Introducing our new Girasol Colorways Lotus, SoHo and Chelsea

We just received three new Girasol colorways. Of course they all have our signature three stripes. We really proud of them, take a look and order them at our online store or come to our retail location to check them out.

Happy Snow Day!

From all of us at Metro Minis, thank you for supporting us during 2010! We are looking forward to seeing you in the New Year!

Today, as you might have guessed, we closed due to snow conditions. We will also be closed this Saturday and Sunday while we celebrate New Years!

Please enjoy the holidays safely!

NY Times article on Kangaroo Care

We have been recommending Kangaroo care to our customer for years so we were happy to see this article in the NY times today.
Please take a look it is a great piece.


The Human Incubator
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/13/the-human-incubator/?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=ab1

Charlie's Soap Refill Station at Metro Minis!

Do you love the eco-friendly Charlie's Soap? Take your green thumb to the next level by reusing your Charlie's Soap containers!

You can refill your container at our refill station; helping you save money and the environment!

Bring your 2.64 lb (80 loads) Charlie's Soap Laundry Powder and refill it for only $12 (regular price of a new container is $16).

Just another way Metro Minis is helping NYC parents go green!

Return of the Lunchbots!

The Lunchbots have returned to the land of Metro Minis, saving people everywhere from the cursed legion of plastic containers that have plagued the countryside!

In their secret hidden base, at 75th St and Park Ave (near the 6 train), the Lunchbots have organized themselves into a fighting force of stainless steel -- ready to assist with four different sizes and colors!

In their epic campaign to provide eco-friendly lunch containers, the Lunchbots have enlisted a new ally!

Now, with the help if the Children's Stainless Steel Dish Set, the Lunchbots are better than ever!

Create your own team of Lunchbots! All sizes are restocked and ready to assist you!

Free Winter Babywearing Classes Available!

Our Winter Babywearing Class is back!

Just in time for cooler temperatures, NYC's only certified babywearing educators stand ready to teach you the best ways to use your favorite baby carriers while on-the-go during fall and winter months!

The first two FREE classes are scheduled for Oct. 30 at 1pm and Nov. 8 at 2pm!

If you've attended one of our popular Babywearing 101 Classes, you will definitely want to check out this class as well!

Recommend this class to your friends!

Don't let the cooler NYC winter weather slow you down!

Cloth Diaper Photo Contest!

Get your camera and cloth diapers ready, its time for the 2nd Annual Real Diaper Association (RDA) Reusable Cloth Diaper Photo Contest!

Anyone can enter the contest – all you need is a child in cloth diapers and a camera. Entries will be collected from now until November 3rd and there is a special treat for the 12 best photos that are submitted.

What happens to the best 12 photos? They will be used to create the 2011 RDA Cloth Diaper Calendar! And the picture with the highest number of votes will win a Flip UltraHD 2nd generation video camera!

Hmmm….now which diaper should I choose and where should my setting be? The beach maybe? A park? In Metro Minis? A holiday inspired picture? Oh the choices are endless!

Keep your baby warm this Fall/Winter!

Don't let cooler temperatures take away the joy and convenience of babywearing. You can still use your baby carrier when you combine it with cold weather covers.

Made specifically to fit over baby carriers, brands like Kowali, Peekaru, and Ergo have great options for Fall and Winter babywearing.

Fortunately, our free Winter Babywearing Class will be making a reappearance later this year. I will blog the day/time for it as soon as its scheduled.

In the meantime, come into our store and let us show you how to use our many practical and cozy fleece covers!

New research on how to raise kinder children

This probably won't surprise you, but now we have research to back it up.

According to a recent Time article, new studies have shown that babies who are kept closer to their parent and given more positive affection and responsiveness are more likely to grow up into kinder and more intelligent adults.

Babywearing compliments this style of parenting perfectly. Using a wrap or carrier instead of pushing a stroller is always something we've believed to be developmentally healthier for your child. Instead of being pushed two feet in front of you, your baby is right next to you when you're babywearing. And lets be real, dragging a stroller around NYC streets and subways is not something that's very convenient.

This week is International Babywearing Week, through Oct. 12th! Come into our NYC store and mention its babywearing week! We'll tell you our special on baby carriers!

Infant CPR: Every Parent Should Know

Would you know how you resuscitate your infant if the worst happened?

