This International Women’s Month, we are reflecting on a word that gets tossed around a lot but is rarely easy to live out: resilience. It is easy to celebrate strength when things are going well, but true resilience is forged in the quiet, difficult years of waiting.

 

For Rosalyn Oei, Founder of Baron & Co, resilience was built long before she became an entrepreneur. It was forged through eight years of IVF, countless two-week waits, and the emotional weight of wanting a child so deeply. Today, her business stands as a tribute to her son, Baron, and a lifeline for parents dealing with the heartbreak of childhood eczema.

 

We sat down with Rosalyn to talk about the grit it takes to move from the boardroom to entrepreneurship, and how the toughest seasons of her life became the foundation for her brand.

 

The Road to Motherhood

Q: Your path to motherhood involved a difficult IVF journey. How did those years of perseverance shape your perspective on motherhood, and did that play a role in starting your business?

 

A: I tried IVF for almost eight years. Honestly, every failure was depressing, but my husband stayed positive, always saying, “Good things will come at the right time.” The most difficult part of the IVF process isn’t the surgery or the jabs; it is the “two-week wait” for a pregnancy test after an embryo transfer. It taught me patience and equipped me with the mental training to handle failure. I even overcame my fear of needles by administering the daily jabs myself.

 

That is probably the first trait of a mom: courage. My desire to be a mother was so strong that it outweighed my fear. When I finally got pregnant and Baron was born, I felt proud that I went through that process with perseverance. Some people told me not to say I used IVF because it wasn’t “natural,” but I am not ashamed. It is a point of pride that I was brave enough to take a more difficult path. It doesn’t diminish my motherhood status.

 

Motherhood takes abundant courage. The courage to choose IVF, to quit eating things you like for nine months, or to strive through breastfeeding woes. That same resilience spurred me to start a business during the pandemic. I was a corporate banker for 13 years before resigning to focus on Baron. Entering entrepreneurship with no experience in the Malaysian retail market was a significant leap of faith.

 

“Some people told me not to say I used IVF because it wasn’t “natural,” but I am not ashamed. It is a point of pride that I was brave enough to take a more difficult path.” – Rosalyn Oei

 

 

The Lightbulb Moment

Q: Many parents deal with skin sensitivities, but you turned that challenge into a mission. When did you realise the clothes on the market weren’t enough for Baron’s eczema?

 

A: Baron was born with severe eczema. Seeing him suffer broke my heart every day. As an inexperienced mom, I followed whatever the elders and doctors recommended. When he was three months old, we visited Melbourne, and friends gifted me Purebaby Organic clothes, telling me they were eczema- friendly. To my surprise, they made a real difference. His rashes didn’t bleed as much, and flare-ups were manageable without steroid creams. As an ex- banker with an analytical mindset, I started researching organic fabrics.

 

I found that organic cotton undergoes a stringent process to ensure no harmful chemicals are used from farming to production, and these are a few things to why i love them:

 

• Comfort: The clothes are less scratchy and won’t irritate facial rashes when babies rub their faces.
• Sleep Quality: My son finally slept better. The first five years are crucial for brain development, and sleep quality plays a huge role.
• Safety: Babies breathe in whatever is on their clothes. Organic fabrics ensure they aren’t inhaling chemical residues.
• Breathable: My son sleeps better even during a fever because no- chemical fabric is highly breathable, so it doesn’t trap heat

 

At that time, there were no certified organic cotton brands in Malaysia, so I always bought from overseas. Then, the pandemic hit, and we couldn’t travel anymore. That is the lightbulb moment for me – if it is so hard to get these skin-friendly clothes locally, then why not I bring them in because I feel other parents struggle with eczema babies like me.

 

I started with the Purebaby Organic sleepwear range as I strongly believe in ensuring babies’ sleep quality.

 

 

Choosing the Right Science

Q: One of your best-selling brands, Hamako, uses TencelTM Micromodal. Why did you choose this specific fabric for children with itchy, flared-up skin?

 

A: Hamako uses one of the highest grades of Tencel. It is OEKO-Tex certified, meaning it’s free from harmful chemicals, and it is derived from sustainable Austrian Beechwood. It’s actually fully biodegradable! I chose it because the fabric is silky soft and cooling. It doesn’t trap heat, which is perfect for “hot sleepers” or kids who sweat often. It helps regulate body temperature by absorbing and releasing moisture, which significantly reduces the itch that keeps kids awake.

 

Baron started wearing Hamako pyjamas when he was two and a half, and they are still his favourite today.

 

 

A Personal Guarantee

Q: Naming the business Baron & Co after your son is a personal tribute. How does having his name on the brand drive your “Mom-approved” criteria?

 

A: My husband suggested the name since Baron was the reason I started this. The criteria for what we sell is simple: Baron must try the brand first. Every brand we carry is already in his wardrobe. We are very picky. We only curate brands that use certified skin-safe fabrics, whether they are OEKO-Tex or GOTS certified. We want to ensure everything is free from harsh chemicals that could hurt a child’s skin or sleep quality.

 

“We only curate brands that use certified skin-safe fabrics, whether they are OEKO-Tex or GOTS certified. We want to ensure everything is free from harsh chemicals that could hurt a child’s skin or sleep quality.”

 

A Message to Other Mothers

Q: Looking back at your journey, what do you want a mother to feel when she dresses her child in the brands that you bring into Malaysia?

 

A: I want every mom to feel that she has done the best for her child. As mothers, we often doubt ourselves or deal with never-ending “mom guilt.” I hope that when parents see Baron & Co, they feel they can trust us to handle the safety of their children’s apparel, blankets, and towels. If they don’t have to worry about that part, they have more brain power to manage the rest of life’s challenges.

 

The two best-selling brands we carry, Purebaby Organic and Hamako Tencel, are currently retailing at Seibu TRX, Happikiddo, and Babyland. We are also incredibly excited to be opening our first Baron & Co flagship store: Baron & Co – The Organic Baby Home, at KLGCC Mall this May 2026. We want to welcome parents into a space modelled after Baron’s own nursery and playrooms. It’s a place where you can get to know the exact brands Baron wears and the toys he plays with in a natural setting. We want you to touch the fabrics and see the quality for yourself in a space that feels like home.

 

“I want every mom to feel that she has done the best for her child. As mothers, we often doubt ourselves or deal with never-ending “mom guilt.” I hope that when parents see Baron & Co, they feel they can trust us to handle the safety of their children’s apparel.”