Category Archive

We just got back from a wonderful four days in Chicago at the 2nd International Babywearing Conference.

Babies everywhere. More baby carriers than I’d ever dreamed seeing in one place. And wonderful, wonderful women (and some men, too!) from around the world!

The conference organizers held a gigantic raffle to benefit thebabywearer.com which is the world’s largest resource for information about baby carriers. A Sakura Bloom signature Blackberry Stripe sling was one of the prizes.

Here I am with the lucky winner—Genevieve from Pittsburgh, PA. Blackberry Stripe looks just gorgeous on Gen and her adorable son!

Congratulations to Genevieve and all of the other winners. Thanks also to the organizers for a fantastic conference!

There’s something simply amazing about communicating with your infant via sign language.

The first time they sign to you just stops you in your tracks. Did my baby just sign to me, you think? Could it be? Wow! My baby is brilliant!

I signed some with my son (okay, confession: he really only signed one sign—”more”) and am now teaching my infant daughter to sign. We started when she was about eight months old, inspired by seeing Rachel from Signing Time perform at Baby Celebration LA.

L’s first sign was the one to nurse, and its still her most consistent and used sign (well, along with bye-bye). She’s also made up her own sign or two which we are working on deciphering.

There are many claims made about the benefits of signing. I don’t doubt that its beneficial to some degree, but mostly I just think its fun. Pamela Paul has an insightful article on Babble about infant sign language: Hands Across America: Is Baby Sign Language Essential or a Rip-off? Will it make your kid ace the SATs and get into Harvard? Probably not. Will it be a neat way to communicate with your infant? Yes, or at least, it has been for our family (albeit in our own limited, ad hoc way).

Today I decided to teach her the sign for baby sling. Turns out that you use the signs for “baby” and “carrier.” Click here to see a very serious woman demonstrating this sign for you.

Do it like she does, but please, add a smile and have some fun!

Hooray for mothers!

In honor of mothers everywhere, we decided to give away a wardrobe of Sakura Bloom Baby Slings, one each from our Luxe, Artisan, Essential silk or linen, and Hana or Pure collections. And…just now, we’ve drawn the winning name from all the entries! The winner is………

Jessica Rodriguez who bought a sling at Baby Celebration LA!

Congratulations, Jessica!

But….wait…..that’s not all!

Due to the overwhelming response we got to the contest and to the beautiful spring weather, we made the spontaneous decision to have three runners-up! So, three lucky winners will each receive their choice of a silk or linen Sakura Bloom Essentials sling.

The three runners-up are:

Kristy DeCastro, an entrant from Tree City Diapers in Ann Arbor, Michigan;

Anna Fukushima, entered from Day One Center in San Francisco, California; and,

Ana Marenco, who entered from Papaya Patch in West Hartford, Connecticut.

Congratulations to Kristy, Anna, and Ana–our three runners-up!

Just in time for Mother’s Day, Sakura Bloom Baby Slings is joining with one of New York’s hottest baby boutiques, the Upper East Side’s Metro Minis to present their extraordinary slings.

Sakura Bloom designer and founder, Lynne Banach, will be at Metro Minis showing slings from each collection: the extraordinary Belgian linens baby slings ($88-160), stunning dupioni silk baby slings ($198-340), and the new sustainable silks of the Luxe Collection baby slings ($540-1120).

All who purchase a sling at the show will be entered in a drawing for a suite of Sakura Bloom slings–FOUR SLINGS OF YOUR CHOICE! One Pure or Hana sling, one linen Simple or Essential sling, one silk Essential or Artisan sling, and one tussah silk Luxe sling. This is an $874-1160 value depending on which slings you choose! Read here about our last winner, here about the current contest, and best of luck to everyone!

Come to Metro Minis on Saturday, May 3 from 11-2 to see, feel, and try on these gorgeous baby slings! Not sure how to use a baby sling? The Sakura Bloom team will also do free hands-on demonstrations during the show.

Metro Minis is located at 821 Park Avenue (at the corner of 75 Street); 212-313-9600.

Ooh, ooh, ooh! We just got an email from LINObaby and they are having a 20% Valentines Day Sale!

Get beautiful red linen or velvet Thai Easy Pants (see our blog post below) for $35! Also on sale: t-shirts, bibs, and hats. Check it out:

Baby L. and I recently took a trip to Toronto. I’m starting a new research project there and needed to get the lay of the land. Turns out that the neighborhood where I’ll be working is right next to some of the city’s hottest baby and kids’ boutiques!

Together with a friend, we walked up and down Queen Street West. If you haven’t been to Toronto lately (or ever, as this was my first trip), its time to get yourself there. I was blown away by some of the stores we found:

ella + elliot is a newish boutique specializing in all things modern for baby. We loved their selection of products, from Netto to Dwell to all sorts of European labels new to us. A beautiful store (pictured at right) with a thoughtfully chosen selection of items.

Polka Dot Kids is a narrow, airy store full of treasures to discover, including many from Japan. It was here that I saw the most delicious Imps and Elfs grey woolen smocked trapeze dress. I doubt it will be there when I return this summer, but if it is, I’m buying it!

Kama Kazi Kids is one of those kid stores that you wish you could shop at …. for yourself! They have one of my favorite U.S. lines, Imoga, and lots that were excitingly new to me such as Chipie and Minisu.

Kol Kid is a store stocked with classic and popular treats–toys and clothes that were familiar to (and loved by us). Lots of good standards such as Haba and Skip Hop and excellent quality items from throughout North America and Europe.

