A sling helps with your baby’s sleep, heart rate, hormone and temperature regulation, is good for their hips, spine and core muscles and helps develop their sense of balance. It also allows you (the parent) to be active, which will help allay post natal depression and aid recovery after birth. A sling is the most complete way of making your baby feel safe and calm.
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How we can help you
1-1 consultation. Try from our full range of slings in the privacy of your own home at a time to suit you. No pressure consults are a relaxed way to learn in your own time with a friendly member of the team able to provide professional fitting and advice. £20 locally, +fuel if further away. We can observe and discuss fit giving verbal assistance to get the best fit from your sling. We wont be able to physically assist or provide alternative slings at the time. This is a good option for someone who knows exactly what they want and has their own sling already, but is looking for reassurance. If you don't already own a sling, we can arrange for you to borrow one (we can send to you or you can pick up from my house). If you are still pregnant, you can use a teddy bear or other baby sized soft toy as your pretend baby (but a cushion will do!). In an hour consultation (£20) we can show you most types of sling available with a quick demo of each and you select one you want us to go into more detail. We can then post you a sling. New stretchy wraps are usually around £30 - We can still show you/help you with a sling if you can't afford to pay us ..just ask! Regular sling walks in Weymouth, Dorchester and surrounding areas - see events for time and place of next walk. Don't worry if you've never used a sling - we can help :) The walks are gentle and last up to an hour followed by a stop for tea and cake. Walks are free but we do ask for a £2 donation to cover costs if possible for you.
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About us
Hi, I am Mary-Clare Buckle. I have been helping parents with birth, parenting, baby slings and natural health/nutrition for about 25 years. I ran a home birth support group, helped start the first Doula Birth companion courses in the UK and am currently training with The Breastfeeding Network in breastfeeding support. I have written about my experiences breastfeeding twins for print magazines. I trained to run antenatal classes with Calm Family (founded originally by parenting book author Sarah Ockwell-Smith). I am trained as a Sling/Baby Carrier Consultant (with School of Babywearing) - working with parents in the antenatal and postnatal periods - and used to volunteer at the (now closed) Dorchester NCT (National Childbirth Trust) 'Sling Meet'. I run West Dorset Slings with Shona Hale and Cecilia Bawden (see our page). I’m a Sling Consultant (School of Babywearing) and used to volunteer at the Dorchester NCT Sling Meet. I am also trained to run classes ante and post-natally to help you understand your baby. I also am a post-natal doula and can come and help you adjust to life with your new baby :) I run regular group workshops or can help you individually if necessary. Just message or ring me :)
Contact Mary-Clare on 07775 656782
Hi, I'm Shona Hale of Amba Birth and Beyond. My first experience with slings was over a decade ago. A lovely lady taught me how to use a bath towel as a wrap for a back carry! Since then I have used a range of slings and carriers, first for my sister's children and then, in more recent years, my own. I have carried both babies and toddlers. I have carried individually, in tandem, and while pregnant. Alongside Babywearing, I'm also a Doula providing antenatal birth preparation courses, support through births, induction information workshops, perinatal massage, postnatal closing massage, and trained breastfeeding support. I support families privately and through local groups. I enjoy research and my primary fascination is the childbearing years. I am truly passionate about supporting bodily autonomy and educated, informed decision making. I don't believe that maternity care can be formulated with a one-size fits all pathway. Each body, each baby, each circumstance is unique. My role is to support you in figuring out and traveling the path that is right for You. I'm Cecilia Bawden, a practicing midwife and babywearing peer supporter (trained with Born to Carry). I started babywearing immediately after the birth of my son and haven't stopped since! I've used a range of carriers and woven wraps to find what works for our family, and love being able to help others carry their babies comfortably as part of their parenting toolkit. To read a testimonial written by one of Shona’s doula clients please see this link https://www.facebook.com/pg/Amba-Bump-Beyond-269100137368305/reviews/?ref=page_internal
Contact Shona on 07454 000230
Some testimonials:
We had such a wonderful experience of pregnancy and birth and a huge thanks to everyone who helped and inspired us along the way! Mary-Clare Buckle, Shona Hale and Kim Jones LG Dorchester
“Thank you I just really want to make it work! She does love the wrap and I was able to cook the tea while she cuddled in xx” HG Chickerell
“Individual service where they tailored our session to focus on what I wanted and needed. Really positive experience and can't recommend enough. Started at 11 weeks so it's never too late to start baby wearing. Have a feeling this will be a game changer and enable me to do so much more with my LO”. DM Dorchester
“Can’t recommend Mary-Clare enough. Lovely lady, extremely knowledgeable xx” JE Dorset
Had a great morning with the ladies from West Dorset Slings. They are very knowledgeable and were able to give me the perfect pointers to iron out the issues I was having with my wrap. One happy mum and one very snug baby! KC Weymouth
Thank you Mary-Clare and Shona for helping me choose a new sling for my 15 month old. He was too big for my current one so I needed a new larger one to carry him comfortably on my back. I suffer from fibromyalgia, so comfort is key and it was important that I could adjust it easily myself and spread the weight. The winner by far was the mei tai and I am delighted with the one I have now purchased. Great advice and highly recommend! BC Dorchester
Hello Mary-Clare 😊
You helped me lots about my baby's sleeping when i really really needed someone's help. You helped my emotions as well. Your sling helped my baby and me. I never ever forget about your support. My boy will be 7 years old next month 😊 # # #
