As a mom or dad of a young child, you may have heard of transitional objects. According to child psychiatrists, the concept is simple, yet it’s not always clear for parents. The transitional object helps your baby in their discovery of the outside world. Part shield, part pillar, this unconditional source of comfort is especially useful when separation anxiety sets in. As a symbol of the early months and the parent-child relationship, doesn’t the baby bottle have a rightful place here?
CONTENTS
- Round and soft like the mother’s breast, BibRond as an emotional vector
- Winnicott’s transitional object — what is it really?
- The importance of the transitional object for your child
- BibRond supports your baby as they discover the outside world
Round and soft like the mother’s breast, BibRond as an emotional vector
Among the very first objects to come into your newborn’s field of vision is the baby bottle. An essential nourishing item from the start, the bottle is also one of the first utensils your baby will grasp. So, your baby has plenty of reasons to love it—especially if it’s round, soft, and gentle like mom’s breast.
The bottle is an object filled with emotion. It soothes hunger, comforts, relieves stress, and brings a child closer to their parents. The emotional connection that develops between baby and bottle highlights the importance of this familiar object in developing autonomy and self-confidence.
The bottle is also a powerful symbol of maternal love. Skin-to-skin, gazing into each other’s eyes, feeding time is the perfect moment for whispered words, exchanged smiles, and the gentle touches that make your baby happy. It’s easy to see why this object is associated with a surge of positive emotions.
That’s why Élhée imagined its Bib Rond as an ode to parenthood, motherhood, and unapologetic maternal love. Giving a bottle, yes—but with tenderness and peace of mind. As a true tribute to the mother’s breast, BibRond becomes a vector of the most beautiful emotions your child carries with them everywhere.
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Winnicott’s transitional object — what is it really?
The concepts of transitional objects and transitional spaces were developed by Donald Winnicott in the 1950s. A British pediatrician and psychoanalyst, he wrote several books about child development and their relationship with their mother.
According to him, the beginnings of the transitional object appear when the baby becomes aware of the first objects around them, at about 4 months old. Its role becomes more distinct at around 8 months, as the baby realizes they are a separate being from their mother. This is the period of separation anxiety. At this moment, the need for a transitional object emerges, serving as a substitute for the mother’s absence.
By extension, the transitional space encompasses all the moments when the young child is not with their parents or with their mother: at daycare, with a nanny, at school…
The importance of the transitional object for your child
The transitional object is a true reference point for your baby. It reminds your child that you are close, even when you’re not physically there. Filled with emotion, it helps provide the connection between times when you are together and times when you’re apart. It’s a tangible comfort in your child’s everyday life, almost like a cuddle that’s always within reach and helps them wait more confidently. While a lovey is the quintessential transitional object, the bottle also checks all the boxes.
BibRond supports your baby as they discover the outside world
Depending on the child, a transitional object can take different forms: a blanket, a toy, a lovey, a piece of clothing, or any object. It’s like having a little piece of you that baby can take anywhere to feel safe, especially when you’re apart.
An emotional bottle that recalls the breast and mother
From the roundness of the maternal belly to that of her breast, the newborn is surrounded by a comforting softness worth preserving. That’s why Élhée designed a bottle that is fully round, perfectly suiting the newborn world. Made from medical-grade flexible silicone, the design of the BibRond and its nipple pay tribute to feeding and encapsulate all the positive emotions that come with it.
A soft and flexible design, very comforting
What child hasn’t rubbed their lovey on their nose for comfort and softness? Thanks to its unique material, the BibRond, round, flexible, and soft like peach skin, also offers this soothing effect—so valuable and needed, especially when you’re not there.
A fun and beautiful bottle
The transitional object also provides joy and satisfaction. When found, a child smiles and hugs it tightly. Round with a pretty colorful cap, the BibRond—an emotional and comforting object—also becomes playful. It can be rolled or stacked; it is the first round bottle of its kind.
An unbreakable, highly practical bottle
Finally, the BibRond is unbreakable. Isn’t being durable one of the defining traits of a transitional object? It can be passed down to siblings (you just have to replace the nipple), and the bottle resists everything: throwing, crushing, freezing, even being microwaved or run through the dishwasher—it’s fearless. That’s why your baby can take it with them on a walk, to the sandbox, to daycare, or to Grandma and Grandpa’s. It’s the lasting and tangible link that ties them to Mom and Dad.
In summary: discover the comfort-bottle
What is the role of a transitional object?
The transitional object stands in for the mother. It supports, reassures, and comforts the child when parents aren’t by their side—for example, at daycare or school.
How does the transitional object make separation possible?
The transitional object allows babies and young children to symbolically represent their parent. It creates an emotional bridge between the family unit and the outside world. This is what’s known as a transitional space.
Why do some children not have a lovey?
Because they have siblings they see outside the home, because they possess natural confidence, or because another item—like the bottle—serves as their transitional object, some children don’t need a lovey.
