Professional Babywearing Training for Nurseries, Childminders, Nannies and Early Years settings
Learn to carry babies in slings and carriers safely and confidently within your childcare setting.
Professional Babywearing Workshops for safer, calmer childcare
Babywearing can transform the way you care for babies and young children in group or home settings — promoting emotional security, supporting development, and making daily routines smoother.
Our Babywearing for Professionals workshop is designed specifically for nurseries, early years settings, childminders, nannies, and au pairs who want to incorporate safe, developmentally appropriate baby and child carrying into their everyday practice.
We provide the knowledge, skills, and practical tools to use slings and carriers confidently — backed by evidence, adapted for real-world childcare settings.
Who is our Babywearing for Professionals Workshop for?
• Nursery staff (nursery practitioners, key workers, room leaders)
• NHS Staff - Midwives, and Health Visiting teams
• Children's Centre staff
• Childminders
• Early years professionals seeking to expand their childcare skills
• Nannies and au pairs
• Antenatal Educators and Doulas
Why Introduce Babywearing Into Your Setting?
Babywearing offers more than just a practical solution for busy days. It supports emotional wellbeing, strengthens connection, and encourages responsive caregiving—and its developmental impact is well-supported by research.
Evidence shows that close physical contact plays a critical role in early brain development. Skin-to-skin and upright carrying can help regulate infant heart rate, temperature, and breathing, and contribute to the development of secure attachment—key for long-term social and emotional health. Being held in a sling also provides rich vestibular and proprioceptive input, which supports motor coordination, postural control, and spatial awareness.
Research into infant neurobiology has shown that babies experience reduced cortisol levels (stress hormone) when held close by a responsive caregiver. These moments of regulated co-regulation shape neural pathways responsible for emotional resilience and social connection.
When used safely, slings and carriers become more than tools of convenience—they are an extension of responsive, developmentally attuned caregiving, with benefits for both children and the adults caring for them.
• Babywearing helps babies settle, sleep, and regulate more easily
• Carrying strengthens bonds between children and caregivers
• Slings and carriers enable hands-free care while meeting emotional needs
• Babywearing supports safe, responsive transitions in the day
• Carrying adds a high-quality, evidence-informed offer to your setting
• Slings and carrier use boosts staff confidence, morale, and skillset
Whether you're caring for young babies in a nursery room or supporting a range of ages as a childminder, safe babywearing can transform your daily routines.
A Values-Led Approach to Babywearing Education
This training was developed with a deep respect for the realities of modern childcare, and the babies at the centre of it. Every part of it is grounded in what we know about infant development, connection, and safety, but also in what we see daily in early years practice: overstretched staff, unsettled babies, and the desire to offer more responsive care.
Babywearing, when used safely, bridges that gap. It helps create calmer days, more connected care, and stronger teams. This course is designed to build professional confidence in a tool that supports responsive care. Helping children feel secure, soothed, and consistently supported by the adults around them.
What’s Included in the Babywearing for Professionals Training
Online Learning Module (approx. 2.5 hours, self-paced)
What babywearing offers babies and caregivers in early years care
Supporting attachment, emotional regulation, and sensory needs through close contact
How carrying supports physical development: spine, hips, airway
Safety principles in depth (TICKS, supervision, carrier fit)
Contraindications and when not to carry
Understanding common sling types (stretchy wraps, buckles, ring slings)
Babywearing policies, handling procedures, and safeguarding considerations
Risk assessments: what you need to consider when babywearing in a professional setting
In-Person Workshop (approx. 3 hours)
Hands-on practice with a variety of carriers and slings
Safe and confident fitting for one child at a time (babies to toddlers)
Adjusting carriers for different caregivers and body types
Supporting safe routines: nappy changes, nap transitions, outdoor wear
Real-world troubleshooting and practice embedding safe use
Team-based safety planning and risk assessment exercises
Post-Workshop Support
3 months of email support
Preferential rates on slings and carriers for use in settings
Access to fitting demo videos and visual guides
Completion certificate (professional development)
Editable risk assessment templates for in-house use
Sample babywearing policy guide
Please note: Each setting remains responsible for completing its own risk assessments, ensuring insurance cover, and meeting regulatory requirements.
