Testimonial
I believe that the Medela Certified Nursing Center Certification has helped grow our business significantly in 2009.  Being recognized as a Medela CNC helps identify us as being a knowledgeable resource for breastfeeding products in the Houston area.

About Us
Almost nine years ago, Suzanne and her husband Chris were first-time parents finding out just how difficult and stressful it can be to do something as seemingly simple as feeding a hungry baby. Having done all the research, Suzanne understood that breastfeeding would give her daughter the best start possible, yet none of the books she had read, nor the classes she had taken, prepared her for the reality of trying to get her baby to actually latch and feed successfully.

She eventually succeeded in establishing a full supply by pumping and through sheer determination fed her daughter breast milk until the age of two.  She has since nursed her two younger boys, now almost 3 and 5 years old.

During this rocky and stressful start, Suzanne and her husband found that while support was available, it was not easy to find.  As with many issues she faced through her prior career, Suzanne saw an opportunity to improve the situation for other parents and set about doing just that. Over the next few years, she volunteered on a breastfeeding support online board and eventually began providing mom-to-mom support for other nursing moms.  After relocating to Kingwood, she found a lack of resources in the area and that the closest Medela Pump Rental station was 45 minutes away.  It was then she decided to open My Little Juel, naming it after the daughter that started it all.

“Everyone recognizes that Mother Nature has given within each mother the perfect food for their baby”, Suzanne says, “unfortunately, sometime problems arise and you need to know where and how to get help.”

“I have since realized that my calling is helping mothers with breastfeeding,” she adds, “and it’s so rewarding knowing we help not just parents, but the next generation of children, getting them going with as healthy a start as possible.” 

The mothers who have benefited from her assistance agree.  Metta Caster, a local Kingwood mother, stated that “Suzanne was very supportive and knowledgeable and I learned more with my two visits with her than from anyone at the 2 hospitals where I had my boys.”

As a Breastfeeding Educator and Certified Lactation Counselor, Suzanne has been able to offer breastfeeding advice and support to mothers in the community for over six years.   In addition to advice and support, My Little Juel focuses on carrying the best products available for new and expectant mothers. 

“Medela products are the perfect fit for our mommies, and we were so excited to be selected as the first Medela Certified Nursing Center in Texas in 2009,” said Suzanne.

When asked about her experience with My Little Juel, Cindy Bryce, a local Houston mom, said “What can I say?  Suzanne was a Godsend!  It's amazing how stressful breastfeeding can be while you & baby are trying to get ‘the hang of it.’  Suzanne was the calm in the storm.  My stress level was greatly reduced, knowing I could reach her at any time!  Her caring support enabled me to fulfill my goal of breastfeeding my precious angel baby.”

A dedicated Lactation room is available at My Little Juel for breastfeeding consultation and classes, as well as bra fittings, and for use by visiting customers. 

“We have a Medela Baby-Weigh scale available for mothers who want to weight their babies.  It is as accurate to the gram, and you don’t have to schedule a weight check at a pediatrician’s office.”

“One of the problems with breastfeeding support in general,” Suzanne notes, “is there is great support available for both upper and lower income moms, through private Lactation Consultants and WIC.  However, if you are in the middle, you are left out in the cold.  That is where My Little Juel comes in - we have priced our services to be very affordable for most families and have based our rates on standard co-pay amounts.”

Mothers are often surprised to find that they can receive intensive one-on-one lactation counseling for such a small fee.  My Little Juel is able to offer these services at low rates because the breastfeeding side of the business is located within and augmented by her second retail business, Merry-Go-Round.

Merry-Go-Round also serves as a meeting place for local moms.  “When we started, our vision was to have a place where mothers could connect with other mothers,” says Juel, “and Merry-Go-Round is right next to Kids-In-Action, one of Kingwood’s most popular centers for children to learn and play.  It’s a natural fit.”

Almost all the women who work at Merry-Go-Round have been breastfeeding moms, and they typically bring their children to work with them.  New mothers can connect with experienced mothers who have often been through the same struggles. 

Local Kingwood-area mom Karen Dillewyn wrote on Facebook recently, “My favorite thing about Merry-Go-Round is the sense of community there---from the employees, to the customers, to the owner, and even the neighboring businesses, everyone is so helpful. It's "Mommy Central"! :)”

Wynette Taylor posted that her favorite thing about Merry-Go-Round is “going in and having the opportunity to talk to other moms who are in my shoes. Even if I did not make a purchase that day I feel I left with something of value just by associating with the staff. The staff is always warm and fun to chat with.”

It is common to go into the store and see mothers at work wearing their babies in slings, or mothers breastfeeding their infants and young children. 

“My favorite thing about Merry Go Round is that it is a breastfeeding friendly kind of place - if you have a little one….that wants to be nursed - just look around and find a chair!” posted local Kingwood-area mom Heather Skeen on Facebook.

Children are, of course, welcome at Merry-Go-Round, and the store boasts nearly 500 square feet of enclosed play area for young ones to romp in.  “I absolutely love that Merry Go Round has a safe play area for the kids to play while Mom shops!” said local mom Rhonda Schnitz.

The successful mix of a business meeting local needs, a professional yet friendly atmosphere, and earning the trust of its clientele shows as Merry-Go-Round and My Little Juel has grown over the past four years, expanding to a larger space, and adding many new products.  Merry Go Round values supporting other local Mom-owned businesses and whenever possible will source products locally in the WAHM (Work at Home Mom) Community.

When asked what her favorite thing was about Merry-Go-Round, local mom Jodi Engels said, “My favorite thing about Merry-Go-Round -- it is so hard to narrow it down to one thing, which maybe sums it up -- I think Suzanne has thought of EVERYTHING to make it a Mom-friendly place.…”

Merry-Go-Round is located at 3037 Woodland Hills Drive in the Court of Kingwood Shopping center.  Hours are Monday-Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-4 and Sunday 1-5.  Lactation Counselor services by appointment only.

Click here to visit Merry-Go-Round/My Little Juel