MONTGOMERY, Ohio -- The Blue Cocoon, a favorite stomping grounds for parents and their young children, closed its doors March 24 after nearly seven years in business in Montgomery.
The store billed itself as "Greater Cincinnati's premier lactation boutique and natural baby store for the modern family," with its primary target audience being pregnant and breastfeeding moms, according to its website.
Owner Ashley Brown-Combs declined to comment on the store's closing, but in a statement on Blue Cocoon's Facebook page said she was closing the business to spend more time with her family.
The Blue Cocoon provided breastfeeding assistance for moms, including pumping supplies and rentals, support groups, consultations and classes. For children it offered playgroups and open play time in an indoor playzone, music classes, birthday parties and events.
The store sold baby- and mother-focused items such as maternity and nursing gear, baby carriers, cloth diapers and accessories. It was well known for a cloth diaper swap in which local parents could buy and sell cloth diapers at a discounted price.
The store focused on natural and organic methods and attracted "breastfeeding, babywearing 'crunchy' moms," said local parent Katelane Kirschner of Eastgate.
Kirschner, who said she related to more parents at the store than anywhere else, and her 2-year-old daughter, Ellery, loved the space for multiple reasons.
Ellery Kirschner plays at Blue Cocoon. (Photo provided by Katelane Kirschner)
"It provided a safe and enriching play space for Ellery. I really enjoyed taking her there and watching her play with the other kids," she said. "I appreciated that they only offered wooden and imaginative play toys -- no batteries! I ran there on more than one occasion on my lunch break when I was pumping at work because I'd forgotten a part at home. I also loved that they sold such a variety of baby carriers. I never got to buy the one I had my eye on -- the Tula Coast Prance -- before they closed!"
Kirschner and community moms might still be able to purchase some of the store's merchandise: According to the online statement, the store is working on new online shopping opportunities and will continue to offer insurance breast pumps.
Lisa Loiselle of West Chester, mother to a 3- and 1-year-old, said the breastfeeding support Blue Cocoon offered was invaluable when a pediatrician labeled Loiselle's youngest child as "slow to gain weight." She would go to the Blue Cocoon because she could do a "weighted feed" there, which helps breastfeeding moms see how many ounces of milk the baby is drinking.
"(They) reassured me that my daughter's weight gain (or lack thereof) was normal," Loiselle said.
Loiselle participated in "Tummy Time" classes at Blue Cocoon and joined a babywearing group. She also interacted with other mothers, such as one who worked for poison control and was certified in car seat safety.
"I became an empowered mother just by reading her advice in a Facebook group I would have never known existed if not for the Blue Cocoon," she said.
Many parents expressed concern about the store's closing on local Facebook parenting sites and chat boards, especially those who currently had rentals or classes scheduled with the store. The store's Facebook page addressed the following questions about ongoing business:
- Pogo Play will honor any unused play passes. (10870 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash)
- If you have items on consignment, "reach out to schedule a time for pick up."
- The store will contact anyone with a breast pump being rented to schedule a return and refund the deposit at the end of the contract.
- All scheduled parties have been notified of cancellations, and refunds have been issued for deposits.
