Press

May, 2012 in Los Angeles, CA

Ali Landry and Karen at the Pregnancy Awareness Month event

Trumbull Patch April 26, 2012

Local Connecticut Mom Builds Million Dollar Company From One Idea & Her Grandmother's Sewing Machine

Karen Barski - a mom from Trumbull, CT - built a million dollar company from one idea and her grandmother's sewing machine.

How it all started...

Her then newborn Bella was born 5 weeks early and due to her super startle reflex paired with mighty-mouse strength, she unraveled her swaddle within 15 minutes...ALL NIGHT LONG. Karen found Bella time and time again with the swaddle blanket unwrapped and up over her face making her hot and red - very scary to say the least.

Read entire article on The Trumbull Patch website.

Woombie Baby Swaddle Chosen as Top Colic Product

Summary: The Woombie swaddle chosen as a top colic product to help calm and soothe fussy babies. Announcement made by The Fussy Baby Site.

Trumbull, CT, March 29, 2012 — Calming and soothing fussy babies or babies with colic is not easy. Caring for a colicky baby is frustrating, but there are some products that can help – one of which is the Woombie baby swaddle, recently voted a top colic product by The Fussy Baby Site.

Click here to read entire press release.

Top Colic Products: The Fussy Baby Site

"...The Woombie replicates the experience of the womb more fully than any swaddler I've tested. The soft, stretchy fabric allows some movement, while still providing a feeling of snugness and security. Comes in a variety of thicknesses and various levels of stretchiness, depending on how snug your baby likes to be swaddled.:

Click here to read more

“I knew I could successfully sell the product to the world.”
By M.O.

“...MO:Were you always interested in entrepreneurism or did you have an 'aha' moment that inspired you to launch your business?

Karen:My AHA moment came when I could not find a safe swaddle for my baby girl. She came five weeks early and had a super startle reflex with mighty-mouse strength. We tried every swaddle we could find; even the ones with Velcro – nothing worked. She unraveled herself within 15 minutes…ALL NIGHT LONG, EVERY NIGHT. I found Bella time and time again with the swaddle blanket unwrapped and up over her face making her hot and red – very scary to say the least.

Clearly there was a need for a different solution. So, I used my nursing background to design a safer alternative to swaddle blankets in the market. One sleepless night, I took out my grandmother’s sewing machine and created the first Woombie. I sewed and sewed until my daughter was gently 'contained' in a peanut-shaped cocoon. She stayed intact and snug, but at the same time she could stretch if needed and the fabric would then automatically re-conform to the snug cocoon – just like in the womb. After the product worked miracles, I knew I could successfully sell the product to the world...”

Click here to read more

Woombie Swaddle Review
By Marcie at Obviously Marvelous

“I have mentioned many times throughout the Obviously Baby event how much all three of my kids loved to be swaddled. There were no super handy products on the market during this time aside from the usual receiving blankets and the occasional velcro type swaddle device. By the time I had Bub in 2008, I still wasn’t too impressed with the items that were on the market. Luckily for me I wasn’t the only one…”

Click here to read more

New baby Swaddle Brand - KB Designs Introduces Mod'Swad

Summary:  "Karen Barski, CEO and Founder of KB Designs creator of the Woombie baby swaddle, is known for designing unique baby products. Her newest innovation – Mod’Swad – is an upscale, eco’friendly and functional baby swaddle made from heathered bamboo, Muslin, Cotton and 100% Australian Merino Wool. Also, there is a fashionable knot to customize length as baby grows.

'Mod’Swad offers a signature look that creates a perfect blend of high-end fashion with the same benefits of a great swaddle,' said Barski. 'Parents can now enjoy a fashion forward swaddle blanket ‘where modern meets vintage.’'
Mod’Swad was recently showcased at the NYC International Gift Fair catching the attention of Babies R Us and many other interested buyers, and will be a vendor at Pregnancy Awareness Month’s May launch event in LA: 'Celebrate Mamas...'"

Click here to read entire press release. 