My favorite store, however, was one that specialized in only Canadian designers: Planet Kid. Some amazing, amazing things, many of which need to make their way down here to the U.S., and in honor of which we are naming this Canada Week. Each day will have a new post about one of the great Canadian, including many Torontan, designers featured at Planet Kid.

We were in Toronto on a chilly, but brisk and sunny day in December. Queen Street West is a neighborhood full of hot boutiques, trendy galleries, and enticing restaurants, bars, and cafes. Most irresistible to us after an afternoon of walking and shopping? Dufflet Pastries. Dufflet is a Toronto institution and has more than earned that title!

Think up the perfect dessert, be it chocolate, or caramel, or raspberry, or whatever it is your heart desires. Add yummy drinks on top of that, lots of unique Dufflet label chocolates and other goodies to go, and Dufflet is a must for any Queen West outing.

Good chocolate and stunning baby and kids boutiques. Other than some warmer weather, there’s not much more that I need!

Enter to win a baby sling wardrobe from Sakura Bloom!

Everyone who buys a Sakura Bloom sling online or at any one of our retailers between November 18 and December 31 will be entered into a drawing to win…..a Sakura Bloom baby sling wardrobe.

That’s right, one lucky customer will win FOUR Sakura Bloom slings. Click Here for more details.

Tonight is the third night of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. Light your menorah, make some latkes, spin the dreidel, and listen to our all-time favorite Hanukkah song: Adam Sandler’s catchily titled “Hanukkah Song.”

And….if you’re looking to whip up some non-traditional latkes, check out this site for recipes for everything from asparagus latkes, buckwheat latkes, mushroom noodle latkes, and beyond!

Happy Hanukkah to all celebrating!

Enter to win a baby sling wardrobe from Sakura Bloom!

Everyone who buys a Sakura Bloom sling online or at any one of our retailers between November 18 and December 31 will be entered into a drawing to win…..a Sakura Bloom baby sling wardrobe.

That’s right, one lucky customer will win FOUR Sakura Bloom slings. Click Here for more details.

Sakura Bloom is happy to join forces with a great business local to us—A Child’s Garden in Northampton, Massachusetts!

On Saturday, November 3rd from 12-4, join Sakura Bloom founder and designer Lynne Banach at A Child’s Garden to see, feel, and try on Sakura Bloom’s entire range of silk and linen slings, including the stunning new eco-friendly Luxe Collection. Lynne will also offer free one-on-one consultations on choosing and using the right sling for your family.

Never used a baby sling before? No worries. Lynne and the folks at A Child’s Garden will share with you the benefits, joys, and ease of using a sling. And….everyone who purchases a sling at the trunk show will be entered into a raffle to win either a linen or silk Essential sling of their choice!

A Child’s Garden is located at 204 Main Street in downtown Northampton; 413-584-2242.

Its easy to remember: bottom to bellybutton. That is, your child’s bottom should be right about at your bellybutton when they’re in your sling. Any lower and you’ll start to feel their weight on your back. So often we see people wearing their child too low and think ouch! that’s not going to be comfy for long. Carrying your child properly will make all the difference in the world. Plus, its better for snuggling.

So, when adjusting your sling after putting your child in it, think “b and b”–bottom to bellybutton. Carry your child snug and high and give them a kiss from us!

Sakura Bloom Baby Slings pairs with New York’s newest baby boutique, the Upper East Side’s Metro Minis to present its new Luxe Collection.

Sakura Bloom designers and founders, Lynne and Carole, will be at Metro Minis showing slings from each of their collections: the extraordinary Belgian linens baby slings($198-240), stunning dupioni silk baby slings ($280-380), and the new sustainable silks of the Luxe Collection baby slings ($540-1120).

All who purchase a sling at the show will be entered in a drawing for a Luxe Collection sling of their choice: Azure. Flor. Mother of Pearl. Rioja. Sandstone. Verde. The winner will be announced at the trunk show at 1:45.

Come to Metro Minis on Wednesday, October 17 to see, feel, and try on these gorgeous baby slings! Not sure how to use a baby sling? The Sakura Bloom team will also do free hands-on demonstrations during the show.

Metro Minis is located at 821 Park Avenue (at the corner of 75 Street); 212-313-9600.

We are delighted to announce the winners of our first photo contest!

We received many gorgeous submissions and chose two co-winners. The stunning photo to the left is one of our customers and her son on the beach in Hawaii and the precious photo below is of one of our London customers with her hours-old newborn baby boy.

Thank you to everyone who entered the contest. Your photos truly warmed our hearts.

Carry your baby in unsurpassed luxury! Soft, comfortable, stylish, and absolutely amazing: Sakura Bloom’s new Luxe Collection. Made from rare and exquisite, handloomed silks. Wrap your baby in these stunning carriers, wrap yourself in these exclusive silks. Each sling is washable, packable, adjustable, and crafted in Sakura Bloom’s signature style.

The Luxe Collection adds a new depth to Sakura Bloom’s catalogue of slings, modern aesthetic, and environmental commitments. The sustainable silks of the Luxe collection (priced from $540-1120) join Sakura Bloom’s extraordinary Belgian linens ($198-240) and stunning dupioni silk slings ($280-380).

Savvy style and eco-design flourish in Sakura Bloom’s practices as well as products. Sustainable bamboo packaging. Natural dyes, wild silks, and organic linen. Recycled, retired, and reclaimed woods, plastics, and even wine barrels put to new and unusual uses! Come see what a green booth looks like, come see the slings that every baby deserves: the Sakura Bloom booth at the ENK Children’s Club October 14-16.