Maison Rue is a non-toxic, eco-friendly line of products that won't sacrifice the health of your family — or the planet. Inspired by Nordic design, Maison Rue products are clean, minimal, durable, and functional.

Each product is tested using the most stringent standards, and the MR team is dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint through using biodegradable, compostable, reusable, and recycled materials for all their packaging. 

We caught up with the namesake of the company, a mother with a degree in early childhood education and 10 years of experience in the e-commerce / retail industry, to discuss the concept behind aesthetically pleasing children's products that didn't compromise function, safety, health or the environment. 

What inspired you to create Maison Rue? 

I became a first-time mom in June 2020. I’ve always cared about my impact on the environment and the safety of the products I use, but having a baby really heightened my awareness of both. 

When it came to starting solids, I felt like I was never satisfied with the products I found locally. Everything in major stores was either too bright, too plastic, too flimsy, or was just a nightmare to try to clean or store. I didn’t want products I had to hand-wash every time, and I didn’t want products that were such an eyesore that I’d have to shove them into cupboards every time someone came over to visit. The products that looked the best didn’t function as they should. 

That’s when I started to research different materials like silicone, stainless steel, bamboo & PP. Maison Rue was born from a desire to make products that look good but also work well and make day-to-day life a little easier.

What makes Maison Rue products unique from conventional food ware products for little ones?

We’re combining everything that’s important to parents into one reliable product. We stay away from plastic, we care about the materials we use, and we care about our impact on the environment whilst also delivering a product that’s easy-to-use, easy-to-clean, convenient, durable and just so happens to look good whilst ticking all those boxes. 

What safety standards for children's products does the EU follow but the US falls short on? 

I could talk forever on this subject, but to summarize it, this isn’t an issue that’s specific to just children’s products. EU standards for safety and testing are tougher across all categories: from the food we consume, the medicines we take, to the products we use every day. For products like silicone tableware specifically, the US (CPSIA) requires testing for Lead & Phthalates. EU Reach requires the same product be tested for Lead & Phthalates, BPA, BPS, Mercury & Cadmium amongst other things. These are all nasty chemicals we should be avoiding… especially when it comes to products intended for use by children.

Aesthetics aside, what else can parents enjoy about Maison Rue products? 

They're microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe and a lot of the designs serve more than one purpose. For instance, the Stevie bowl & Cleo plates are great food-storage options that I use like Tupperware. Since they’re made with 100% food-grade silicone, parents need not worry about them getting tossed around or broken — they’re really a great investment because they’re built to last, so you won’t need to worry about constantly replacing them.

As a founder, what has been your proudest moment to date?

Hearing all the positive feedback from customers has made me so proud. It means so much to hear from a satisfied customer, especially when they describe how Maison Rue has made an improvement to their family mealtime.

What is your secret to finding balance as a working mother? 

It’s a constant juggling act. For our family, communication and having a routine has helped the most. My husband and I have set days and hours where we split our time — so one of us gets quiet time to work whilst the other is on parent duty. Having a consistent nap-time and bed-time helps too, because we know we’ll both have that time to get work done if we need to. 

What is your holy grail Mini Bloom product and why? 

I just purchased the Sunny Stick and it’s my new favorite! It’s so easy to apply — my toddler can even do it herself!