I am supporting The UP Baby Project

February 7, 2015February 7, 2015Leave a comment

On Monday 2nd February at 8pm The UP Baby Project CIC launched its Crowdfunder page. I am a director of The UP Baby Project and this is a personal plea to all of you. The UP Baby Project is a Community Interest Company which aims to bring slings and carriers, and the knowledge how to use them, to families in need. Our mission is ‘Carrying Children, Supporting Families’. Our Crowdfunder page had raised 50% of our total in 3 hours and 100% of our a target in less than 72 hours. We are now stretching our target in a hope to raise even more money. The money we raised in our initial 3 days will help fund our work while we apply for funding from other organisations. The additional funding we make over our target, will allow us to train even more consultants across the country in our policies and procedures and get them advanced DBS checked.

Want to see who we help? Then watch our crowd funder video.

Our initial target was £1550! We are currently at £1898 and we still have 23 days of the crowd funder page left to go. Can we reach our stretch target? £4050 and train 50 more consultants? Please if you can #supportUP. There are 99 people currently supporting us in our crowd. Help us to help more families in need by pledging. There are some amazing rewards available and pledges as low as £5. With cut price slings, covers, consults, sling hire etc there is something for you. Even just an anonymous donation! Please help and remember #theonlywayisUP

Thank you

Rachel

Should we stop using the term ‘babywearing’?

February 1, 2015February 1, 20151 Comment

I am extremely lucky. I have had two pregnancies and I have two babies. I know other are not so blessed. My boys are my world and even though they are 5 and 2 they will forever be my babies. I have carried them through pregnancy, in my arms and in a variety of slings and carriers. I have also used the term “babywearing” a lot but now I am thinking; should we really use it?

The term Babywearing was first used by Dr Sears and is one of his 7B’s of Attachment Parenting. I never thought I would be an AP parent and until Henry was about 4 months old I had never heard of it or Dr Sears, let alone babywearing. As I come through the trials of new parenthood and we are now in the “big boy” categories of preschool and school age I looked back at how I choose to parent and I did what was natural and seemingly unconsciously based my parenting on what understanding of child development and psychology I learnt during my degree. Using a sling was just a) practical and b) what seemed like the best way of keeping my little one close while I carried on. I did not start carrying Henry because I wanted to be seen to be an AP parent, because I was a hippy or want to carry some form of fashion accessory.

Yet my website states I am a babywearing consultant; by using it am I somehow making light of what I do? Or why we carry our babies? Does it create an us and them barrier? Does it make people think I won’t help them with their high street carrier? Does it make assumptions that I want everyone to use wraps? Does it make people think if they do x, y or z that I won’t help them? These questions bother me but it’s a term that is becoming more widely known and recognised. Do I stop using it because it upsets some groups and individuals or do I carry on, after all my babies will always be my babies? Or should we use something different? Baby carrying? Am I simply a Carrying Consultant?

Finding an answer to these questions is not going to be easy. While I know some organisations refuse to use the term babywearing I am not sure where I sit. But life is not black and white. As an industry we may never find a solution either. So in the meantime I might just plod in as I am.

Consultations packages – what is available?

January 19, 2015January 20, 2015Leave a comment

What is a sling consultation?

Babywearing is an art which has been traditionally passed down from generation to generation, and friend to friend. However, in the UK the skills are less well known. In July 2011 I decided that I wanted to do something about this and so established the NE Sling Library using the knowledge I had gained since I learnt to carry my son. Very quickly I decided that I wanted to increase my professional knowledge and undertake further training. There are so many different baby carriers on the market that choosing one can be quite confusing.

I have trained with three different UK babywearing schools; including Trageschule, School of Babywearing and Slingababy. I am also a Born to Carry Tutor. These course have given me a detailed and indepth understanding of the different slings and carriers on the market, and the skills to be able to help you on your carrying journey. As a babywearing consultant it is my aim to help you find the best way to carry your baby. I use the knowledge I have about your baby’s anatomy and different carriers to help you find the best solution. I have a variety of different carriers to choose from. Standard (90 and 60 minute) consultations include the hire of one sling for a minimum of two weeks. I have professional, product and public liability insurance and am fully trained to offer consultations. For your peace of mind I am also a member of the British Association of Babywearing Instructors and Baby Carrier Industry Alliance.

I serve the whole north east – County Durham, Sunderland, Newcastle, Northumberland, Teeside, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and beyond. I offer consultations from my designated consultation room at 13 Brecken Way, Meadowfield, Durham, DH7 8UZ. Price can include travel within DH1 AND DH7 postcodes but if I travel to you, (I can travel further afield I simply ask that my expenses are covered) this limits what I can bring. Also please check before booking that the appointment you wish to select is suitable for an at home visit in case I already have appointments booked at home. Consultations are held on Wednesdays and Thursday’s. Other days available by request but are subject to convenience fees. To book simply visit our online booking system.

