When shop-bought plates caused a rash in one of her three children, local mum Rebecca Klemm began looking for solutions to make her family’s life better.

Those solutions became life changers and Rebecca is now bringing them to the rest of the community when she opens her new Kidsnest shop in Lismore on Saturday.

“My child has dairy allergy as well as a reaction to plates - and a paediatrician thought it was the chemicals in plates that was causing the plate reaction,” Rebecca said. “We’re not sure what the compound in plates it was.

“So, a friend brought me some plates made from recycled milk cartons with no chemicals added – and no more rashes.

“They are eco-friendly, durable, microwave friendly and dishwasher safe. My youngest child is two and throws her bowls and they don’t crack.

“I’ve been selling them to preschools.”

“There’s a lot of products out there from countries like China and you don’t know what’s in them."

Rebecca said finding the plates was just the beginning. She started buying more of the recycled plastic tableware from the US and found a lot of other parents had similar needs.

So a year ago, she created an online shop and began selling products at the markets.

“The closest place selling them otherwise was Brisbane,” Rebecca said. 

“I started expanding with other products I love which includes a range for children with anxiety and autism. My eldest daughter has anxiety.

“One of my best sellers is compression sheets – they are like a weighted blanket that slides onto the mattress like a sock. The child hops in under the sheet and makes them feel like they are getting a big hug.

“My eldest is nine years old and got anxiety at school. Some nights she was overwhelmed and it took four hours of crying for her to settle.

"The paediatrician prescribed melatonin tablets and with the with aid of the sensory sheet, she got off tablets and within three nights she was snoring.”

“It works with the brain and increases the melatonin – it’s fantastic.”

Rebecca also sells pod swings which she said are good for kids with autism who like to sway and swing. 

There’s a shop full of interesting things – from drink containers to wooden products and toys to help kids display emotional recognition.

“I use wooden card with happy and sad faces to get my kids to talk about their day,” Rebecca said. “They pick a card and tell me about their day.

“I also sell Montti Co milks shake cups, drink bottles with silicon reusable straws and lunchboxes – bento boxes. 

“They are all products to help families with children and assist them in their daily routines."

There’s even a tap extender that attaches to a tap to extend the water flow and allows children to wash their hands themselves.

Rebecca also personalises items with names or images, depending on what you would like. She spent a week recently personalising a set of cups for a school. 

Kidsnest opens this Saturday, July 11, 9am at 1/109 Dawson Street. It’s between Fire in The Belly and Lismore City Motor Inn. There’s free balloons for the kids. 

You can visit the website for more details about products for parents and kids http://www.kidsneststore.com.au