Sling Hire Terms and Conditions
Contact details must be provided each time you hire a carrier/carriers with your full name, address, e-mail and mobile number. Loan charges will be recorded on a hire form for you using our online hire portal ‘MyTurn’ or on a paper form if there are no internet facilities currently available. The information will be added to ‘MyTurn’ at a later time and paper either returned to the client or destroyed. This information together with details of the carrier(s) hired, any accessories and return date(s) will also be added to this data base. ‘MyTurn’ will send automated emails to remind clients of return dates and membership renewals.
Loan Cost and Duration
o Up to two carriers may be borrowed at any time.
o The standard loan period is up to 2 weeks. You may borrow a carrier for a longer period by adding additional weeks before your loan hire is up. If doing this, please check the listing to ensure the carrier isn't reserved for any of the time period you'd like.
o Each carrier loan costs £10/£25 (depending on membership) for between 2 to 6 weeks.
o Providing the carrier is not reserved, the hire period may be extended up to a total of 8 weeks. If you would like to rehire, we will need to see the carrier at the end of those 8 weeks before renewing the agreement. Payment must be made before each additional hire period commences.
Payment Methods
o Loan costs are payable in advance by card, PayPal or bank transfer if hired in person at a Consultation or at a library session.
o Loan deposits are payable in advance by card, PayPal or bank transfer.
Late Returns
o For any days overdue that had not been agreed by us we will charge an initial £5 admin fees and £1 per day late fee. These fees will be deducted from your card details via Stripe.
o Under adverse or unforeseen circumstances we may reduce or waive fines for late returns as long as the late period is less than 7 days and has been fully agreed by us before the end of the loan period.
o Under extreme circumstances, fines may be waived at our discretion.
Standard Carrier Loans
o Returns should be made to the appropriate sling library session. The slings should be handed to either Sarah Lawson, Sarah Smith, Tia Buxtonor Leanne Glasscoo so that it can be checked before you leave.
o The carrier may be returned as a door stop return to either Sarah Lawson in Kidbrooke, Sarah Smith or Leanne Glasscoo in Charlton at an agreed time. If this agreement is not met by you not turning up at the arranged time, this will incur a £10 fee.
Condition of the Carrier
o All carriers are checked before lending to ensure they are in good condition and working order. The borrower may check the condition of the carrier prior to the start of the loan and inform us before leaving of any concerns.
o It is the borrower's responsibility to check over the carrier before every use. Check all buckles, hems and seams ensuring that there are no tears, breaks, cracks or holes. If any damage is discovered, please stop using the carrier immediately and contact us.
Safe Use of Carriers
o There are links at the bottom of this email on safe use of the carriers and reminders on how to use them. If you are struggling or need further support please do get in touch with us.
o The borrower must read the safety leaflet provided prior to using the carrier. Carriers must only be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions or where a Consultant has given you assistance with using in a different way.
o All carriers are extremely safe when used properly, however, misuse can cause injury to yourself or child. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are using the carrier correctly and that your baby is safe at all times. South East London Slingers (part of South East London Parenting Hub CIC)cannot be held responsible for any accident that results in injury or death whilst the carrier is in your care.
o We suggest that after familiarising yourself with the instructions you then practice using the carrier with a doll/teddy or cushion/pillow so that you get used to the tying/fastening/adjusting methods.
o Always ensure that you seat your child correctly in the carrier and check any knots regularly as children do not stay still and straps and wrap passes can move or become loosened. Always check the buckles are correctly closed.
o If you feel any pain while carrying your child, change the carrying position or remove the carrier. Get in touch with us for advice on how to improve the position or discuss alternatives.
o If you are unsure about anything you read in the instructions, are not sure what you're doing or are at all concerned, please ask us. We can point you in the direction of lots of helpful sites to give you tips to make sure you're getting the best out of the carrier and using it safely.
Care of Carriers
o Under no circumstances is it permitted for you to smoke or vapewhilst wearing or holding the carrier. Please inform us if you are a smoker, or if there is a smoker in your home as we will need to carefully launder the carrier after it is returned. Smoking is known to increase the risk of cot death for babies, and these risks have also been linked to babies being in close contact with clothing or objects contaminated with smoke particles.
o Please do not wash the carrier. We will clean all carriers regularly and know how to deal with the usual marks. If you feel it is necessary that the carrier is cleaned while on loan to you, please contact us first for advice.
o We cannot guarantee that there are no marks or hairs on the carriers we lend. Carriers are spot-cleaned and only laundered if necessary as freshly washed carriers will not be as soft or flexible as those that are not. If you would prefer to use a freshly laundered carrier please request this before you borrow. This incurs an extra charge of £3 and we require at least five days’ notice for washing and drying time.
o We cannot guarantee that there are no animal hairs on our carriers, but we ask that all carriers are kept away from pets to minimise this possibility. If you are very allergic to animal hairs, please request that the carrier be laundered before you borrow it to help reduce any potential reaction.
o Food and posset marks are expected when carrying children, but please keep the sling away from anything that may stain more permanently (oil, paint, pens, etc.), or anything that might damage it (scissors, Velcro, keys in your bag, fire, etc.). If the carrier is damaged and we are no longer able to hire it out then we will need a replacement which you will need to pay for.
All slings, carriers, instructions and accessories remain the property of Sarah Lawson, Sarah Smith, Tia Buxton and Leanne Glasscoo or South East London Slingers at all times, and all loans are subject to availability and our discretion. We have put some of our personal collections into the Library Catalogue; these slings may be removed from hire without notice.
Thank you to Worthing Sling Library and North London Sling Library for their assistance with this document