A golden legacy: 50 years of BabyRest

For three generations, we’ve been designing for the people we know best: parents.

Our story began in 1976 with one Australian mum looking for a better solution for her toddler. She designed an ergonomic, low-profile pillow that supported her child’s sleep and, from that simple idea, BabyRest was born.

What followed was never simply a story of growing a business. It was a story of one generation passing an idea to the next, each bringing new skills, new thinking and a shared belief that there was always a better way to support families.

Over the decades, BabyRest has grown from a single sleep product into a nursery brand spanning mattresses, cots and chests, nursery chairs, bassinets and more.

We’ve seen the way we parent change, our homes have changed, technology has changed… and yet what parents truly want for their children hasn’t.

They want their babies to sleep safely. They want beautiful spaces and products crafted to last. And above all, they want to feel confident that they’re making the right choices for their family. Since 1976, we’ve been listening to those needs and finding better ways to meet them.

From little things, big things grow…

• 1976 | It all began with one mum
  A mother set out to create a better sleep solution for her toddler, designing an ergonomic, low-profile pillow that was recommended by paediatricians. What began as one mum solving a problem for her own family would become the foundation of BabyRest.
  
  

• 1980s | BabyRest takes shape
  The business grew into something bigger, with the next generation joining and the foundations of BabyRest’s own manufacturing, factory and office taking shape.
  
  

• 1990s | A new generation takes the reins
  With the 2nd generation taking ownership, BabyRest evolved its systems, expanded its capabilities and began importing branded products, laying the foundations for the business to grow beyond its original beginnings.
  
  

• 2000s | Made with purpose
  BabyRest expanded its own manufacturing capabilities, bringing more production in-house and developing Australian-made mattresses and products, including wool-filled designs. The 3rd generation of the family joined the business, bringing fresh ideas and a continued focus on quality and innovation.
  
  

• 2010s | A breakthrough in safer sleep
  As BabyRest refined its focus on products that could tangibly support parents through parenthood, years of research and development led to the birth of the DuoCore™ Bamboo Cot Mattress in 2019, marking a new chapter in our approach to safer sleep. (In 2024, DuoCore™ would go on to be the first mattress in Australia to pass the CO₂ rebreathing test, reinforcing our commitment to continually raising the bar.)
  
  

• 2020s | From sleep to the whole nursery
  As the business navigated the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 and global supply chain disruption, we developed smarter systems and processes while continuing to invest in our customers, products and people. In 2020, we launched our first own-designed cots, expanding into furniture, nursery chairs, bassinets and travel cots. Alongside this growth, we continued to set our own standards for quality, safety and design, with BabyRest products beginning to receive recognition through industry awards.
  
  

• 2026 | 50 years, three generations
  Five decades after one mum set out to create a better sleep solution for her toddler, BabyRest remains a family business, still designing thoughtfully for the families of today and generations to come. 50 years on, we’re celebrating how far we’ve come with our most special collection yet…
  
  

A new chapter of craftsmanship

What started as one family’s pursuit of better sleep has grown across three generations, shaped by decades of listening to parents, refining our craft and designing with the next generation in mind.

To mark five decades of BabyRest, we’ve created something truly special: the 50th Anniversary Collection, featuring the Harcourt Cot & Chest, Harcourt Side Table and Scarborough Electric Nursery Chair.

Each piece brings together the things that have shaped BabyRest for the past 50 years: considered design, thoughtful craftsmanship, safer sleep and a belief that the products surrounding our families should be made with both beauty and purpose.

Because while so much has changed since 1976, our commitment to families has not.

There’s something different about the 50th Anniversary Collection. It’s not just beautiful nursery furniture. Every piece has been designed around the way families actually live, with thoughtful details that make the early years easier and beautiful design that gives them a life beyond the nursery.

Take the Harcourt Cot & Chest. Its substantial timber, timeless finishes and distinctive curves make it a statement piece from the moment it arrives, while its design is quietly doing so much more. The cot converts to a low-profile junior bed as your little one grows, while the generous chest gives you the storage you’ll quickly discover you can never have enough of. We’ve even built additional storage beneath the cot, making use of every inch without compromising its beautiful, considered form.