Tuesday, October 6, 2026

How Olivia and Jack Turns Comfort Into Calm

Julia Spencer|October 6, 2026

Two young girls cuddle with plush toys on a cozy bed.

A mom's search for sensory support became a curated toy collection loved by children and adults alike.

It began with a need that no store shelf could fully answer. Indre Ptak, a stay-at-home and homeschooling mom of two, was searching for tools to help her neurodivergent child feel calm, grounded, and at ease. She wanted something soft. Something adorable. Something that actually worked. When she could not find the perfect fit, she decided to create it herself. That decision became Olivia and Jack, a sensory toy brand built on love, lived experience, and the gentle wisdom only a parent can bring.

A Mission Born at Home

In 2023, Indre founded Olivia and Jack with a clear and personal goal: to support the sensory and educational needs of her own children. As she learned more about nervous system regulation, she discovered how the right tools can ease anxiety and help both the mind and body settle into calm.

"My goal was to develop toys that are cute, lovable, and functional," Indre explains. She wanted products that would serve neurotypical and neurodivergent children alike, as well as the adults who love them. The brand carries the names of her two children, Olivia and Jack, because they are at the very heart of the story.

Every product reflects that intention. Olivia and Jack does not chase trends or flood the market with endless options. Instead, the brand offers a thoughtfully curated collection, each item chosen for quality, softness, and sensory appeal.

Toys That Are Tried, Tested, and Truly Loved

What sets Olivia and Jack apart is not just the products. It is the people behind them. Olivia and Jack themselves play an essential role in the business. They test the toys, help select new additions, and offer the kind of honest feedback only children can give. If a stuffed animal is not soft enough or comforting enough, they are the first to say so.

The children do more than play, however. They help pack orders and support marketing efforts, learning valuable lessons about running a business along the way. This is a family enterprise in the truest sense, where education and entrepreneurship grow side by side.

The brand's best sellers are its 3-pound weighted stuffed animals, a collection that has captured the hearts of children and adults. The lineup includes tan and grey bunnies, a monkey, and a dog. Each one is very soft, and the gentle weight provides the kind of sensory input that leaves the body relaxed and the mind focused. Many customers describe a noticeable sense of calm after simply holding one.

Young girl writing in a notebook while holding a plush bunny toy

The Science of Softness and Weight

There is real thinking behind these plush companions. Weighted toys offer deep pressure input, a form of sensory feedback that many find soothing. For children navigating big emotions, and for adults who carry everyday stress, a perfectly weighted stuffed animal can become a trusted source of comfort.

Indre learned about these benefits firsthand. As she supported her neurodivergent child, she came to understand how important the right support tools can be for regulation and relaxation. That understanding now shapes every item in the collection. The weighted plush animals are not only adorable; they are designed to help the body feel grounded and the mind feel clear.

The collection extends beyond stuffed animals as well. Olivia and Jack also offers Natural Wood Playdough Tool Sets in Shapes and Weather themes. These high-quality wooden tools invite tactile exploration and open-ended, creative play, supporting both sensory engagement and learning.

A Growing Presence, One Community at a Time

Olivia and Jack started where so many meaningful brands do: close to home. Indre sells at select vendor markets across Illinois, meeting families face to face and sharing the benefits of weighted stuffed animals in person. These local connections remain a cherished part of the brand's journey.

The launch of the official website, shopoliviaandjack.com, opened the door to families far beyond Illinois. Now anyone can explore the collection and bring a little more calm into their home. The response has been warm. On Amazon, the weighted stuffed animals are frequently and highly rated, with customers praising two qualities again and again: their softness and their perfect weight.

That consistency matters. It reflects a brand that refuses to cut corners. Every stuffed animal, every wooden tool, carries the same promise of quality and care that Indre expects for her own children.

Four soft plush toys: a monkey, two bunnies, and a dog sitting side by side

More Than a Toy Company

What makes Olivia and Jack special is the heart behind it. This is not a business built in a boardroom. It is a business built at a kitchen table, tested on living room floors, and shaped by the real needs of a real family. Indre is not only selling products; she is spreading awareness about the benefits of weighted sensory tools in her community and online.

For parents of neurodivergent children, that mission can feel like a lifeline. Finding tools that are both functional and genuinely delightful is not always easy. Olivia and Jack bridges that gap, offering items that children want to hug and parents can trust.

The brand speaks to a universal desire, too. Everyone, at some point, longs for a moment of calm. A soft, weighted companion waiting at the end of a long day can offer exactly that. In this way, Olivia and Jack serves not only children but the whole family.

Comfort Is Waiting

For those looking for a gift that does more than entertain, Olivia and Jack offers a collection designed to soothe, comfort, and delight. The 3-pound weighted bunnies, monkey, and dog are ready to become a child's favorite companion or an adult's quiet source of calm. The Natural Wood Playdough Tool Sets offer hours of hands-on, screen-free play that nurtures creativity and focus.

Visit shopoliviaandjack.com to browse the full collection and discover why families keep coming back. Follow along on Instagram at @shopoliviaandjack for new arrivals, behind-the-scenes moments, and a closer look at the family who makes it all possible. Every purchase supports a small, family-run business with a big heart and a meaningful mission. A little more calm is waiting, and the difference that softness and the perfect weight can make.

Explore More About Olivia and Jack

Connect with Olivia and Jack, Instagram, and Amazon Reviews.

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Tags:sensory toysneurodivergent supportOlivia and JackIndre Ptakchildren's productsfamily business
Women’s Reporter

Women’s Reporter Contributor

Julia Spencer

Covers wellness, personal development, culture, and the changing ways women approach work and life.


This article features partner, contributor, or branded content from a third party. Members of the Women’s Reporter editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content. All views and opinions are those of the contributor alone.

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