Free Baby Carriers – Helping Hands

The reason I took over South London Sling Library was because I want to help people. I want people to be able to carry their babies safely & comfortably, for as long as they want or need to. I want babies & their parents to have all of the benefits of babywearing – here are just a few:
Happy Babies – Research shows that babies held in a sling or a carrier regularly, cry an average of around 40% less. They are calmed by your heartbeat, movements & rhythm of your breathing.
Increased Milk Production – According to research, keeping your baby close to your body during the first few weeks, increases the amount of milk you produce for the duration of your breastfeeding journey.
Postnatal Recovery – Simply walking, with your baby held high on your chest, improves your posture & your core strength, without a complicated exercise routine.
Sleep – You may find that baby settles more quickly & naps for longer if you carry them in a sling or carrier. It also means you can go out & about while your baby naps.
*Bonding & Postnatal Depression – Keeping your baby close can help with bonding & help to reduce symptoms of postnatal depression.
*To find out more about the benefits of babywearing see this post from Dr Rosie Knowles: Carrying Matters.

To try to enable families on a low income to access help with slings or baby carriers, I have launched the Helping Hands Scheme.

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If you have a baby of 8 weeks or under & are in receipt of:
Healthy Start Vouchers, or
Income Support, or
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or
Child Tax Credit (with a family income of £16,190 or less per year)
Universal Credit (with a family take home pay of £408 or less per month)
OR
If you are 18 or younger, regardless of income or benefits, you can come along to one of our Helping Hands Sessions. (If you are in receipt of one of these, but your baby is older than 8wks, please get in touch & I’ll see what I can do for you.)

Our Helping Hands Sessions run (usually) on the 3rd Monday of the month at our Crystal Palace venue & costs just £5 per family. At the sessions we have a variety of slings & carriers which you can try, mostly donated by us & our previous customers, & when you find one that works well for you, you can take it home – FOR FREE! We will teach you how to use it, & how to be sure that you are safe & secure – all we ask is that when you’ve finished with the carrier, that you either return it to us, or give it to someone else for free AND teach them how to use it safely. You can find out more about the Helping Hands Scheme & your eligibility here.

Most of the carriers in our Helping Hands Scheme are donated by other sling library users. If you have a carrier that you would like to donate, please read the details here & get in touch.