Join us at Metro Minis next Wednesday, Oct. 13, and learn CPR for infants and children, as well as basic first aid and safety techniques.

Topics covered include infant and child CPR; Heimlich maneuver for choking; first aid for bleeding, head injuries, falls and burns; treatment for poisoning; dealing with fever and allergic reactions; and the most preventive measure of all: how to baby proof your home. Practice with mannequins is included.

Instructor fee is $75. Class in session from 2pm to 4pm. Reserve your seat and sign up now!

Taught by Fern Drillings, R.N.

Share your babywearing stories with us!

Help us celebrate International Babywearing Week!

We love to hear from our customers how much they love their baby carriers! Send us your babywearing stories as we celebrate International Babywearing Week, Oct. 6-12!

We'll choose a few stories and post them online, with your permission of course!

Also, join us at Metro Minis for babywearing specials all week long! Just mention International Babywearing Week and we'll tell you about our specials!

Celebrate International Babywearing Week with Metro Minis!

Come celebrate International Babywearing Week with us, Oct. 6-12, while we offer in-store specials on baby carriers! And spread the word about babywearing to your friends - its safe and great for you and your baby!

International Babywearing Week, organized by Babywearing International, Inc., is an opportunity to help focus the world's attention on "babywearing," a term coined by pediatrician and author Dr. William Sears and his wife Martha Sears. Babywearing simply means carrying a baby or young child on one's body using a cloth baby carrier. Not only does babywearing allow parents to have both hands free while carrying their children, studies have shown show this practice is more likely to lead to happier babies who experience more secure attachments to their mothers.

This year's theme for International Babywearing Week is "Safe Babywearing: Enjoy the Benefits."

"International Babywearing Week is a great opportunity to bring awareness to the benefits of babywearing, and to focus on teaching how to wear babies safely," explained Glenda Criss, president of Babywearing International, Inc. "There are a variety of comfortable and safe ways to wear a baby."

If you want to learn how to wear your baby or help your friends learn, our free class on babywearing is a great place to start!

Spanish dads win breastfeeding rights!

(CNN) -- The European Union Court of Justice has ruled that working fathers in Spain have the same right to breastfeeding leave as do moms.

Thursday's ruling grants Spanish dads the same rights as the mother of their child to leave work up to twice a day for a total of an hour or to shorten their workday by 30 minutes for the first nine months of the baby's life.

The court called the law "an unjustified discrimination on grounds of sex" that fathers weren't granted breastfeeding leave in the same instances as women were.

The statute, challenged by Pedro Manuel Roca Alvarez, didn't allow dads to take the same leave afforded to women if the mother of their children didn't work or were self-employed.

The law was "liable to perpetuate a traditional distribution of the roles of men and women by keeping men in a role subsidiary to that of women in relation to the exercise of their parental duties."

...So does this mean we'll see Spanish fathers attending our new NYC breastfeeding support group on Thursdays at 1pm?

NYC Breastfeeding Support Group schedule announced!

Metro Minis new drop-in breastfeeding support group, which began last week during our anniversary week, has finally been scheduled to meet on a weekly basis.

Join our certified lactation counselors, Koyuki Smith and Leda Ward, every Thursday at 1pm to find answers to your breastfeeding questions and connect with other breastfeeding moms in the community.

This drop-in group can help you understand and alleviate minor and ongoing concerns, as well as identify deeper problems that may need to be addressed by individual lactation consultation. Common issues include: latch problems, increasing or decreasing milk supply, strategies for returning to work, understanding normal nursing and sleeping patterns, nursing in your baby carrier, and working with different nursing positions.

We also welcome moms who have no specific concerns but simply wish to meet and share stories in a nursing-friendly environment.

No appointment necessary. Each session is $10.

NYC pediatric dentist visited Metro Minis

Last week's store visit from one of NYC's leading pediatric dentists, Dr. Ruby Gelman, DDS, was a fabulous event that we hope to repeat in the months to come.

If you missed it, here were some of her best tips for your little one.

1) Start early when the first tooth comes in, begin to either wipe off the gums and new teeth with a dental wipe, or use a finger brush or baby tooth brush.

2) When you have an toddler or older, have them drink some water after a snack to help remove the sugars in the mouth.