Woombie Swaddle is January Spotlight for Pregnancy Awareness Month

Summary: Pregnancy Awareness Month (PregnancyAwareness.com) is featuring the Woombie Baby Swaddle this month. Gift Basket Giveaway ends 1/20/12. Twitter Party on 1/24 with more giveaways!

New York, NY, January 20, 2012 — The Woombie swaddle is the Monthly Spotlight Sponsor for Pregnancy Awareness Month® (PAM) for the month of January. Today (1/12/12) is the last day to enter in baby swaddle gift set giveaway. On 1/24/12 PAM is hosting a Twitter party, from 7-8PM PST. Party theme is “A Baby’s Sleep: The Benefits of Swaddling.” Woombie giveaway every 15 minutes and guest expert Ingrid Prueher, Founder of Savvy Mom On Call, who is a Child Sleep Consultant.

A Peek Inside the Barski Home Where the Woombie Was Born

I wear many hats - mother of five, wife, nurse, Certified Newborn Infant Care Specialist & Instructor, Infant Sleep Consultant, Parenting Consultant, Entrepreneur - but first and foremost I am a mom. A mother to five beautiful children my husband and I are blessed with. The Woombie was built around our family, for our family and by our family.  This journey has brought us even closer together and knowing that we help other families with their problems and needs makes it all very rewarding...

Unique Holiday Gifts for Expecting Moms and Babies.

Summary: "Nurse and mom invented, over a half a million babies and parents to date have used the Woombie swaddle for babies. The Woombie sleep sac is a unique baby swaddle that is a perfect holiday gift for expecting moms and babies. The Woombie baby swaddle was designed by Karen Barski - a Registered Nurse & Certified Infant Care Specialist. The swaddler sleep sac provides the safest and most comfortable swaddle for your baby. The peanut shaped design gently hugs the shoulders, tummy and hips allowing for natural movement, softly cocooning your baby without restricting mobility or development... just like the womb! This is the perfect holiday gift for expecting moms and newborn babies to help with a smooth transition from womb to home.

The Woombie swaddle has been shown to promote a more natural and peaceful sleep environment for infants resulting in longer periods of sleep with less restlessness - which is why Infant Care Experts recommend the Woombie to institute successful sleep patterns from birth to 6 months. The Woombie swaddle also prevents issues such as startling, face scratching, overheating and dangerous loose unraveled blankets from covering baby's face.

In addition to these benefits, the designs, styles and color options are great."

KB Designs Announces Launch of New Woombie Baby Swaddle Website

Summary: KB Designs launches new website for popular baby swaddle brand, Woombie. New site offers easy shopping navigation, "Karen & Co." blog with Q&A forum and a completely new look (http://www.woombie.com).

Trumbull, CT (PRWEB) November 30, 2011

In an effort to re-brand the popular baby swaddle, Woombie, KB designs launched a new website with a completely new design and features to enhance the Woombie swaddler experience. Karen Barski, Founder and CEO, wanted a website that was warm, inviting and easy to use; a site that mirrors the Woombie brand with its tagline: "Swaddle. Snuggle. Sleep." The new baby swaddle website is getting rave reviews already:

"The new Woombie swaddle website is strikingly different in a great way!" said Natascia Hyde, mother of 3. "It is inviting, easy to use, the new products such as the Daddy and Mommy Time Dolls and the Ultra Sleeper are wonderful additions, the design is outstanding, and the new blog offers such useful information..."

45+ Best Assets Women Bring to Business

"...41. Be Assertive

I believe the best asset women entrepreneurs bring to business is being assertive. Assertive women simply state their opinions, while being respectful of others. Being assertive, rather than passive or aggressive, allows a more effective flow in your business and allows for overall growth.

Thanks to Karen Barksi of KB Designs/Woombie/Mod'Swad..."

Goodbye Blankies

Aside from being captivated by the photo of this beautiful baby, this little slice of fashion is as practical as it is good looking. Created by the makers of the Woombie Swaddle, this peanut-shaped swaddle is a more stylish, eco-friendly way to keep baby comfy and warm. Expected on the market in January 2012, the Modswad is a comfy blend of bamboo and merino wool, with a knot to customize length. So clever. Good for babies up to 9 months.

