About Us
Our Story
It Started with One Tiny Baby
Sometimes life's biggest challenges become the beginning of something beautiful.
When my nephew, Carter, was born, our entire family gathered at the hospital excited to meet the first grandchild. Everything about the pregnancy had been healthy, so we expected an ordinary delivery.
Instead, moments after he was born, he was rushed away because he was struggling to breathe.
Soon we learned he had a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)—a hole in the lower chamber of his heart. Doctors hoped it would close on its own, but after months of weekly echocardiograms, it became clear that open-heart surgery would be necessary.
Until he was big enough for surgery, his parents were given one overwhelming instruction:
Keep him from getting sick.
As any parent or caregiver knows, that's easier said than done.
I wanted to do something—anything—that could help protect him. So I designed a simple little sign for his car seat asking visitors to wash their hands before touching him.
That one small idea sparked something much bigger.
Thankfully, Carter's surgery was a success, and today he's a happy, healthy young man.
How Three Little Tots Began
After sharing Carter's car seat sign, I discovered there were countless families facing similar situations.
Parents of newborns, preemies, NICU babies, and medically fragile children all wanted a gentle way to advocate for their little ones.
What started as one handmade sign quickly grew into Three Little Tots—a business built around giving babies a voice before they could speak for themselves.
When Carter's premature twin siblings, Brooks and Anna, were born, another idea followed. Their tiny immune systems inspired new designs, and soon our collection continued to grow alongside the stories of families around the world.
Then It Became Personal
Not long after launching Three Little Tots, I married my best friend, Josh, and we began dreaming about our own family.
My pregnancy seemed completely normal...
Until it wasn't.
After several frightening trips to the emergency room, our son Harrison was born 10 weeks early.
He spent 70 days in the NICU.
For three days, we weren't even able to hold him.
Suddenly, I wasn't just creating products for other families.
I was living their story.
The signs I had designed for years now hung beside my own son's incubator.
During those difficult months, my perspective changed forever.
I understood the fear.
The uncertainty.
The waiting.
The overwhelming love that fills every NICU room.
Three Little Tots was no longer simply a business—it became deeply personal.
Finding Hope Through Every Chapter
Our NICU experience inspired us to create our NICU Milestone Cards, giving families a way to celebrate every victory, no matter how small.
Every ounce gained.
Every tube removed.
Every first.
Every milestone matters.
Like many families, our journey wasn't without more heartbreak.
We experienced two miscarriages that left us grieving dreams we had already begun to imagine.
After months of prayer, we were blessed with an unexpected miracle.
Twins.
Our daughters arrived at 34 weeks and spent time in the NICU, but having walked that road before, we found comfort in celebrating every step forward.
Then life changed again.
When Harrison was just two years old, he was diagnosed with High-Risk B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
No parent is ever prepared to hear those words.
Our world stopped.
But our faith didn't.
Every day since has been a reminder that courage isn't the absence of fear—it's choosing to keep moving forward despite it.
More Than a Business
Three Little Tots has always been about protecting little ones.
Today, it's also about encouraging the parents who love them.
Whether you're bringing home a newborn, spending long days in the NICU, caring for a medically fragile child, or simply navigating the beautiful chaos of parenthood, we want you to know this:
You are not alone.
Families from all over the world have welcomed Three Little Tots into their homes—not because of a sign, but because they understand the love, worry, hope, and strength that come with raising children.
As our children have grown, so has our mission.
My husband, Josh Ackerman, founded Memory Bank, an educational platform that helps families teach children about saving, investing, and building lifelong financial confidence. It was created to make money visible, understandable, and exciting for kids while giving parents a simple way to involve the whole family in financial conversations.
While Josh focuses on helping families raise financially confident kids through Memory Bank, I continue sharing my passion for parenting by writing articles that encourage, educate, and support parents through every stage of childhood. From newborn care and NICU life to family routines, parenting tips, and raising resilient kids, I love creating resources that help families feel informed and encouraged.
Together, our goal has always been the same: to build products and resources that strengthen families and help children thrive.
Every product we create and every article we write is rooted in our own experiences as parents. We're honored to be a small part of your family's journey.
From Our Family to Yours
If there's one thing our journey has taught us, it's this:
Even in life's hardest moments, hope has a way of finding us.
Thank you for allowing Three Little Tots to grow from one little sign into a community of families who encourage, support, and lift one another up.
We pray our products bring peace, comfort, and a little extra confidence as you protect the ones you love most.
With love,
Johanna & Josh Ackerman