3) Beware of the 'stickier' snacks as they sit on the teeth much longer. For example, raisins, lollipops, and hard or chewy candy. So brush more diligently after snacks like this and the sooner the better.

Dr. Gelman also spoke about new research on how soda can affect teeth. Research has found a new kind of cavity that can be traced back to soda drinks! So definitely avoid them as much as possible.

BPA in plastics can also affect dental fillers and teeth coating, she said. She suggested you speak to your dentist about your concerns and says that there are ways to avoid the leaching (or just don't use products with BPA!)

During the visit, Dr. Gelman's dental assistant was on hand to help our youngest audience members to brush the demo monkey's teeth. Of course they preferred to play with the Metro Minis toys, but they took time to brush the monkeys teeth too. Plus they got free toothbrushes in their goodie bags!

Click here to watch a brief excerpt from Dr. Gelman's event at Metro Minis!

Prime Time for Baby Carrying

Baby carriers Ergo and Baby Bjorn got mention on NBC's Chuck this week, when two characters expecting a baby were deciding on how to prepare for their newborn.

Clip is posted on our Facebook.

What kind of carrier do you think they should buy? Maybe a wrap or mei tai instead? :)

Congratulations Raffle Winners!

Congratulations to our raffle winners! Thanks for celebrating our 3rd Anniversary with us! And a HUGE THANK YOU to all our vendors who sponsored the prizes!

Subscribe to our blog and find us on Facebook to keep up to date with Metro Minis news, events and classes!

Visit our store within the next few weeks to pickup your raffle loot! (Please forgive us if we misspelled your name! Tickets were very tiny and hard to read sometimes!)

eeBoo
- Melissa Siegrist
- Joslyn Paradise

BumGenius/Flip Cloth Diapers
- Eyan Mitchell

Bummis Cloth Diapers
- Michael Lineberg

Thirsties Cloth Diapers
- Shannon Smith
- Ivanny Tanamal

Huggalugs and Babyleg Legwarmers
- Elina Nudelman

- Karen Klein

Sigg Bottles
- Hish-yi Hu
- Laurel Tomlin
- Allison Ross
- Emma Hart
- Anna Siciliano
- Vorsha Rosenblatt
- Justine Keithline

Lunchbots food containers with child-size Sigg Bottle
- Arital
- Isabel Ramioz

Wrap-N-Mat Sandwich and Snack Bags
- Isabelle Ardith
- Micki Lazar

Glamourmom Nursing Bra Tank
- Adriana Casey
- Jenn Greene

Bebe Au Lait Nursing Products
- C. Kardasakis
- Ana Marie Cullen
- Heather
- Erica Shane

Attached at the Heart Book
- Donna Martinez
- Leigh Pennebaker

API Journal and Membership
- Holly Varsalona

API Membership
- Maia James
- Lauren Biniaris

Solo Fitness Session
- Danielle Tavil

Freehand Soft Structured Baby Carrier
- Katharine Lichtner-Hoyes

Pikkolo Soft Structured Baby Carrier
- Robyn Link

Freehand Embroidered Mei Tai
- Lucy Mackerras

Sakura Bloom Ring Sling Silk Ringsling
- Julie

Beco Soft Structured Baby Carrier Gift Set
- Claire Montgomery

Moby Wrap with Kids Wrap
- Jamie Olaz

Kozy Mei Tai
- Jennifer Parmelee

Wrapsody Wrap
- Sharlene Pope

Ergo Baby Carrier Gift Set
- Rachel Lyte

Peekaru Vest by Togetherbe
- Andrew Cummings

Necklace Pendants

- Scott Benson

- Corie Feiner

- Tomlin

- Chasya-Uriel

Congrats to all our winners! There are a few raffle prizes still being collected, so there will be a few more winners posted within the next day!

Customer Appreciation Day!

We'd like to thank all our customers and supporters for three fantastic years! To show our appreciation, in our store this Saturday we're giving away free Zico natural coconut water and Metro Minis goodie bags while supplies last!

PLUS -- all our shoppers can enter to win free baby carriers from Moby, Sakura Bloom, Ergo, Wrapsody, Kozy, Cat Bird Baby, Girasol, Freehand and Beco! No purchase necessary to enter the raffle!

