What is a Sling Library?

A sling library is a place where you can come to find out more about using a sling or carrier to hold your baby.

There are many benefits to babywearing –

  • Calming baby
  • Bonding with baby
  • Helping baby sleep
  • Holding them for longer
  • Having your hands free
  • Less expensive than a pram or pushchair
  • Can be used by all carers

There are many different types of slings available –

  • Snugiwrap-Purple
    Stretchy Wraps and Carriers
  • Ring Slings
  • Asian Style Carriers
  • Soft Structured Carriers and Buckles
  • Woven Wraps

If all the different options seem a little daunting to you then the library is the perfect place for you.  At a sling library you can –

  • Meet other families who enjoy babywearing
  • See other families using slings and carriers
  • Receive support and information from our trained babywearing peer support volunteers
  • See lots of different slings and carriers up close
  • Learn how to use different slings
  • Find out which carriers work best for your family
  • Take a sling home for one month for a small fee* to make sure it works for you and your family
  • Borrow a sling for one month for a small fee* to use on holiday or for a special event

(*no fee will be charged for families receiving Healthy Start vouchers, but a deposit is required for all sling loans)

There are sling libraries running across the UK, so here are some local to Kent –

Kent Sling Library currently run events in Sevenoaks District
North West Kent Sling Library currently run events in Rainham, Lordswood and Istead Rise
Have Child Will Carry currently run events in Tunbridge Wells
NCT Medway Sling Library currently run events in Medway
NCT Sittingbourne, Faversham and Sheppey Sling Library currently run events in Faversham
East Kent Sling Library currently run events in Sheerness, Canterbury District, Margate, Dover and Ashford
Mid Kent Babywearing currently run events in Maidstone
Bexley & District NCT Sling Library
South East Sling Library currently run events in Eastbourne
South London Sling Library
North London Sling Library
Central London Sling Library
Greenwich and Lewisham Sling Library

If you would like to read more about babywearing, here are some places to find information –

The Sheffield Sling Surgery website has some excellent resources –