The Only Swaddler that Truly Mimics the Womb - The Woombie

I've heard that swaddling has been proven to help babies sleep better, longer, and safer. It reduces incidences of SIDS, colic and fussiness, and it can help make breastfeeding easier. I understand the benefits of swaddling but, as a first time mother, I question how should I swaddle my baby? How tight should the swaddle be? How can I maximize the effects of the swaddle? Basically, how do I know if I'm doing it right? The Woombie is a safe, comfortable, and effective way to swaddle my baby, encouraging her to softly stretch extremities as needed, just like in the womb. It's an effective way to know I'm doing it right because all I need to do is zipper it up and tuck in the zipper.

Thanks to Karen Barksi of KB Designs/Woombie/Mod'Swad..."

Baby buzz

October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month. To minimize your baby’s risk of SIDS, follow these tips from First Candle, a nonprofit organization working to increase public participation and support in the fight against stillbirth, SIDS and other causes of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID).

ABC Kids Show and Expo - should you exhibit next year?

As an entrepreneur with a product-based company, there are many ways that you can spread the word about your products. There are trade shows like the ABC Kids Show and Expo, there are showrooms, there are sales reps and there is social media or advertising, among others. But trade shows are expensive and you often wonder if the return on investment is worth all the time and money you spent.

So I talked to some entrepreneurs who just returned from ABC Kids show and expo, which took place last week in Louisville, KY, to get the scoop on whether it's wise to attend or not.

Woombie Featured in Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine

Find the Woombie in the Fall Buyer's Guide issue of Pregnancy & Newborn magazine. P&N can be found at your local newsstands, including Barnes & Noble, Borders, Babies"R"Us, and select Target, Whole Foods and CVS stores.

Woombie Returns to ABC Kids Expo to Release New Swaddle Products

Since first exhibiting at the ABC Kids Expo in 2009, the Woombie (http://www.woombie.com) has succeeded in getting its popular swaddle in over 200 baby boutiques as well as Babies-R-Us.com, BuyBuyBaby, and Amazon.com. This year the Woombie will be booth at 1147 - twice the size as last year - showcasing current swaddling products as well as new baby products such as the Ultra Sleeper, Eco Donut, Woombie Mox Mittens, and Mo'Mo Friends.

Woombie Swaddle and Sleep Donut Featured in Tot Trends Weekly Magazine

"...Need a soft place to change baby at Grandmas or in the car? The Baby Eco' Donut by Woombie has you covered. The donut is a large cushy portable multi-use mat. Great for letting infants play on their back, easy to move from room to room, the donut folds up and has handles for easy carrying as well. We love how easy this is to pack up and throw in the car for trips to places that might not be as child friendly as your own home! Super light weight and easy to carry makes this the perfect item to keep with your diaper bag for those last minute visits and stops! Completely glue, foam, odor, lead and pthalate free you can trust that the Eco' Donut is made of materials good for your baby and for the environment. Not recommended for sleeping.

This unique swaddler from Woombie is shaped like a peanut, and keeps your peanut's little arms from flailing. The Woombie swaddler has a great 4 way stretch fabric that snugs baby's arms right across the chest making baby less likely to startle himself awake. This great swaddler also has double ended zippers so that changing diapers is a breeze. No folding, pulling or frustration necessary when trying to swaddle your little bundle of joy!..."

Karen Barksi Featured on Venturemom.com

What to do when you're newborn won't stay swaddled and ends up crying and with a blanket covering her face? Out of frustration, Karen Barski, got out her sewing machine and created a stretchy sack that zipped up and gave the baby some room to move, but kept her snuggled. She called it a "Woombie" because the idea was to simulate the womb that the newborn was missing. And it worked – her baby Bella, who was five weeks premature, slept through the night and she and her husband were able to get some much needed rest.

Got Sleep?
The Woombie Baby Swaddle Sponsors Swap The Biz NYC Networking Event

The Woombie (http://www.woombie.com), a popular swaddling solution for parents, launches "Got Sleep?" campaign targeting professional parents who are in dire need of more sleep! The Woombie is an official sponsor of Swap The Biz; the NYC event planning organizers love the baby swaddle sack!