Training Options & Pricing
Group In-Person Workshop
£395 for up to 6 participants
+£50 per additional person (maximum 10)
Online-Only Professional Development Course
£175 per participant
Includes online learning and a certificate of completion
Workshops are available within your setting, around Hertfordshire and local areas. Additional travel costs may apply.
Need a bespoke session for your team or local network? Let us know—we’re happy to tailor training to your needs.
About the trainer
Jilly Clarke is a perinatal educator, babywearing consultant, and the founder of Hertfordshire Slings.
With over 10 years’ experience supporting families and professionals across pregnancy, birth, and early parenting, Jilly specialises in helping people feel confident, capable, and connected.
She is trained in sling safety, babywearing instruction, and infant development, and brings a uniquely practical and empathetic approach to her workshops—grounded in both evidence and lived experience.
This training reflects her belief that safe, responsive care can change a child’s day—and that early years professionals deserve the tools and support to offer it.
FAQs - For Early Years Professionals
What age of children can we carry in slings and carriers during the training?
The training focuses on safe, developmentally appropriate carrying for babies and toddlers. We explore suitable carrier types and fitting for children typically up to around 2 years, depending on weight, development, and setting policies. Although many carriers allow for carrying up to age 6.
Is babywearing safe to use in nursery and group settings?
Yes—when done correctly, babywearing is safe and supportive in early years environments. We cover key safety principles, supervision considerations, and how to assess risk within your daily routines.
Do we need our own slings or carriers to take part?
No—carriers will be provided during the practical workshop. If your setting already has slings in use, you're welcome to bring them along so we can help you use them safely.
Does this babywearing training count toward our CPD?
Yes, all participants receive a certificate of completion that can be included in CPD records. While not formally accredited, the course is designed to support professional development.
Can we carry more than one child at a time?
No—this training covers safe carrying of one child at a time only. Tandem carrying or specialist needs are not covered within the course. Please contact Jilly if your setting requires this.
How does babywearing support early development?
Carrying in a sling supports vestibular and proprioceptive development, emotional regulation, secure attachment, and physical growth (when positioning is correct). We explain the evidence and practical impact throughout the training.
How do we manage risk and policies for babywearing in our setting?
The training includes editable risk assessment templates and guidance for writing a babywearing policy. Each setting is responsible for finalising its own documents and checking insurance coverage.
Is this training suitable for childminders or individual practitioners?
Yes. We offer online-only options for individuals, or can include childminders and nannies in small group sessions locally.
FAQs - for Health Professionals
Can this training help me support families who are unsure about using slings?
Yes. The course equips you with up-to-date knowledge on safe use, developmental benefits, and when to seek additional support. You’ll feel more confident offering informed, practical guidance to new parents—especially those navigating conflicting advice or unfamiliar with babywearing.
Is this training suitable for NHS teams like midwives and health visitors?
Yes. While health professionals won’t be carrying babies in their role, this training helps you offer accurate guidance on safe sling use, support families with practical advice, and recognise when babywearing might benefit bonding or regulation.
What will I learn as a healthcare professional?
You'll understand the core safety principles (airway, hip positioning, supervision), benefits of babywearing for infant development and regulation, and how to assess carrier fit during routine visits or discussions.
How is this relevant to infant feeding, bonding, or postnatal care?
Babywearing can support responsive feeding cues, parent-infant bonding, and emotional wellbeing. It can be a helpful tool in supporting families where mental health, attachment, or hands-free caregiving is a consideration.
Can we book this training for a health visiting or maternity team?
Absolutely. Sessions can be tailored for group bookings within NHS trusts, and adapted for awareness-raising or deeper professional learning.
Does this training replace specialist babywearing consultant training?
No. This course gives health professionals a confident understanding of safety and developmental alignment, but does not replace formal consultant training.
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