Welcome to Early Connections, the sling and cloth nappy library for Royston and South Cambridgeshire area. We run regular sessions across the area and can loan you a sling or cloth nappy kit, help you troubleshoot problems with your own belongings and provide a safe and friendly space to meet other parents. Come and have a chat with us!

LIBRARY CLOSED

Unfortunately Early Connections closed its doors on 31st March 2025 and is no longer running library sessions. Local consultants Clare and Jeni Williams are continuing to offer a library service at both venues for the immediate future, so if you are looking to hire or get a fit check we recommend getting in touch with them at www.parenting-chaos-calmly.co.uk/sling-library for more information.

If you want to discuss a previous loan or the closure of Early Connections, send us an email and we will try and get back to you as soon as possible.

We wish you all the best for the future.

We meet:

1st and 3rd Mondays, 10-11.30am
Clay Farm Centre
Hobson Square, Trumpington, Cambridge, CB2 9FN

2nd and 4th Mondays, 10.30-11.30am
Jolly Postie
2 Baldock St, Royston SG8 5AY

Please arrive no later than 11:15am, as sessions will finish promptly at 11:30am and clients will be seen on a first come first served basis. Please note that we do not meet on Bank Holidays or during August, and our sessions can be subject to last minute cancellations, especially in school holidays, as our volunteers all have small children. We recommend following us on Facebook for up to date information.

What we do:

We currently run drop in library sessions in two different venues across the area. At each session, a range of slings and baby carriers are available to try on, and our trained supporters will be available to suggest carriers that might suit your circumstances. If you find something you like, you can hire a carrier for 2 weeks. We can also give advice on how to best use a sling you own, and offer fit checks to make sure you and baby are as comfortable as possible.

At each session we also have a small cloth nappy demo kit, which you are welcome to look at and discuss with our volunteers. To hire a full nappy kit, please contact us in advance of the session, and we will prepare and bring a kit for you to hire.

Please note that we cannot teach a back carry in a library environment for safety reasons. You would be advised to wait for one of our regular workshops, or seek a private consultation with one of our local sling consultants.

If you or your child has medical needs that may affect your use of a carrier, we would also recommend a private consultation, as a consultation will be able to cover more in depth, with more individualised learning over a longer time period than that available in the library setting.

How does hiring work?

Slings can be hired on the day, nappy kits require prior booking so that we can assemble an appropriate kit for you. If you want to pre-book a nappy kit, please contact us, stating your baby's age.

Hires are available from the library at the following prices:

All slings/carriers: £12 for a fortnight, with a refundable £40 security deposit.
Birth to potty nappy kits (suitable from around 3 months): £12 for a fortnight, with a refundable £40 security deposit.
Newborn nappy kits (suitable for around 0-3 months): £12 for 4 weeks, with a refundable £40 security deposit.

Our Terms and Conditions for all hires can be found here, please read carefully when hiring from us. Nappy kit washing instructions can be found here, you will also receive a copy with your hire.

Other FAQs:

Do I need to pre-book a session?
No! We welcome drop ins at all our sessions. We only require advance notice if you are looking to hire a nappy kit. If you want to pre-book a nappy kit, please contact us, stating your baby's age.

Does it cost to use your service?
It costs to hire (see charges above), but advice and fit checks are free. We are a volunteer run organisation and always welcome donations.

Can I bring my own carrier or nappy?
Of course! Fit checks and advice are available at every session. We would love to help you get the most out of your equipment.

What if I can't make my return session?
If you have hired from us and cannot make the return session, please contact us to let us know. There are a few alternatives available, including dropping it to the house of one of our volunteers.

I don't use my carrier/cloth nappies any more, do you take donations?
Thank you for thinking of us! Please contact us to discuss any donations you might wish to make. We welcome items in good condition that are still available to buy new.

You can contact the Early Connections team by email at help@earlyconnections.co.uk or via our Facebook page. We look forward to hearing from you, and will respond as soon as possible.

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