Slings and Carriers

Sakura Bloom

Tips & Tricks 

Get Moving.  Once you get your baby in the sling, start moving.  Walk.  Sway.  Dance.  Bounce gently on a yoga ball.  Movement often calms babies and will help them settle happily into your sling.

Bottom to Bellybutton. Your baby should be held high and snug in the sling.  His or her bottom should be roughly at your belly button, at about the same height as if you were holding your baby in your arms. 

Personalities and Positions. Different babies like different positions. How do you carry your baby in your arms?  If you carry your baby upright, try the Tummy-to-Tummy position.  If you carry your baby in a recline position, try the Cradle position.  Some babies like all the positions, others prefer one over others.  Some change their preferences as they grow older.  Experiment to find out what position your baby likes.  If your baby is uncomfortable, he or she will let you know.

Adjustments. If you don’t get your baby in correctly the first time, take baby out and try again until you get it right.  Don’t be afraid to reach into the sling to adjust the baby if need be.  Your baby’s head should not hit the rings.  If it does, take baby out and put him in again.  In the beginning it might take a week or two to master using the sling.  Once you do, it is as easy as riding a bike.

Reverse it.  All Sakura Bloom slings are fully reversible.  Wear chocolate brown one day, our signature stripes the next.  To reverse your sling, unthread it, then rethread with your preferred side to the back.  There is no “wrong side” with Sakura Bloom slings.

Napping.  The comfort and movement of the sling often lulls children to sleep.  If your child falls asleep in the sling and you would like to transfer the baby to another place to sleep, one technique is to bend over at the waist and lay the baby on a bed or couch while still in the sling.  Slowly take the sling off by pulling it over your head, being careful not to disturb the child.  Make sure the child is in a safe place to sleep and gently remove them from the sling.

Go With the Flow. Don’t feel constricted to any one position—slings are great for their versatility.  They can allow baby to face the world, interacting with all those you encounter at one moment, and turn in to snuggle with Mommy or Daddy or take a nap at the next.

Be smart.  Always make sure your baby is safe and secure in the sling, especially during periods of extended wearing or if baby falls asleep.  Use common sense and follow our safety instructions. 

Have fun.  Wearing your baby in a sling allows them to interact with others from a secure and confident position.  It enables them to follow your cues in social situations and provides you both with valuable opportunities for teaching, sharing, and cuddling.

Care For Your Sling

Everyday Cleaning:

We recommend spot cleaning for everyday maintenance.  Baby spit up on the sling?  Spill juice on it?  No problem.  A cold washcloth will do the trick.

Thorough Cleaning:

If your sling does need an overall cleaning, there are three options.  You can hand wash in cold water or wash it, alone, in cold water on your machine’s gentle cycle.  After washing, hang the sling to dry and steam iron on the hottest setting to remove wrinkles.  Or, you can dry clean it using an environmentally friendly cleaners.  Be sure to unthread your sling before you clean it, regardless of which method you use.

Tips:­­

  • Want to make your sling even softer?  Use it!  Sakura Bloom silk and linen slings soften up beautifully through regular use. 
  • Ready to wash your silk sling?  Remember, just like a pair of black jeans or a colored t-shirt, each time you wash your sling, it may lose a bit of color.
  • Sheen or Matte?  Washing gives a more matte or raw look to the silk.  To preserve the original sheen (and color) of a silk sling, we recommend a combination of spot cleaning and dry cleaning.

Safety

Using your Sakura Bloom sling safely is not difficult.  Read our safety instructions carefully and be aware of safety issues each time you use the sling.  With practice and mindful use, you should have years of comfortable and safe slinging.

  • Practice, practice, practice.  Get very comfortable putting your child in and taking them out of your sling.
  • Properly position your child in the sling.  Make sure your child has:
    • Good airflow.  Make sure that baby’s chin does not drop to their chest.  Check the positioning of sleeping babies to make sure that their airflow is not obstructed in any way.
    • Proper alignment of their head and neck.
    • Comfortable positioning of their legs, feet, and arms.
  • Your Sakura Bloom sling is professionally made, but you should frequently check the seams and fabric for wear and tear.
  • When in doubt, tighten the rails.  A snug baby is a secure baby.
  • Be careful using the sling in all situations, but especially while cleaning, exercising, in bad weather conditions, or in difficult environments indoors or outdoors (e.g., stairs, steep or slippery terrain).
  • Do not use the sling in certain situations—while cooking, doing strenuous exercise, riding in a car, or if the structural integrity of the sling has been compromised.
  • Use common sense.  Be smart, be loving, be safe.
  • Disclaimer.  Sakura Bloom is not responsible for any injuries related to use of your sling.  Please read and follow our safety instructions.  Use common sense and care when wearing your sling.


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