Free newborn Sling Hire
I believe that every baby benefits from close and loving contact with their parents or carers. Strong evidence exists for the benefits of such close contact in the early weeks and months of a child’s life; one of the most important is the building of a strong and secure attachment relationship with the primary caregivers. The ongoing positive reinforcement of such a relationship is the foundation of strong and resilient future mental health, and can be a very helpful buffer against adverse childhood experiences. We believe that it is worth investing in children’s mental health right from the start, building resilience and self-esteem.
Unfortunately, the way we live now does not make it easy to care for children in such a responsive and nurturing way. There are many demands on our time and we do not belong to small communities where the parenting load can be shared among many.
Using a baby carrier is one way to bring all these things together. A carrier that is safe, makes baby feel loved and cared for, and that gives parents/carers their hands back, is a very valuable tool for any family.
Why have this Scheme?
The free stretchy/Caboo hire scheme is for all parents and carers in Warwickshire who have a baby under six weeks old. My aim is to reach parents in the early weeks, and to make slings accessible early on, so the benefits of carrying can begin as soon as possible and become part of the family foundations.
Why a stretchy wrap or a Close Caboo? This is because these carriers fit all sizes of baby and parent, are easy to wash and quick to dry, and do not have to be adjusted depending on whether babies have “unfolded” from their early days. Most babies love the feel of the all-round cuddle that is so reminiscent of their time in utero; these early months of wanting to be held on their parent/carer’s chest is commonly known as the “fourth trimester.”
Who is eligible?
Unfortunately, the way we live now does not make it easy to care for children in such a responsive and nurturing way. There are many demands on our time and we do not belong to small communities where the parenting load can be shared among many.
Using a baby carrier is one way to bring all these things together. A carrier that is safe, makes baby feel loved and cared for, and that gives parents/carers their hands back, is a very valuable tool for any family.
Why have this Scheme?
The free stretchy/Caboo hire scheme is for all parents and carers in Warwickshire who have a baby under six weeks old. My aim is to reach parents in the early weeks, and to make slings accessible early on, so the benefits of carrying can begin as soon as possible and become part of the family foundations.
Why a stretchy wrap or a Close Caboo? This is because these carriers fit all sizes of baby and parent, are easy to wash and quick to dry, and do not have to be adjusted depending on whether babies have “unfolded” from their early days. Most babies love the feel of the all-round cuddle that is so reminiscent of their time in utero; these early months of wanting to be held on their parent/carer’s chest is commonly known as the “fourth trimester.”
Who is eligible?
- All babies under 6 weeks (or premature babies under 6 weeks corrected)
- Either one stretchy wrap or Caboo per baby. Subsequent hires are chargeable at the usual rate.
- Four weeks free hire of a stretchy wrap or a Close Caboo. This is subject to availability and is only for these two carriers. You can swap from one to the other during the hire period.
- The slings can be hired from me at the fortnightly B2B coffee mornings in leek Wooten Village Hall. I am there every two weeks and there is no charge for my time.
Alternatively, you can arrange a time to collect a sling from my home in Leamington. I will give you a quick 5 minute demonstration of how to use the carrier and will make sure you feel confident in its use. There is a £5 fee for a booked appointment.
All slings are loaned with an email that contains videos and instructions attached. I also provide online support for queries and parents/carers can get hold of me again at the fortnightly coffee morning for tweaks and checks and help.
Hiring the stretchy wrap/Close Caboo- £15 refundable deposit to be paid at the start of the hire, and some form of identification is required. This can be paid by card, cash or paypal.
- Using the stretchy wrap/Close Caboo
- I will do a quick 5 minute demo on how to use your stretchy wrap or Caboo and will email you a number of instructional videos with some tips and tricks for further reference.
If you would like more in-depth teaching and support, please book a one-to-one consultation.
Returning the stretchy wrap/Close Caboo- The stretchy wrap/Close Caboo can be returned to me either at the B2B coffee morning or at my home in Leamington.
- You are welcome to return the sling before the four weeks is up. Alternatively, you may extend the hire for another fortnight, in which case, normal hire fees will apply.
If you wish to buy the sling, this is sometimes possible and I may offer it to you at a discounted rate depending on how new it is. If you would like your own brand new sling, I may have the one you like in stock so please do ask.
It is not possible to swap stretchy wraps/Close Caboos for the free hire of other types of carriers within this six weeks. If you wish to hire a different type of carrier, normal hire fees apply. - On return of the sling on the due date, the £15 deposit will be refunded in full.
- I will ask you to sign that you have received your deposit back (or chosen one of the alternatives below).
- Unreturned wraps/Caboos
- Please return your stretchy wrap/Close Caboo so I can continue to help other people.
- If the wrap/Caboo is not returned, the deposit is forfeit.
- If the wrap/Caboo is returned a few days late, I may be able to part-refund the deposit.
If it is returned four weeks late your deposit is used to pay for the second month.
Beyond the four weeks, my normal daily hire fee of £1 a day is charged and will accrue till return. - I reserve the right to charge for the cost of replacement should you fail to return your wrap/Caboo within a certain time frame.
If you have a baby older than six weeks and would like to try a range of baby carriers to find out which one is the best for your needs, please book a private one-to-one consultation.
You may also hire any sling of your choice from my small sling library.