What do you see for the future of your business?

I would love to reach more families in need and get our name out there so that we can find more ways to give back. We ran a campaign in May where we are donated one lovie for every lovie purchased on our website to a foster child. Each month I would love to find a way we can donate lovies and give back to the community. I would love to be able to expand and grow into different retail spaces as well as expand our characters. We are thinking about adding a new friend to our roster next Fall 2024!

Images Courtesy of The Little Bug Store

Bring Comfort to Your Child During Separation: The Benefits of a Little Bug Lovie