our story

the Momease story

Firstly, thank you for visiting our online store, and for taking the time to learn more about Momease Baby Boutique. As a Canadian-owned & parent-operated small business, trust us when we say that your support means the absolute world to us!

Amidst raising our three young boys, and welcoming our baby girl in 2018, we have recognized a need as parents to have access to modern, innovative and functional baby gear and parenting accessories. We also felt that our passion for researching and carefully choosing these high quality products could be helpful to other parents. With that goal in mind, we opened Momease Baby Boutique at Mattick's Farm on the Saanich Peninsula in Victoria, BC in May of 2013. We have an amazing team of enthusiastic people who are full of knowledge and ready to help customers choose what's best for them and their family. We always strive to offer our customers an enjoyable and intimate shopping experience while they browse through our carefully curated selection of "child tested" and "parent approved" baby and toddler products.

We are passionate about the products we offer our customers in Victoria, but wanted to be able to reach more parents, so after a busy two years for our little boutique we launched online with Momease.ca in 2015 with shipping to customers across most of Canada.

On the heels of launching online, we looked to open another Momease Baby Boutique store in Victoria and found an ideal location on Hillside Avenue. After fully renovating the space we opened our second brick and mortar store in April 2016. Centrally located and close to many of the neighbourhoods where our customers reside, we are excited about what this space has to offer and the community we are continually building around it!

In early 2020 we opened The Meet Up! The Meet Up is a custom-created play space, party room, and multipurpose/classroom area nestled within Momease Baby Boutique in beautiful Victoria BC. The Meet Up includes over 200 sq ft of custom, made-in-Canada play equipment for little ones from walking up to 5 years old. From moon-walks, to a double slide, and a large play house with rotating themes for endless imaginary toddler play & dress up, our indoor play centre is a wonderful place to ride out a rainy day or burn out that toddler energy! Drop in plays can be booked in advance on our website, or simply stop by during a playtime that works for you (space-permitting).

We hope you enjoy your Momease Baby Boutique experience, whether it's in-store or online at Momease.ca, and of course we always love to receive comments and feedback on how we can make our shop better for our wonderful customers!

The McLean family & the Momease Baby Boutique team

Momease is proud to be your locally-owned & parent-operated baby gear store | Helping Canadian families parent with style & ease since 2013

McLean family selfie

We were in the car en route to Tofino on Vancouver Island for over 6 hours just prior to hitting the beach & taking this family photo.

It was an absolute shocker that we were able to snap a quick family selfie before sunset. Usable pics with all 6 of us are extremely rare, to say the least!

Momease over the years

Our family & Momease Baby Boutique is featured in Island Parent Magazine shortly after opening our Hillside Ave location in 2017

Fresh-faced parents of 2 back on opening day in May of 2013

Our original Momease Baby Boutique storefront at Mattick's Farm in 2013

supporting community

giving back

Helping give back to our local community is a huge priority for us at Momease Baby Boutique

Over the years we have donated several Mamaroo Infant Swings to the Victoria General Hospital NICU, and a Bumbleride Indie Stroller to Jeneece Place at VGH. This all-terrain & infant-ready stroller is now available for out of town families to use during their stay at Jeneece Place, while their child receives urgent medical care at Victoria General Hospital.

Jeneece Place is funded by non-profit organization Island Kids First, and is our local version of Ronald McDonald House here in Victoria, BC.

Our tiny team at Momease was beyond thrilled to partner with Maxi-Cosi to donate a Maxi-Cosi Minla High Chair, Swift Playard, Kori Rocker & Iora Bedside Bassinet to Jeneece Place in 2024. These beautiful baby gear items are now be available for families to use during their stay.

"Hello, my name is mama "

Sometimes mom or mommy too. Before that, I was mostly known as Lyra (lee-rah), ‘ldl,’ or even just Lyr by those closest to me.

Here's a little personal backstory for anyone interested in how I found myself owning & operating a baby store...

  1. I am known as ‘Mom’ to three little men (17, 13, 11), and a 7 year old girl.
  2. Animals are a major passion of mine. I studied Zoology in university & I am a trained Animal Health Technologist, previously working in veterinary clinics & for the SPCA as a Wildlife Rehabilitator for 7️⃣ years. I rehabilitated many owls over the course of my work at the BC SPCA Wild ARC & I love and respect them dearly - hence our mama & babe 🦉 logo.
  3. Momease is the second business I’ve started. I used to own & operate a mobile veterinary nursing & pet sitting business called Vet Tech To Go!
  4. I met my husband Adam on the very first day of university, in our very first class of the day - 28 years ago next Fall!
  5. My favourite food has to be 🍣, and it’s the one thing I miss most when I’m pregnant.
  6. Our 3rd son Torin is 11 & rocking an extra 2️⃣1️⃣st chromosome. We got a rare false negative on prenatal screening, so it was quite a surprise & a pivotal point in our lives when he joined our family (though a different screening result wouldn't have changed a thing!). Torin is the sweetest, happiest little guy, and such a light in our lives.
  7. We opened Momease in the hopes of providing a superior customer service experience, and connecting with new & expectant parents in a more meaningful way throughout their parenting journeys. Before opening our shop, I had never worked a day of retail in my life!
  8. I was born & raised in Victoria BC, and now live with my own family just a short distance from where I grew up.
  9. I love the ocean & swimming in lakes, which figures since I'm a double Pisces - meaning both the sun & the moon were in Pisces when I was born. (Is it weird then that I like sushi so much??)
  10. I was named after the constellation ‘Lyra’ (not the old Italian currency!), which is in the shape of a harp, or ‘lyre.’ 💜