South London Sling Library

New dates for our Baby Café pop-ups... next one is this week!

💜 Friday 20th June, Baby Cafe Penge - booking now open (🔗 link in bio)
💜 Monday 14th July, Baby Cafe Penge - bookings open 30th June
💜 TBC if we'll have an August pop-up because of the summer hols - watch this space.

Wanting to give reusable nappies a go, but not sure where to start? We're bringing back cloth nappy corner, and this month lovely and will be on hand to chat through the basics for beginners. No need to book for this bit, just come along and say hello!

We're lucky to have Martha joining us for June, and Becca stepping in when we head over to her neck of the woods in July. They're kindly volunteering their time and babywearing wisdom - which means we're able to add extra slots and offer more sling support! Head to the 🔗 link in bio to nab your spot for June before they go.

And as always, Baby Cafe itself runs every Friday at Christ Central Church in Penge, 1-3pm, as well as Mondays 1-3pm at Neighborhood Church in Beckenham. Drop in for breastfeeding support with a cake and cuppa, no need to book.

Whew - I'm now FULLY BOOKED until after the school hols! I'm next available for private consultations again from 28 April, and if you're organised and like to plan ahead feel free to get in touch now to book in once I reopen.

Otherwise over the next month you'll find me...

💜 Offering HIRES throughout from Penge HQ, with lots of flexibility for collection. Need something for a hike, day out or holiday? Get in touch 🌞

💜 With Mel at the meetup in Poplar on Thurs 3 April - head to her profile for booking info.

💜 At my next FREE Baby Cafe Pop-Up on 25 April. Booking link in my bio, bookings open from 11 April at 1pm. They tend to get snapped up so do bookmark the link and stick a reminder in your calendar! 🗓️

💜At with Becca on Weds 30 April - head to for updates and booking nearer the time.

If you need 1:1s in the meantime, here's some other lovely London babywearing peeps with some availability over the coming weeks:

• in Crystal Palace and in Sydenham for home visits around South East and South London (both regular volunteers at our Baby Cafe Pop-Ups 🥰)

• .ed for library sessions in East Dulwich and West Norwood

• for private consultations, library sessions and home visits in South West London

• in Woolwich for private consultations and home visits in South East London

FREE Drop-In Babywearing Support - new dates for early 2025:

- Friday 17 January
- Friday 7 February
- Friday 7 March
- Friday 25 April

- 1pm-3pm BUT arrive before 1.30pm as sessions get busy!
- No booking needed
- Baby Cafe Penge, Christ Central Church, SE20 7JA

Come along to get expert help and information from experienced, qualified and insured babywearing consultants. Bring a sling or carrier you already have for a fit check, or try one of ours.

Running alongside and kindly hosted by Baby Cafe Penge, for breastfeeding support with a cake and a cuppa (find Baby Cafe Penge on Facebook for their latest updates).

Sessions tend to be busy so we can usually only focus on one thing, with up to 10 min per family - but we aim to offer everyone as much support as the time allows! If there's something particular you'd like to see, please drop us a message in advance so we know to bring it along.

Please note we can't usually teach back carrying or support more complex situations in this setting, but can offer advice and signposting as appropriate.

   

Time for an introduction post. I'm Bethan, the new face behind South London Sling Library. Hi! 👋🏻 Wonderful Sarah has moved on to new adventures by the sea, and I've taken up the baton to help all you lovely families of South London and beyond to carry your little ones safely, comfortably and confidently.

I say "new face", but I've been volunteering with the Sling Library and in the local community for the last 5 years, so we might have met at a busy library pop up... Or you might know me from the local playground / playgroup circuit where I'm often running round after my little ones (that's my youngest in the photo, though he's a wee bit bigger now!).

I'm offering private in-person consultations in Penge, SE20. I can work with you to get to grips with a carrier you already have, help you find something new with recommendations tailored to your needs, or help you with new skills, advice and information for any stage of your carrying journey. You can hire our carriers to road test before you invest in your own. I also pop up here and there for talks and sling support sessions. This week I'll be back at to share some babywearing love, with more community bits coming soon - please watch this space!

Head over to the website (in bio) to find out more, or drop me an email to arrange an appointment or hire. Looking forward to meeting you! B x



[Image Description:
A mum is carrying her 10-month-old baby on her front, in a blue, chrysanthemum-patterned woven wrap. Both are smiling. The mum has a short fringe and big glasses. They are standing in front of a colourful mural on a sunny day.]

You are ABSOLUTELY allowed to take your baby with you when you vote! Get out there today- you’ve got until 10pm! What sling did you wear to your Polling Station?

If you’d like an appointment before we close for a few weeks - GET IN THERE NOW! There’s availability in the Sling Support Session at St Peter’s Brockley on Monday, I’ll be at The Village in Catford on Wednesday & I have space in the afternoon of Thurs 27th - then that’s it until after Moving Day! All spaces at Brockley & Lewisham can be booked through the website (link in bio). Spaces at need to be booked through their website.

South London Sling Library is moving to Penge! 🎉📦🤪 Please excuse us if there’s a delay in replying to your emails - the decluttering/packing is in full flow here. If you have an appointment booked for Lewisham, Brockley or Catford, please don’t panic- your appointment will go ahead as planned. The Sling Library will close completely at the end of June to allow us to pack the last bits, do the actual move, unpack & reorient ourselves. Well then have the usual limited availability over the summer (kids/school holidays/etc). Please bear with us during this season of change! ❤️

Very excited that our new Twin Carrier arrived this morning!! 😃 Thanks to for getting them in SO fast! Videos coming to YouTube as soon as I can!

If you need help with a sling/carrier this week, this is how/where you can find me! It’s a busy one, but there’s still some spaces left in our Sling Support Sessions. Come & say Hi in Brockley at , Catford at or Crystal Palace at .cch
If you’d prefer a Private Consultation, for example to go through a variety of slings/carriers, then I still have spaces in Hither Green on Friday. Hope to see you soon! 👍🏼

Happy International Women’s Day to all of you! If you identify as a woman, what are you doing today to lift up the women around you? Tell about a special woman in your life.

We’re at today, 1-3pm or .cch in Crystal Palace (Westow Street) on Thursday, 10.30-12.30. Book a 15min slot & you’re welcome to bring a sling/carrier you own, or try one of ours - whatever works! Sling/carrier hire available too. Book your slot via my website - link in bio. See you there. 😁

This is your monthly reminder to check if the seat on your carrier is adjustable & whether or not you need to adjust it. Supporting your baby from the back of one knee to the back of the other knee helps them to feel lighter, as it distributes the weight around your body. Your baby should be able to comfortably bend their knees over both sides of the carrier seat. If the seat is already on its widest setting but does not go from knee to knee, (as long as your baby does not have a hip problem & you don’t have a family history of hip problems) it’s not going to cause any harm to your baby. However, you may both feel more comfortable in a sling/carrier that does provide knee-to-knee support. Post a pic of your sling/carrier if you’re not sure & I’ll help you find the adjustment mechanism.