We’ve been asked recently why we have not applied for membership of the British Association of Babywearing Instructors (BABI). When BABI was setting up in 2011, shortly after we’d announced the launch of the School of Babywearing, we were excited at the prospect of a group representing babywearing consultants and were involved in the original BABI Yahoo group. BABI admission criteria included a requirement to have been running courses for two years which the School of Babywearing had not.

The new BABI proposals for Babywearing Schools and BABI members involve all BABI members voting on an application before a School is admitted and the right of the Board to veto any request (from a school or an individual) to join even if members have voted in favour. [Excerpt shown below is from the BABI School Admission Policy: http://babi.me.uk/babi-school-admission-policy/] This is out of keeping with our values of inclusion and transparency, both as a social enterprise and an adult learning provider.

We believe that trade associations should either, like the BCIA, warmly welcome anyone connected with the Babywearing industry (practising as a Babywearing Consultant in the case of BABI) or should have clearly defined, fair and reasonable entry requirements which, once met, can’t be overruled by members. To allow existing members to exclude prospective members who meet requirements is unfair in our view and we won’t be applying to join BABI while this practice continues.

For those babywearing educators looking for a professional association to join, we can highly recommend the BCIA and will shortly have news of how groups of educators can join together to share the membership costs.

Anyone keen to access insurance may be able to access one of the schemes that we have set up. Our original Babywearing Consultants insurance, set up in 2011, costs £62 per annum (£52 on renewal) and offers cover for those who have a qualification accredited by an educational body (of which the School of Babywearing is the only provider). But we have also set up another policy which is open to all qualified Babywearing Consultants and which costs £69.50 per annum and £29.50 while the Consultant is a trainee. All School of Babywearing courses include time as a trainee while the Consultant completes coursework and carries out evaluated consultations. The new policy, though offering lower levels of cover, does offer a reduced price option for this period and can then be upgraded to full cover. We also have a sling libraries insurance policy which has been operating for over a year now and can be tailored to fit the needs of individual sling libraries.

Please contact us for further details of any of our insurance policies or view our available training courses.

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The Peer Supporter course takes place on Friday 18th October, 2013 from 10am to 4pm. It is open to anyone with an interest in babywearing and especially designed for people who give information about slings and baby carriers through Sling Meets, sling libraries, antenatal classes or postnatal groups.

The Babywearing Consultancy training course is aimed at people who give (or would like to give) one-to-one advice to parents about choosing slings and baby carriers. It will qualify you to work as a Babywearing Consultant and you will be awarded a Level 3 qualification accredited by OCN. It takes place on:

Friday 18th October 5.30-8.30pm
Saturday 19th October  9.30am-5.30pm
Sunday 20th October 9.30am-4pm

Both training courses take place at: Theosophical Society: 28 Great King Street Edinburgh EH3 6QH. Map The Theosophical Society is a short walking distance from the Edinburgh Waverley Train Station. There are several cafes in the area for lunch or you can bring your own.

The Peer Supporter course takes place on Friday 1st February, 2013 from 10am to 4pm. It is open to anyone with an interest in babywearing and especially designed for people who give information about slings and baby carriers through Sling Meets, sling libraries, antenatal classes or postnatal groups.

The Babywearing Consultancy training course is aimed at people who give (or would like to give) one-to-one advice to parents about choosing slings and baby carriers. It will qualify you to work as a Babywearing Consultant and you will be awarded a Level 3 qualification accredited by OCN. It takes place on:

Friday 1st 5.30-8.30pm
Saturday 2nd 9.30am-5.30pm
Sunday 3rd 9.30am-4pm

Both training courses take place at: British Legion Hall, 121 High St, Cottenham, CB24 8SD. Pick up from station possible. Map

Remember that you can gain School of Babywearing consultant’s insurance as a trainee as soon as you have attended your course.

The Peer Supporter course takes place on Friday 22nd February, 2013 from 10am to 4pm. It is open to anyone with an interest in babywearing and especially designed for people who give information about slings and baby carriers through Sling Meets, sling libraries, antenatal classes or postnatal groups.

The Babywearing Consultancy training course is aimed at people who give (or would like to give) one-to-one advice to parents about choosing slings and baby carriers. It will qualify you to work as a Babywearing Consultant and you will be awarded a Level 3 qualification accredited by OCN. It takes place on:

Friday 16th 5.30-8.30pm
Saturday 17th 9.30am-5.30pm
Sunday 18th 9.30am-4pm

I just wanted to say how greatful I am that your were able to give me the oppourtunity to do the babywearing peer supporter course in Bristol. I learnt so much and this knowledge has given me great drive and insperation to keep moving with the sling library and meet. I really can’t thank you enough

Kind regards

Tammy

Thanks Tammy for being in touch. Keep us posted!

Did you enjoy your babywearing training, do let us know. We have feedback forms but if, in hindsight, you can think of anything else we can do to improve our training courses, do let us know.

• Babywearing Peer Support: Friday 25th January 2013
  From 10am – 4pm
  Places on this course have been subsidised and cost £90. (£72 Early Bird)
  We have two concessionary places available on this course. If you feel you’re eligible for a concessionary place, please contact us or note this on your application form.

The course is running at:

The Well at Willen
Newport Road
Willen
Milton Keynes MK15 9AA
Map Website

You’ll also have the chance to enter a prize draw with some great prizes for your group and there is another for the people who attend your event to enter. So far the prizes include:

• 5 limited edition Manduca carriers
• An Action Baby Carrier
• A Boba 3G Carrier plus Stuff Sack & Backpack
• Lots of Moby Wraps
• 3 Scootababy carriers
• Hana Baby bodysuits (Lovely Hana Baby wrap pictured here)
• A Maya wrap
• A Gumigem necklace (as also pictured here)
• Rock-A-Thigh Baby Socks
• Trendsetters Teething Pads 

To order your pack, pop over to Slumber Roo who are kindly putting the packs together for us and taking orders for them. And to see where events are taking place, or to let us know about your event, please see the Babywearing UK IBW page. You can also download a poster (JPG/PDF formats) that you can use to promote your event and a press release .