FOUNDER & BABYWEARING CONSULTANT

Hi, I'm Katrina, I'm a certified Trageschule babywearing consultant and have also completed the School of Babywearing course. Alongside West Pennine Slings, I run Hold Close Consultancy to offer 1 to 1 support.

My journey started with my two wonderful children, Matilda and Corben. From the day Matilda was born, she made it very clear that she did not want to be put down, ever! Desperate for a solution, I bought a stretchy wrap, fell in love with babywearing, and have never looked back. As other parents started asking for recommendations, my passion turned into West Pennine Slings.

BABYWEARING CONSULTANT

Hi, I'm Anne - I'm a mum of 3 boys, who are all too old to want carrying these days. I started carrying back in 2008 because I have a number of autoimmune diseases and bits of me don't work properly, carrying saved my sanity, sore hands and ease of getting into toilets! I started going to the sling library in 2012 with baby #2 and just never left! 

I peer support trained in 2015 with Trageschule then did my consultancy training in 2017 with Slingababy. I'm also a breastfeeding peer supporter and Orange badge (mental health support) holder. I'm disabled, neurospicy and goth.

BABYWEARING ADVOCATE

I was scared to death when I found out I was going to be a dad, but audiobooks introduced me to babywearing before my daughter, Charlotte, was even born. I knew right away it was something I wanted to do. I started with a stretchy wrap and was gutted when she outgrew it. Looking for help, I found WP Slings; Anne recommended a Scootababy, which became my favourite carrier.

Since joining the group in 2021, I’ve used many carriers and completed courses in babywearing, walk-leading, and breastfeeding. Charlotte is at school now but still attends during the holidays. We’ve made lovely friends at the group and on the walks. Outside of babywearing, I teach Spanish.

BABYWEARING ADVOCATE

Hi, I’m Laura! I’ve been volunteering with West Pennine Slings for over a year. When my daughter was a baby and sleep was hard to come by, finding this friendly local group was an absolute lifesaver. They taught me how to babywear safely and helped me find a carrier we both loved.

I wanted to volunteer so I could pay that amazing support forward to other local parents. While I’m not a fully certified consultant, I’m always here to help you with fit checks, carrier recommendations, and a friendly chat!

BABYWEARING ADVOCATE

I'm Alex, mum of four grown humans, I'm a Breastfeeding Counsellor primarily and work with lots of new parents. I remember how life changing it was being able to hold my babies close and still have two hands for wrangling other children and eating meals. My youngest spent most of his first year snuggled against my chest and it made him so content and that made everyone's life easier!

I've known Katrina and Anne since 2014 when they used to bring the library to a group I ran. I trained as a Baby Carrying Peer Supporter with West Pennine Slings in the summer of 2023, I love coming to the group, although due to work commitments, I don't get there as often as I'd like! I now use my knowledge base to help parents use their slings safely in the groups I run, in pregnancy and early postnatal support visits. 

BABYWEARING ADVOCATE

I'm Evie - mother to 14 month old Rosa. I got introduced to babywearing and the Sling Library at a health and wellbeing event in the park and I ended up going home with a stretch wrap. From near enough the day she was born I carried my daughter everywhere in that stretch wrap. I loved the closeness of having her on my chest, the freedom it gave me to wander wherever I felt like, how it helped me rebuild my strength after a c section and how happy and content Rosa was wrapped up in her little cacoon. Since then I've used the sling library to try all sorts of slings! 

Babywearing shaped my motherhood journey completely and I would love to help other mothers discover the incredible benefits of babywearing too. I have also found a lovely feeling of friendship and community within the sling library groups and would love to spread the joy!