The story behind Fedde&Kees

Just one morning at work, seven months pregnant with my third child, a number of missed calls from my best friend Noortje.

Noortje is one of those friends I've known for over 30 years. Our parents always had the idea, things go well with those two. Noortje's parents didn't want her to hang out with me, my parents didn't want me to be friends with Noortje. They both thought that one was a bad influence on the other. The kind of girlfriend you grew up with, through trial and error, with whom you shared your insecurities and mischief, who you told who you were in love with and who shared your heartbreak, sometimes every week for a different person.

Anyway, just call back, I'm ready for a cup of coffee!

“Hey Noor how are you?”

“Fred, something bad has happened, we found Kees dead in bed this morning”

Silence, I'm suffocating, I can't breathe, I think HOW SO found Kees dead in bed, Kees is 7 months old, a baby, this is not possible, THIS CANNOT be.….

I bumble and cry and can't say anything but how bad, how awful.”.

After a short moment, we end the call.

I don't wish the period after this on anyone and everyone can imagine how intense this was.

Not long after this I gave birth to my son Jurre. Determined to sit on a pink cloud and enjoy my baby, I completely hide the sadness and heaviness of the loss of Kees. This seems to work.n.

Four months after Jurre's birth, I suddenly turn out to be pregnant, not planned, not ready at all and I collapse. I think because of this unplanned pregnancy and putting away the loss of Kees when everything came x10 on my plate.

My 4^the baby was born, a son Fedde. It wasn't right from day 1. Fedde was a very restless baby, constantly overstretched, eyes wide, shoulders tense back, could not put him down for a second and sleep was dramatic. For the first 3 months I just thought he didn't want me, that he hadn't felt welcome, until a physiotherapist commented: I think he has hidden reflux.ft”.

The medicines we were given were immediately effective, but a bad sleep pattern was born. My husband and I regularly hung over his bed for 1.5 hours with two arms at his side to keep him tucked in, how I wish I had my arms free to calm him down instead of keeping his sheet tucked in (which he so much needed because he was so restless).

THIS SHOULD BE DIFFERENT. A safe and secure way for a baby to fall asleep, no more fumbling with loose sheets, no unsafe situations in bed, but carefree sleep and security, especially security. The Nunki sheet is born!!

Now a year later, with so many parents and little ones who benefit from the Nunki sheet, I thought it was time to write down the origins of Fedde&Kees. The idea arose due to the death of Kees and the difficult start of Fedde, in a dark, desperate time.

Noortje, Kees' mom, has asked me to share the following with you:

“It is amazing how much impact our fantastic son Kees has had on the creation of the Fedde&Kees company. A lot of admiration for my friend Frederieke, who lets Kees live on in a wonderful way with her company and products. Awe of her perseverance and grateful for how she has always involved us in the developments of Fedde&Kees in a loving and casual way. Touched that she has chosen the logo that is derived from Kees's sleep cuddly toy. Overjoyed with Pien, Kees' sister, who gave us back the beautiful role of happy parents. And very proud of our newborn daughter Kiki, who plays the leading role in Fedde&Kees' atmospheric and instructional video.

Dear Frederieke, thank you for putting this together with so much care and love for your son Fedde and so much respect for our Kees. And thank you for trusting us with your products that Kiki can sleep safely and so can we!

Nice how Fedde&Kees arose from emotions of love, frustration, happiness, sadness and your gift to handle everything professionally with your always honest, sincere and open personality.

X Norwegian”

Noortje and Bas (Kees' dad) have experienced the worst you can experience in a life. I am so proud of them. The biggest compliment my girlfriend could give me is that thanks to the Nunki sheet she dares to close her eyes again and put her youngest baby in her own bed carefree.

In memory of Kees, a star in the sky far too young..

(kees)