What packages are available?

It is my aim to find the type of appointment suitable for you and your babies needs, and as such offer a variety of different types. Standard, follow up and paired consultations include sling hire for a minimum of 2 weeks. I have an online booking system which allows you to choose and book your own appointment at a time and date that is convenient for you.

Standard Consultation– £30 for 90 minute appointment (£25.00 for 1hour). This is designed for one baby and their parents. I discuss with you your requirements, benefits of babywearing etc, before offering demos of different types of slings/carriers. You then get the chance to practise using either your baby if you wish or a weighted demo doll. At the end of the appointment you are able to select one sling from the NE Sling Library to take home for a 2 week complimentary period (usual deposit fees remain although these are refundable). If during this period you find the sling isn’t right for you it is possible to swap it for a different carrier (subject to it being in stock).

Paired and Group Consultations – £45 for 90 minutes (2 babies). This type of consultation is designed for groups of similar aged babies. The price includes sling hire fo up to 2 babies and additional hire can be arranged for groups up to a maximum of 4 at the additional rate of £5 per sling. Context of consultation remains as close to the standard consultation as possible.

Follow up Consultation – £18 for up to an hour. This appointment is for people who have previously had a Standard Consultation but want more advice, support, practise etc. Again it includes a 2 week hire from the NE Sling Library at the end of the appointment.

Sling demo – £15 for 45 minutes. This is package is aimed at expectant parents who want to be introduced to different slings before their baby is born. During this appointment I briefly explain the benefits of Babywearing before showing you the different styles of carriers on the market and how they work.

Sling Clinic Slots – £18 for 60 minutes. If you already own a specific sling and want to learn how to use it this is the appointment for you. Or finding something isn’t quite working for you and want to solve it. Does not include sling hire although this can be arranged at normal hire rate.

Workshop Wednesday’s – £10 per person (56p booking fee if paying by card). Workshop Wednesdays are a small group workshop held on 1st Wednesday of each month and focus on a specific sling or skill. They are advertised on our Facebook page.

Born to Carry Peer Support Courses – Although I arrange courses myself, if you have a group of friends or colleagues who would like to undertake a Babywearing Peer Support Course these can be arranged privately.Born to Carry are a UK network of highly trained, qualified and insured tutors. We have a variety of backgrounds from teaching to medicine. These courses cover safety, benefits of babywearing and practical sessions on using and optimising carriers. A minimum of 2 participants to ensure course runs with a maximum of 8.

Bump to Baby Package – £50. This package is designed in 3 parts and would be ideal as a gift to expectant parents or for parents wanting to get to grips with slings from the start. It includes a 30 minute antenatal sling demo. When baby is here I can either come to you (although this limits how many slings I can bring) or you can come to me for a full 90 minute Standard Consultation (this allows for baby to be fed, changed etc and refreshments for parents). You will then get to select the sling you feel most comfortable with or that you feel is right for you from the NE Sling Library to take for an extended 4 week hire period. If during this time you feel this isn’t the sling for you it is possible to swap it for one of the others you tried during the consultation. The final part of the package is a Follow up consultation. This can be immediately after the 4week hire period or at any point in the next 6 months, and again includes a complimentary hire from the NE Sling library (2week period).

Born To Carry Training

January 17, 20153 Comments

This is why I am a Born to Carry tutor.

Exactly who am I then?

January 17, 2015January 17, 2015Leave a comment

I am Rachel but exactly who am I? Well basic stats I am 31, 5’10 and 10 stone. I mum of two boys and a wife. I am a qualified history teacher but no longer teach; instead I am a Stay at Home Mum. But is that me? Am I destined to be doing the school run and mums taxi for next 15 years or so?

Well I am also a Carrying Consultant and Sling Librarian. I suppose that makes me a business woman. After all I had to register as self employed when I started the library in 2011. I have trained with three UK Babywearing schools, I write for Close Enough to Kiss, blog and moderate for Natural Mamas, have maintained the sling directory for UK Sling Libraries Network since 2011 and for past year acted as Calin Bleu’s expert. I recently took on a directorship of The Up Baby Project UK CIC. Finally I am also a course tutor for Born to Carry helping educate the next generation of peer supporters.

My life is therefore a full one but plagued by anxiety. I can’t help but feel something is missing from it and that others want me to fail. So, if you ask me how I am I may say busy or I may burst into tears. Am I happy? I am. I just need to get the demons put back in their box.

Slings and More

Helping the NE carry their babies big and small since 2011