Sheen Slings hosted it's first ever Sling Library session on Tuesday 16th Feb 2016 ... just over 2 years ago! I am so proud of how the Library and Consultancy service is grown - and so thankful to the 450+ families who have been through our doors since we opened and helped make Sheen Slings such a success and complete joy to run!
The key really has been those who have come - almost everyone who comes and signs our sign in sheet writes 'Friend' or 'Word of mouth' in response to the question "where did you hear about us?". Our amazing supporters have far out done Google and Facebook and flyers when it comes to getting the word out and I am just blown away by the support and amazing feedback I have had over the last two years!
Your support has meant that as demand has grown, so has our collection! In direct response to your requests and needs! We started in Feb 2016 with just 28 carriers and now we have 90! In particular, the long term stretchy wrap and Caboo hire schemes have been far more popular than I could have ever imagined! So while we started with 7 stretchy wraps and 2 Caboo, we now have 22 Stretchy wraps and 14 Caboo to keep up with demand!! Likewise, over 50% of our hires are Buckle carriers, so while we started with just 8 different Buckle carriers, we now have 35 - which includes 2 Twin carriers, 5 Toddler sized carriers, as well as 28 standard sized baby carriers!
I have also expanded my knowledge base - I completed the 3rd and final level of the Trageschule UK Babywearing Consultancy qualification in October 2016, and attended a number of CPD courses including on Babywearing in special circumstances, tandem carrying and understanding alignment - biomechanical and physiological considerations for post-partum carrying. Formal courses aside, I have also learnt a phenomenal amount from each and every family who has been through here. Everyone is different and different carriers work for different body shapes, different situations, different needs and different tastes! Each time I help fit a carrier I add to my experience of what works best in what circumstances and helps inform me when helping families explore what options would be best for them.
These last two years, settling into SW London have been just ace and I look forward to seeing how Sheen Slings continues to grow within the community for the next two years and beyond!
-Madeleine