We also have one more great anniversary event this weekend! On Sunday, from noon to 4pm, we're opening our doors for a Kids Party! Bring your metro mini and join us for snacks and playtime! Plus there will be more free goodie bags while supplies last!

Belly Armor Event @ Metro Minis!

A lot of expecting parents these days are concerned with how the environment might shape their child's life. More than any other time in a child's life, environmental effects can be felt most while still inside the womb.

One of the most increasingly worrisome environmental factors in a child's development is radiation -- with all our cellphones, laptops and other technology. However, there are new products designed specifically to shield radiation from pregnant mothers.

Tomorrow, Sept 23rd at 2pm, Metro Minis is happy to welcome Belly Armor Representative Kelsey Lam. Kelsey will be presenting to customers exactly how Belly Armor can protect your unborn baby from radiation. She will also be answering any questions you may have.

This is another event planned during our third anniversary week! We hope you will help us celebrate by visiting the store and saying hello! Thanks for you support!

New Breastfeeding Support Group

As we continue our third anniversary week, we're celebrating all the breastfeeding moms out there tomorrow with our very own Nursing Day!

As we feature our great breastfeeding products this thursday, we'll be holding some special events and giving away free merchandise via raffle!

At the top of our list for tomorrow is the creation of a new drop-in breastfeeding support group! And this first session is free! All following sessions will be scheduled, but you won't need to sign up in advance - just walk-in!

Here's how our in-staff certified lactation counselors, Leda Ward and Koyuki Smith, describe their new support group!

Sept. 23rd @ 1pm - Breast Feeding Support Group - Join Metro Minis certified lactation counselors Leda Ward and Koyuki Smith to find answers to your breastfeeding questions and to connect with other breastfeeding moms in the community. This drop-in group can help you understand and alleviate minor and ongoing concerns, as well as identify deeper problems that may need to be addressed by individual lactation consultation. Common issues include: latch problems, increasing or decreasing milk supply, strategies for returning to work, understanding normal nursing and sleeping patterns, nursing in your baby carrier, and working with different nursing positions. We also welcome moms who have no specific concerns but simply wish to meet and share stories in a nursing-friendly environment.

Its time to eat, eco-friendly style!

Sept. 22 / Wednesday - Snack Day

When its time to pack your child's lunch for daycare or that trip to the park, what do you use? Not a brown paper bag with plastic containers and throw-away forks, we hope!

Try our favorite eco-friendly food products, like Lunchbots containers, Sigg bottles and bamboo utensils! Reusable food products will save money and the environment!

Visit us tomorrrow, Wednesday Sept. 22nd while we celebrate Snack Day at Metro Minis, part of our weeklong third anniversary celebration! We're giving away free products from Sigg, Lunchbots and Wrap-N-Mat! Plus a special event!

Noon @ Metro Minis - Local pediatric dentist Dr. Ruby Gelman will speak to parents about dental care for newborns thru preschoolers; giving tips for making it fun and enjoyable for you child to take care of their teeth, as well as answering your questions.

Dr. Gelman's dental assistant will also teach children how to brush their teeth using fun, educational methods.

Enter to win eco-friendly products from Sigg, Lunchbots and Wrap-N-Mat!

Cloth Diapering Day @ Metro Minis!

We're continuing our third anniversary week tomorrow, Sept. 21st, with two special events on cloth diapering in NYC! Plus enter our raffle to win free cloth diaper products from Bummis, Thirsties and Bum Genius!

2:30pm - Troubleshooting your Cloth Diaper Experience. Spend 30 minutes with our cloth diapering experts as they answer your questions about everything from smells and leaks, to diaper rash and diapering on the road.

3pm - Cloth Diaper Workshop. One of our favorite classes will get a special presentation during the anniversary week. See how easy it is to save money and the environment when you cloth diaper your baby!


We hope you will visit us all week long for special events and prizes in our store while we celebrate our anniversary!

Thanks for you support!

Our list of Sponsor for our 3 Years Anniversary Week!

Thanks so much for our sponsors for the Metro Minis 3 years Anniversary Week.

Tell Me A Story!

We're kicking off our third anniversary next week with Storytime Day, featuring our favorite eeBoo Tell me a Story !

At the top of every hour, this Sept. 20th, we're reading books aloud in our store, to spur reading readiness and the love of story-telling for all ages!

