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Parents turn car sickness into a global product

Karmyn Roberts, founder of Chundee.
Karmyn Roberts, founder of Chundee.

Australian parents Karmyn Roberts and Daniel Roberts faced a three-hour drive home in 2023 with a 20-month-old who spent the night vomiting in the back seat, prompting a search for a cleaner solution.

From a Road Trip to a Prototype

During the lengthy return trip the couple worried about cleaning vomit from their child, the car seats and the carpet, wondering whether other families dealt with the same mess.

That concern sparked continuous brainstorming between the two, and the idea for a protective bib emerged while they anticipated a possible spill in the rear-seat.

Roberts, a former youth worker, spent roughly two years refining a bib made from soft yet durable silicone, aiming for a product that could capture liquids without leaking.

The finished design features a deep, wide pocket at the front capable of holding up to a litre of fluid, plus an internal lip that reduces splashback, and it folds into a waterproof storage bag.

Growth Fueled by Social Media

Initial marketing relied on organic posts on Instagram and Facebook, but the brand struggled to attract buyers beyond the founders’ personal network.

Read Also: Building brands on a tight budget

Six months after launch, Roberts posted a short video demonstrating the bib’s ability to contain mess, which quickly amassed 49.9 million views and generated a flood of appreciative comments from parents.

The viral exposure forced the small team to scale production, manage inventory and learn the logistics of order fulfillment while keeping up with growing demand.

Going Global

Beyond car-related sickness, families report using the bib for children undergoing chemotherapy, those with disabilities, and everyday messy meals, noting its ability to catch crumbs as well as liquids.

One customer shared a photo of her daughter eating a cheeseburger; the child placed the sandwich in the bib’s bottom, chewed, and then retrieved it, while the bib collected all crumbs.

Roberts’ background includes youth work, live-in support for wheelchair users, and social-service roles, which she says informs her desire to create products that assist people in practical ways.

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