JEANNE and Mark Whatmore from Wychbold really wanted to have a baby and they could not have been happier when little Elizabeth arrived three years ago.

Elizabeth was an IVF baby and very much wanted, explained former primary school teacher Jeanne.

As with many many couples their new arrival became the centre of their world but in a short time their daughter would take their lives in a completely new direction.

Just as Jeanne was preparing to go back to work, Elizabeth, aged five months, was struck down with norovirus and was admitted to Worcestershire Royal Hospital where she spent six weeks.

“She had quite a bad strain and it wiped her immune system. She was dehydrated and at one point she was getting through 20 nappies a day,” Jeanne said.

Elizabeth did recover but was left with a low white blood count making her vulnerable to germs. Jeanne was told by one of the hospital doctors that Elizabeth was likely to experience frequent illness.

“The doctor pulled me aside and asked if I was a full-time worker and what intentions I had. He said she would be ill frequently.”

Jeanne had to decide whether to go back to work or stay at home looking after Elizabeth. She knew if she went back to work at Astley CE Primary School near Stourport she might have to take time off when Elizabeth fell ill and she felt this would be unfair on the school and the children. She also wanted to be on hand to care for Elizabeth.

“My main issue was to get Elizabeth right. I had to look after my little girl,” she said.

If Jeanne was going to be a stay-at-home-mum, she needed something to do and as soon as Elizabeth was born the couple were continually going out to buy blankets to make her sleep times comfortable.

From that Jeanne, aged 35, and Mark, 44, came up with the idea of creating personalised baby gifts which would enable parents, family members and friends to cherish moments with little ones.

“We were thinking about it quite early on. I am a workaholic and I was struggling being at home and not meeting people.”

Jeanne and Mark, a full-time electrician, set up a company called Comfy Baby Collections supplying tailor-made personalised gifts like blankets, sleep-ware and nursery bedding bearing the child’s name and perhaps their weight or date of birth. Every item is bespoke.

The couple buy in the item and then embroider on whatever the customer requests.

“We could not find anything like this for Elizabeth and we thought we could do it.” Because little Elizabeth was so poorly, the couple wanted items to remind them and help them cherish events in her life.

“When she was christened, we could not find a christening shall on which we could put the date. And there was nothing at an affordable price,” said Jeanne.

She added that her gran did sewing and her parents had an embroidery business at one point and that was where all the ideas and links came together.

The couple converted the top floor of their house into a production area and do all the machine embroidery themselves.

Jeanne explained that the couple work into the early hours of the morning to fulfil orders.

The business has expanded since they started to include children’s educational toys and clothing which is also personalised according to the customer’s individual wishes.

“After being a teacher for many years teaching and watching other children learn – I now watch my own daughter play with her toys.

“As a practitioner for very young children, I wanted to bring my expertise of teaching to the company. All the toys we sell are educational while bringing children to opportunity to ignite their imagination, exploration, creativity and fun.

“I can help customers identify the most suitable toy for the child they are trying to buy for.”

She said they are able to personalise wooden toys with names and whatever else the customer wants by using a laser cutter.

“We aim to create something that is unique and is a memory and is good quality and is a reasonable price. I know as a [parent there is not a lot of money around when the bills are paid. We are not trying to make millions but a living for our family.”

The couple recently re-branded their small family business, which is now known as Bright Lights (www.yourbrightlights.co.uk), so they could expand their range to include products for older children rather than just babies.

They sell their good through their website and through their stands at Droitwich market, the weekend markets in Worcester High Street and other events like Bromsgrove carnival. They also attend a gift fair at the NEC. “We like to stay local because we are a small family-run business.”