We love eeBoo for its books, but they also have awesome educational games and toys! Try eeBoo's matching and memory games, crafted to help preschoolers develop their thinking skills!

So come let us tell you a story this Monday! And enter to win free eeBoo products in the first of our many anniversary week raffles!

SIGG: Eco-Fun-Ability!

How can we best describe our store's collection of SIGG bottles?

Bianca loves them because they're eco-friendly! Its Swiss manufacturer use the highest environmental standards, so SIGG bottles leave a much smaller carbon footprint than plastic bottles (do people still use plastic?!).

Joanna loves them since they're so durable! Made from a single piece of pure aluminum, SIGG bottles are perfectly uniform and seamless. (they look so cool!)

Tiffany loves them for their fun styles! And with 30 prints, its hard to choose sometimes! (i seriously have to choose at least 4 favorites, because its way to hard to pick just one!)

So lets just say they have a lot of "Eco-Fun-Ability" built in. Is that a real word? If we just start using it enough, the dictionaries will have no choice!

Next week is Metro Minis Anniversary Week! Visit the store during Snack Day, Wednesday Sept. 22 to enter into our FREE RAFFLE and WIN SIGG BOTTLES! Actually, just stop in every day because they are so many raffles and giveaways, you don't want to miss them!

At the end of the week, we will choose winners for all our raffles and post results right here on our blog!

ANNIVERSARY SCHEDULE

Dabbawalla backpacks incoming!

We're expanding our selection of Dabbawalla backpacks just in time for back-to-school!

We've added new styles, including Flower Power and Mod Pod, while updating our inventory of favorites like Go Fetch and Penguin!

These are our favorite backpacks because they are so well designed. Constructed entirely out of durable neoprene, which protects, insulates and cushions without worry of lead or PVC, Dabbawalla backpacks are built to last.

Check out all our styles at http://store.metrominis.net/catalog.php?category=160

Vote for Metro Minis!

Metro Minis has been nominated for a small business grant! We're so excited, we're asking all our customers and supporters online to vote for us!

Help our store win by voting at http://lovealocalbusiness.intuit.com/fan?b_id=20426

Thanks for your support!

Support Babywearing - Be a BCIA Charter Member

BCIA Seeks Charter Members

The Baby Carrier Industry Alliance (BCIA) announced today that charter members can begin to join the organization, which promotes standards in baby carrier safety and education. Appealing to parents for support, the group has created a variety of membership plans for both big and small contributors.

Donors will play a big role in helping fund the organization act swiftly to create voluntary safety standards that can be recognized by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), a federal agency that is determining whether baby slings should continue to be sold in the US for babies under the age of four months.

"Infant slings have been recently placed in the 'durable infant product' category, which requires a mandatory CPSC standard," explains Krisit Hayes-Devlin, BCIA board chair.

Hayes-Devlin says the first order of business is to finalize a voluntary standard for infant slings that is both safe and also achievable for small babywearing businesses.

Individual supporters can join as Friend or Champion members.

"We really wanted to have a place for the parents, friends, and supportive organizations to have voice and see what we do, even if they are not financially invested in this industry," says Britt Pegan, BCIA board member and head of the membership subcommittee. "We have some fun benefits for both [membership levels] outlined on the website, but in particular our Champions will receive ongoing discounts and promotions with vendors both in and outside the trade. Also, BCIA 'supporters' also have access to our member-only forums."

Metro Minis is a founding member of the BCIA. We would like your support in joining them as they promote baby carrier standards in safety and preserve the rights of parents to use these amazing products.

For more information on the BCIA check out their website: www.babycarrierindustryalliance.org.

Klean Kanteen never disappoints!

10:40 @ night... Manhattan.

I'm running to catch my taxi, throwing my bags into the backseat before I jump in... and there it goes, flying out of my bag -- my insulated stainless steel Klean Kanteen water bottle! After it bounces on the concrete and rolls across the street, it settles beneath a parked car.

Not thinking, I run out in front of traffic and hurry to chase it. After I rescue it, I'm thinking to myself, how ruined is my favorite water bottle now?

NOT ONE DENT!

Insulated Klean Kanteen water bottles survive the streets of NYC. It took a beating and came out beautiful. I love these bottles!

