OBN Alumni: Lucie Thome of Bébé Foodie

Before joining OBN, Lucie spent 10 years working in luxury brand marketing. As a senior manager at a major beauty company, her journey into the world of baby nutrition and entrepreneurship began while navigating starting solids with her son. Determined to find clarity not just for herself but for other parents, she enrolled at OBN, gaining the confidence and knowledge to pair evidence-based nutrition with real-life, flexible approaches to feeding little ones.

Lucie then launched Bébé Foodie, a supportive and judgement-free platform dedicated to starting solids. Lucie has created a welcoming space that empowers parents to feel informed, calm, and confident during this transition. Her mission is clear: to help families build healthy, joyful mealtime habits without pressure or perfectionism.

After finishing your certification with Oh Baby, what was the first step you took to start turning the idea of Bébé Foodie into something real?

The Oh Baby program was such an important foundation; it gave me the education and confidence I needed to start creating content with intention and credibility. Right after receiving my certification in July 2021, I made a bold move: I left my full-time job (my son had just turned one!) and focused all my energy on shaping the DNA of the brand I envisioned. I spent months doing things in order, taking time to understand the market, survey real parents, and carefully define the tone and values I wanted Bébé Foodie to embody.

By March 2022, the first version of the website was live. I was creating content, connecting with brands, and slowly building a board of experts to back up the platform. Looking back, taking the time to get things right - instead of rushing - made all the difference.

How did the idea to create Bébé Foodie come to life? Was there a specific moment or challenge that sparked it?

We have to rewind to 2019, when I first found out I was pregnant. At the time, I was working in the beauty industry, but I knew I was craving something more meaningful. I loved nutrition and writing, but didn’t yet know how it would all come together.

Then came all the conversations, friends who were already parents sharing their experiences, and food came up again and again. How stressful it felt, how much pressure there was to do things “right,” how overwhelming all the conflicting information could be. That’s when I started imagining the first seeds of Bébé Foodie, maybe it would be a blog, a course, or a service to support parents.

And then... I had my son. I assumed that introducing solids would be easy for me, I love cooking and I had all this nutrition knowledge. But I quickly realized how much time I spent second-guessing myself. I was constantly scrolling for answers before even serving a carrot. And the pressure! “Don’t use a sippy cup,” “Don’t offer purées,” “Avoid this food…” No wonder parents were stressed out.

That’s when the idea really clicked. What if there was a platform that simplified everything, giving parents the right info, at the right time, based on their baby’s age and their lifestyle? A guilt-free space that embraced different parenting styles, without judgment or pressure. I wanted it to feel like a supportive hand, not another set of rules.

That vision became my obsession. I enrolled in the Oh Baby program, built the website, reached out to experts, and step by step, Bébé Foodie became real.

How has becoming a business owner and app creator changed your everyday life, especially as a mother?

Oh, I could say so much here! There have been doubts, guilt, and moments of burnout, and I still experience them. But one huge benefit has been flexibility. I’m no longer tied to a 9-to-5 schedule, so I can be present for my kids’ milestones while building something I believe in.

That said, when you're building a business, especially in its early stages, there’s no real separation between work and life. The lines blur. I’ve felt guilty for not working enough, then guilty for working too much. You learn (slowly!) to find a rhythm that works for your family.

Because my work revolves around parenthood, I’m constantly immersed in topics that matter to me personally. I’ve met so many incredible parents and experts along the way, and that’s been deeply rewarding.

Two moments stand out:

• When I introduced solids to my first child, I was fully on maternity leave. I cooked everything from scratch, followed all the “rules,” and really enjoyed it.

• With my daughter, I was deep in building the app. Breastfeeding was tough, and when it came time to start solids, I barely had time to cook. I leaned on store-bought baby food and the simplest options. I felt guilty, but then I reminded myself that this is the message I’m sharing with parents: there is no one “perfect” way. Life doesn't always fit the ideal scenario, and that’s okay.

Today, both my kids are great eaters. And that’s the lesson: it’s not about cooking elaborate meals or introducing 100 foods in the first three months. So many things shape a child’s relationship with food. And most of them aren’t visible on Instagram.

What’s one piece of encouragement you’d give to a mom who’s in that same “should I do this?” moment you were in a few years ago?

If the idea keeps coming back to you… trust it.

If you feel like you have the mental space, and if pursuing it feels energizing rather than draining, take the leap. Listen to your gut, start small, and don’t worry about being perfect. Just start.

Entrepreneurship is a long, resilient journey. You’ll make mistakes and course-correct along the way. That’s normal. But you get to build something meaningful, not just for others, but for yourself and your family too. And you get to do it at your own pace.

Now that Bébé Foodie is live, what’s been the most meaningful moment or feedback you've received from another parent?

Two things come to mind:

First, the people. The team behind Bébé Foodie, the experts, the brand partners, meeting people who believed in the vision and brought it to life has been the most rewarding part of this journey.

Second, a user interview we did just after launch. A new mom told us:

“Everything you need to know to introduce solids to your baby, from start to finish.”
“When I opened your app and downloaded it, immediately I felt at ease.”
“I probably wouldn’t have started solids when I did if I hadn’t downloaded the app.”
“I really value authenticity, and you guys nailed it with this.”
“There is so much information out there, but you really nailed the essence of what we need.”

She even mentioned trying a big-name app and not liking it, and said ours gave her clarity and confidence instead. That was a full circle moment for me. Years of research, building, hesitating, investing time and money, all worth it when you hear that from a parent you built it for.

Connect with Lucie on Instagram.