FAQs

A sling library exists to help people find the right sling or carrier to enable them to carry children from newborn up to toddlers and preschoolers. A sling library will have a wide variety of slings and carriers in their stock, and have a far bigger range than any high street shop. Here at Wirral Sling Library we have more than 80 slings and carriers in our inventory from 26 different brands!

Wirral Sling Library provides services in three different ways, please see the individual pages for more details.

Consultations – A one to one appointment with a trained Babywearing Consultant in our Slings & Support space near Arrowe Park.

Workshops – Small groups can learn together led by a trained Babywearing Consultant on a set topic. You can join one of regular workshops or have one specially tailored to your group of friends, for example.

Wirral Sling Library -a pre-bookable Small group session, where you will be assisted by a Babywearing Consultant or Peer Supporter.

Please see available dates, and book online here https://wirralslinglibrary.as.me/schedule.php

We have a wide variety of slings and carriers in the library, which can be used for newborns up to pre-schoolers. We will help you to find the sling or carrier which suits your family best. You can see a guide to different sling and carrier types here.

You can view our current stock list here . If there is a specific sling which is in stock you can ask for this to be put aside for you, if you need help with fitting you will need to book an appointment, however if you have used the sling before and just wish to collect you don’t. If the specific carrier or sling you have in mind is not available we are usually able to offer a suitable alternative.

If the sling is out on hire, please contact us and we can advise when it is due back. We are relying on the current hirer returning it on time!

We are able to accept cards for hires via our provider Stripe, which is integrated with our electronic lending system myTurn. We can also accept cash and paypal. Please note that card details must be lodged against your account before a hire, as we do not hold deposits.

For workshops, consultations and advice without hire we accept cash , card or bank transfer.

Yes, we can! We can help you to use your own sling safely and comfortably. The only exception to this is if we do not feel the sling is safe for you or your child, in which case we would discuss this with you and provide further guidance

Yes, we are able to offer gift vouchers for Consultations, a Workshop or for a 4 week hire from our Library. These could make an ideal gift for expectant or new parents, or for a baby shower gift. Please Contact Us to arrange.

For the majority of our slings, the charges are as follows

4 Weeks £15

3 weeks £12

2 weeks £9

1 weeks £5

For the Ergobaby Omni, Tula Explore and Baby Bjorn harmony the charges are

4 weeks £20

3 weeks £16

2 weeks £13

1 week £7

We ask you to place a credit or debit on our electronic hire system myTurn, which acts as a deposit.

Most mums are able to breastfeed in most types of sling. We can help you to find the right combination for mother and baby at the Library, or in a one to one consultation. We will be able to advise on positioning and of course safety.

Slings are also suitable for those who bottle feed, again ensuring that this is done safely.

No, slings can be for anyone who spends time with your child who is happy to use one, and can do so safely. This could be dad, grandparents, uncles, or a childminder. They are a great way to encourage bonding and to provide a safe and familiar environment for the wee one. All are welcome to attend a Sling Library session, Workshop or a consultation tailored to your needs.

There are now thousands of videos on youTube showing how to use different types of slings and carriers. So why would you bother to come to a sling library session, or book a Workshop or Consultation?

1. Our sling library sessions are staffed by trained and insured Peer Supporters and Consultants. While a large proportion of videos are made by those with babywearing qualifications many are made by enthusiastic amateurs. Their techniques may or may not be safe or comfortable.
2. Most videos are made with a demo doll for a good reason… the most variable part of carrying a child is the child them self. In a face to face situation we can work both with a doll, and with your own child.
3. Being a parent can be isolating. Coming to a Sling Library session or workshop will get you out of the house and meeting up with other families with similar interests. Our library session even has a cafe with cake!

Following a sling library session, workshop or consultation we are able to signpost you to trusted videos to act as a reminder for what you have been shown.

Please contact us and we can advise other ways in which we can help you, for example out of hours sling collection.

If you cannot attend a Sling Library session to return your sling, you can either extend the hire (subject to the item not being reserved by another user) or arrange to return it to Wirral Sling library’s owner, in Bidston. Please note that slings remain your responsibility until returned to a member of the Wirral Sling Library team, and cannot be returned to the sling library venues outside of Sling Library hours.

Carrying Connects , our sister company, sells slings from a variety of brands, with free collection or delivery available on the Wirral. They may also be available at selected Sling Library drop in sessions.

For other sings and carriers , we are able to point you in direction of reputable suppliers for all of the slings and carriers that we have in the Library. We may be able to offer a discount code for some stockists, and we also keep an eye on any special offers running. Some of these discounts can be up to 10% so please do check in with us before you buy!

Here at Wirral Sling Library, we aim to act with integrity and honesty in everything that we do. We do not allow any links to particular retailers or brands influence what sling or carrier we may to suggest to you. If we receive any benefit from referral to a particular retailer, we will let you know this. An example of this is retailers that offer us a contribution to sample products for the Library based on referrals.