Baby Carrier Industry Alliance is born!

Berwick, Maine, July 22, 2010 – Leading Baby Carrier Manufacturers, Retailers, Educators, and Component Part and Accessories Manufacturers proudly announce the formation of the industry’s first trade organization, the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance (BCIA).

The newly formed BCIA will educate families about the indisputable benefits of using quality baby carriers, coordinate information gathering and research, and work with government organizations to ensure safe, quality baby carriers that emulate in-arms carrying are available to parents and caregivers.

“This organization has been a long time coming; the industry as a whole wants parents to feel confident with their choice in baby carrier. We want parents to know that they are offering their baby the best, and safest, possible start to life by carrying their child in an ergonomically correct baby carrier,” says Vesta Garcia, founder of Peppermint and Ellaroo.

The immediate responsibility of the BCIA is to finalize work on a voluntary standard for infant slings. “We are working as quickly as possible to get a strong standard to ballot in the near future,” says Kristen DeRocha, chair of the American Society of Tests and Measures (ASTM) subcommittee on sling standards and founder of Hotslings. The BCIA believes the completion of this standard is key to ensuring the safety and general availability of both commercially produced and handcrafted babywearing products.

In 2007, a small group of sling manufacturers voluntarily approached the ASTM, the body responsible for creating standards for thousands of consumer products in the United States, to request that work on such a standard begin. In Spring 2008, several manufacturers of infant carriers and carrier component parts began work on the standard along with the CPSC, Health Canada, and several consumer groups. The BCIA looks forward to the eventual adoption of the voluntary safety standards so it can move towards its larger goal of education and research.

For more information on the BCIA visit our website:
www.BabyCarrierIndustryAlliance.org

Brooklyn Babywearers New Meeting Location

Need help with babycarriers? Come to the Brooklyn Babywearing Meeting at the Park Slope Food Coop.

In-Store Upgrades!

Some long awaited upgrades for our Park Ave location were installed this week to improve the look and feel of our store.

With a completely redesigned electrical system, we were able to install new lighting throughout the store and add two new air-conditioners to help fight off that pesky summer heat (our old single unit AC just couldn't handle 2010!).

We've also setup a complimentary stand of ice cold water for customers to enjoy while they're in our store.

With all the great new selections we are offering each day, we hope you will come in and enjoy our more relaxing shopping experience!

Ergos! and OhSnaps! and Freehands! Oh My!

Yesterday we got the nicest alert that a very smart and savvy mama had blogged the reasons she decided upon an Oh Snap! over an Ergo. I have to agree with her reasoning.

I always tell parents who ask that the Ergo is a great carrier and difficult to improve upon -- certainly, it is all but impossible to beat the price of Ergo without buying used. But there are specific improvements made upon Ergo's orginal soft-structured carrier which as a parent I find useful, stylish and comfortable.

Here are the various soft-structured carriers you will find at Metro Minis today:

Ergo
Beco
Boba
Oh Snap!
Pikkolo by Catbird Baby
the new Freehand SSC
Angelpack
and last but definitely not least,
Scootababy, the only soft-structured *HIP* carrier that we really like.

I have always maintained that babywearing is hot sport, but the summer-worthiness of a carrier depends more on its comfort than on the amount of fabric or the weight of the fabric, or even the weight of the carrier. More on THAT issue in the days to come.

Come to Metro Minis and check them out!

Gift Registry @ Metro Minis

I admit: gift registries used to float somewhere beyond my consciousness. Then I realized that it's much nicer to get people gifts that they really want.. so a good friend had a baby shower recently and I was delighted to set up a registry for her.

In fact, it is really fun to set up a few gift registries each month for Metro Minis customers.. nobody is more surprised than I am to find it's one of my favorite things to do.

It's always interesting to discuss with new parents what slings, diapers, toys they enjoy and why. What do they look forward to? What do they think they want? What will the baby play with at 6 months? What will we need right away when the baby is born? What will the baby be doing at a year? Will I really be able to carry my kid until 3? (*Answer: I did not always, but it was really good for me to keep it open as an option.)

Sometimes they will want an item that is not on the website and I get to add it. Sometimes we don't want a particular item available to the general public on the website, so I get to add it anyway, but in such a way that it is visible on that particular gift registry and nowhere else, which appeals to my inner rebel. So you must let me know if I can help you set up a registry. And especially if there is something in the store you wanted, but didn't see it on the website. Because I may be able to put it on there for you!

