A Minnesota military family receives a Sleep Number® bed delivered by Minnesota Vikings player Eric Kendricks, and a full bedroom makeover. Learn how Sleep Number teamed up with the Vikings to help new parent Brittany Otto during her husband's deployment.
Getting quality sleep when you're a new parent is always a challenge, but Minnesota resident Brittany Otto has faced more challenges than most.
Since April 2021, her husband, Jordan, has been deployed overseas with the National Guard. Brittany gave birth to their daughter, Arya, in June of 2021 and has had to navigate parenthood alone. Jordan will meet his daughter in person for the first time upon his return.
What keeps Brittany motivated during this trying time?
“Knowing that he'll come home," she said in an interview with Sleep Number. “And Arya. Honestly, having her here has really helped to get through it because she looks just like him."
Surprise Bedroom Reno and Makeover
Brittany Otto may have done the lion's share of early parenthood by herself, but she recently got some help in the home (and sleep) department.
Sleep Number teamed up with the nonprofit Blue Star Families and the Minnesota Vikings to provide the Otto family with better sleep.
The Otto couple received a new king-size Sleep Number 360® smart bed and adjustable base, temperature balancing pillows and new bedding. Interior design specialists also completely renovated the couple's bedroom.
“Rest is very important right now, especially as a new mom," Brittany says. “I get little naps here and there, so I sleep wherever I can. It will be nice to be comfortable."
Plus, when her husband finally returns from his deployment in April of 2022, he'll come home to a cozy space.
"These military families sacrifice so much for us, for their families, and for our country, so we can all sleep soundly at night. This is something we [Sleep Number] can do to make sure they sleep well when their family is back together," said Sleep Number Chief Marketing Officer, Kevin Brown.
“The bedroom makeover means the world," she says. “Our old bedroom wasn't the greatest. There were things we were going to upgrade, especially the bed, and now we don't have to worry about that. [Jordan will get] to come home to a nice area. It's very exciting."
A Minnesota Vikings Player Surprises the Couple
Brittany was put up in a hotel for three days while the makeover was taking place, and she arrived home to another surprise: Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks.
Kendricks surprised Brittany at her home, about 30 minutes from downtown Minneapolis, with the delivery of her new mattress. Sleep Number is the official Sleep + Wellness Partner of the National Football League so it only made sense to team up to help the Otto family.
"I'm really happy to be here today with the Otto family and giving them this surprise from Sleep Number," says Kendricks. "It's a big thing."
Kendricks also spoke to Jordan—who was celebrating his birthday on the same day as the reveal—via FaceTime. Kendricks gifted the Ottos with two signed jerseys. Brittany also received tickets to a November Vikings game.
“Obviously, Jordan's deployed right now, but we appreciate what he's doing for our country and for us at home," said Kendricks in a video filmed by the Minnesota Vikings. “While we're back home living our lives and being free, these people are making sacrifices to keep us safe at home."
Other members of the Vikings were also on hand and voiced their appreciation for the Otto family and Sleep Number.
"This is a wonderful partnership that we have with Sleep Number. We're excited to be a part of it," says Martin Nance, chief marketing officer for the Minnesota Vikings. "The Otto family is just an amazing military family that obviously has sacrificed so much; to extend their family into our military and serve the way they do is so incredible. We're honored to be a part of this day."
The NFL's Salute to Service
NFL players participated in this special delivery as part of the NFL's November Salute to Service and military family appreciation month. Vikings Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Martin Nance says the team appreciates an opportunity to help out a military family.
“We recognize that the service men and women make that possible, so we want to honor them … to make sure military families feel recognized and appreciated," said Nance. "We realize they give so much when people aren't looking or the cameras aren't around. We want to go above and beyond to honor them."
You can watch the bedroom makeover and reveal on a 30-minute episode of “Moving With Military." Hosted by Maria Reed, the show will be available to stream on Hulu and Roku.
Sleep Number Partners with Military Nonprofit Blue Star Families
For seven years, Sleep Number has teamed up with nonprofit Blue Star Families to give high-quality Sleep Number® mattresses to military families.
"Our mission is to help improve lives through individualized sleep experiences, and the military community is really important to us," said Sleep Number's Brown. "By pairing our partnerships with Blue Star Families and the NFL, we've been able to do a lot of these events to give the gift of quality sleep to many families across the country."
Blue Star Families offers programs and resources that have helped more than one million military families. In 2021, Sleep Number has offered sleep education tips for Blue Star Families and ran a sweepstakes where one person could win a Sleep Number 360® smart bed.
Sleep is a critical component of good health, and it is something many military families struggle with: 57% of military families reported that their child had experienced separation anxiety, worry, and/or sleeping problems as a result of the service member's deployment, according to Blue Star Families' 2018 Military Family Lifestyle Survey.
Sleep Number has helped other military families get better sleep. Read more about some of these families, including this Get Moving With a Military Family article.
Like diet and exercise, quality sleep has a profound impact on your physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. Because no two people sleep the same, Sleep Number 360® smart beds, with SleepIQ® technology, sense your movements and automatically adjust firmness, comfort and support to keep you both sleeping comfortably and provide proven quality sleep. Find your Sleep Number® setting for your best possible night's sleep, and if you own a Sleep Number® bed, log in to your InnerCircle℠ Rewards account to see your exclusive offers, refer friends and more.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Teresa K. Traverse is a Phoenix, Arizona-based editor and writer who covers lifestyle topics including health, science, travel and food. Her work has appeared in outlets including Bust, Parenting and Weight Watchers magazine and online at Refinery29, Brides and Rachael Ray. See more of her work at teresaktraverse.com.