The group has been working with staff from Babywearing South West to train all its staff to carry children in a sling.
The project was introduced after Tops nursery manager Chris Champion attended a parent event in Yeovil last year and met representatives from Babywearing South West.
Tops then invited a babywearing consultant to deliver training sessions to all managers, area managers and training manager focusing on the benefits of babywearing, types of carrier and safety considerations, as well as practice of the various holds.
Tops staff will use the Kahu Baby carrier, which is suitable for carrying a child between 3.2kg and 16kg.
The aim in the nurseries will be to identify and support babies and children who would benefit from being carried during times of distress or as part of their daily routine, rather than carrying any child at any time.
Amy Alderson, operations director of Tops, said, ‘With an increased understanding of child development, parents are increasingly using more responsive parenting approaches and babywearing has as a result become increasingly popular in the UK.
‘Whilst this supports the children’s attachments, social and emotional wellbeing, it has also resulted in an increase in young children expecting more one-on-one time or carrying within our settings. On a 1:3 or 1:4 ratio this is increasingly challenging for our colleagues.
‘We agreed that carrying in nurseries will not only support children's development in line with the Early Years Framework, but also support the physical and mental well-being of staff. Using a sling supports the colleague and reduces stress on the body as well as enabling the staff to practically support all children whilst carrying a child.’
Kizzy Coll-Cats, babywearing consultant from Babywearing South West, running a training session for Tops staff
Tops said the benefits of babywearing include:
- Continuity, comfort and familiarity of routine from home life into the nursery.
- Support for nap and sleep routines.
- Supporting the building of safe and secure attachments with nursery staff.
- Effectively calming and supporting a child who may be upset or need support.
- Helping staff carry children in a way which respects the staff’s physiology and posture, allowing children to be carried for longer.
- Enabling children to take comfort and rest from what can be a busy environment during times of over-stimulation and over-tiredness.
- Providing children with a new perspective of the world around them and supporting social and emotional development, understanding the world, language and communication as well as other areas of learning.
Ms Alderson added, ‘If successful, we will continue to use the baby carriers as part of our ongoing daily practice. We are hoping that by implementing the use of baby carriers across our settings that it will benefit both our colleagues and children as a way to support building positive relationships, reduce stress, support home routines, comfort and reassurance as well as learning opportunities.’
Kizzy Coll-Cats, babywearing consultant from Babywearing South West, said, ‘Like implementing any new scheme into a nursery there are policies, procedures and risk assessments to be carried out.
‘My advice would be find a qualified and insured babywearing and carrying consultant and discuss your needs with them. Every setting is different and therefore would expect the training and delivery to be specific to your setting. It is a partnership and you should feel that the consultant fits your setting and requirements.’