We have oodles of toys on the website now and more to come, both in the store and on the website. Light a fire under me & get them online!

Sakura Bloom Pixie Collection are in!

They are Gorgeous! Get the new Sakura bloom Pixie

What happens at a Intro to Wrapping class

3 minutes video of the practice part in the "Intro to Wrapping class"

What happens at a Intro to Wrapping class

3 minutes video of the practice part in the "Intro to Wrapping class"

Girasol Gotham Dark Night is here!

Proudly presenting our new colorway Gotham Dark Night. We still have some available in most sizes so come on by and get one.
In a few weeks we will also have some ringslings available slingified from Sleeping Baby.

Wrap Cast!

Here is our first podcast from Metro Minis. Learn how to do a FWCC with a woven wrap. We're using one of the MM exclusive Girasol colorways--Green Tea.
The podcast will be available on iTunes soon!

Press Release from Sling Manufacturer

Baby Sling & Carrier Manufacturers Speak Out
On Baby Sling Safety Warning

March 11, 2010

With the publication of an Associated Press article regarding the CPSC government warning on baby slings and the Consumers Union’s concerns about “bag-style” slings, the companies co-sponsoring this release are taking a stand to help educate the public on the differences between safe vs. unsafe baby slings and carriers as detailed below.
The ancient practice of babywearing made its way into western culture in the 1960s and its popularity with American consumers has grown because of its vast benefits.  Unfortunately, this has led to the creation of several potentially unsafe baby slings and carriers. Slings and carriers of concern are popularly categorized under the token term “bag-style” slings.  In “bag-style” slings, the deep pouch where baby sits puts the baby in a potentially suffocating curved or “C” like position. Also, excessive fabric with an elasticized edge may cover baby’s face inhibiting breathing.  Furthermore, the design may cause the baby’s face to turn in toward a caregiver’s body, potentially smothering the baby.
In contrast, shallow pouch-style slings, ring slings, mei tais and wraps hold baby in proper alignment and they fit snuggly by design and instruction.  They have been engineered, developed and tested by parents, often the manufacturers themselves with their own children.  These carriers are often simple and without gimmicks.  Dedicated and concerned manufacturers of these types of safe slings and carriers have sponsored this release.
Because of the popularity and gaining market share of small baby carrier companies, a few years ago the Juvenile Products Manufactures Association (JPMA) was approached by a handful of these companies asking for a standard to be created. These companies were initially alarmed by the creation of some carriers, mostly by home crafters, fashioned from materials unsuitable for baby products. Soon after, M’liss Stelzer, a pediatric nurse, did an oxygenation study discovering a potential link between infant deaths and “bag-style” style slings therefore creating even more need for the standard as well as further study.
Upon this need the ASTM, an internationally recognized creator of standards for consumer products and test procedures, created a subcommittee for Sling Carrier Standards.  The ASTM Subcommittee is made up of manufacturers, consumer advocates and government officials from the US and Canada including members of the CPSC. The subcommittee started writing the standard two years ago. In this time more deaths have occurred, all linked to the “bag-style” sling being reported by Jennifer Kerr, a writer for the Associated Press in the article referenced in the first line of this release.  This has alerted the CPSC to take necessary action and issue this warning.
In well-designed products, babywearing is not only safe, but is actually very beneficial when done properly. Studies have shown that quality baby slings and carriers have been shown to save lives, improve health, decrease crying, increase IQ, and facilitate breastfeeding and bonding. For examples of these cases and further reading see “Increased Carrying Reduces Infant Crying: A Randomized Controlled Trial” an article written by Urs A. Hunziker MD and Ronald G. Barr MDCM, FRCP(C), “Saving My Baby” a blog post written on Fierce Mama’s Blog by Sarah Kaganovsky and Dr. Maria Blois’s book Babywearing.
Studies have also shown that worn babies are happier and spend more time in the quiet alert phase.  In this phase they benefit more than their non-worn peers in language development and knowledge acquisition. Babywearing also helps babies sleep better, and physical needs, including breastfeeding, are met more quickly by a close, responsive parent.  Millions of babies over time have been worn to their benefit making baby slings and carriers more of a necessity than the often-publicized fashion accessory. (Source La Leche League International)
The vast benefits of babywearing should not be disregarded with the report of incidents from “bag-style” slings. The sponsors of this release make safer baby slings and carriers and have been active in the standard writing process and are dedicated to safety through engineering. “We see this as an opportunity to reach out and educate American consumers. We hope to provide valuable information allowing parents and caregivers to not only make informed buying decisions, but also to increase the awareness of how to properly wear children, especially babies, in baby slings and carriers,” says Kristen DeRocha, ASTM Subcommittee Chair. The Associated Press article regarding the CPSC warning gives proof to the growing popularity of baby slings and carriers and validates the need for education.
Several trusted websites exist to aide in the education of babywearing for caregivers and new parents. To name a few: TheBabywearer.com, the Facebook fan page for Babywearing Safety, Mothering.com and LaLecheLeague.org.
 
This press release was sponsored by:
Hotslings, Maya Wrap, Moby Wrap, Wrapsody, Gypsymama, Together Be, Kangaroo Korner, Taylormade Slings, Scootababy, Bellala Baby, Catbird Baby, SlingEZee, ZoloWear, HAVA, SlingRings and Sakura Bloom
For comments or questions regarding this release please contact Kacy Jones, Director of Marketing for Hotslings, Inc.
Phone: 214-350-4160x108
Email: kacy@hotslings.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Babysling Safety

Eye Witness News was here today and interviewed Joanna.

Story Time with Pearl and Mirela -- Free Sample Class March 11th

Musical Storytime is a 45-minute weekly class for children ages 10 months to 4 years, with a parent or other caregiver. Classes are led by Pearl Port, storyteller and specialist in children's literature, along with Mirela Chitiu, professional music teacher.

Free Sample Class ~ March 11th at 3:30pm
6 Consecutive Weeks ~ March 18th through April 22nd
Thursdays ~ 3:30p

Sing-a-longs, stories, movement, puppets and songs... Each week enjoy a musical journey through song and story.

Pearl and Mirela delight children by reading stories along with their own songs from around the world, all played on the guitar. They choose books filled with humorous tales, animal adventures, fantasy, stories of seasons, families, friendships and much more... all inspire and ignite your child's imagination.

A treasure trove of children's literature and song, fun to hear, sing and read along.

Within every story is a song!

At Musical Storytime, your children:

• Learn new stories, songs, movements and fingerplays.
• Discover wonderful picture books to expand their imagination and language development.
• Explore their creativity and rhythm...

... while singing along to the guitar and making new friends in an interactive and fun-filled musical storytime!

For a quality experience for all the maximum number of participants is ten and the minimum number is five. If the minimum is not reached within 48 hours before the start of the first day, the event will be canceled and paid registrants will receive a full refund. After payment is received there are no refunds for the classes. If for any reason class must be canceled by us it will be rescheduled.  No refunds for missed session(s.) However, you can send a friend in your place on the day you cannot attend. Please make arrangements and let us know in advance so we can welcome your friend.

Metro Minis Video Pod Cast

Our first shot for our video podcast took place on Sunday.
Stay tuned the first babywearing podcast will be up in March.

Fun with your little one! Musical Storytime at Metro Minis

Sing-a-longs, stories, movement, puppets and songs...

Each week, ENJOY a musical journey through song and story.

Pearl and Mirela delight children by reading stories along with their own songs from around the world, all played on the guitar. They choose books filled with humorous tales, animal adventures, fantasy, stories of seasons, families, friendships and much more… all inspire and ignite your child’s imagination.

A treasure-trove of children’s literature and song, fun to hear, sing and read-a-long.
Within every story is a song!

At Musical Storytime Your Children:

Learn new stories, songs, movements, and fingerplays.
Discover wonderful picture books to expand their imagination and language development.
Explore their creativity and rhythm.

All while singing along to the guitar and making new friends in an interactive and fun-filled musical storytime!

For children ages 18 months to 4 years. (With a parent or caregiver.) Classes led by Pearl Port, storyteller and specialist in children’s literature, along with Mirela Chitiu, professional music teacher.

To register and for further information, please eMail us. Registering will be shortly placed on our shopping cart

Metro Minis

821 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10021

(212) 313-9600