World Entreupreneurs Day 2023 – How Bambino Baby started

Today is world entrepreneur day so I thought I’d share the story of how Bambino Baby started:

When our eldest was born I was overwhelmed by the different choices of baby carrier available and had no idea what would be best for me and my new baby.  When I was pregnant, I did my research and purchased one online. It was uncomfy – it hurt my shoulders and his feet kicked my c-section scar. My baby cried. I cried.

I didn’t use the carrier again.

There seemed so much choice but very little unbiased assistance with what would work best for me. I was struggling with postpartum depression and a baby who cried – especially if he wasn’t being held. 

When he was 5 months old, thanks to a lovely baby group in Brighton, I ‘discovered’ there were lots of comfy options out there to carry him. It was a total lightbulb moment! I barely used the pram after that and my postpartum depression (and my baby’s crying) both significantly improved.

I couldn’t change the tough start we had but I knew that my experience could be used to help others not struggle the way I had.

After our second son was born I decided to set up a Sling Library; so other parents would be able to try out baby carriers to see what worked best for them and their lifestyle, before making the decision to purchase. It was July 2011 and it was called Eastbourne Sling Library.  This was the very start of what would become Bambino Baby.

What started as a once-a-month sling library session quickly became fortnightly. Then more locations were added until I was covering the whole of East Sussex with multiple sessions a week. I renamed to East Sussex Slings.

I completed Babywearing Consultancy training in 2012 and 2015, with two different schools of training and I started recording demos, showing how to use various baby carriers, in 2014.

In Sept 2016 we relocated to Hampshire and renamed again to South East Slings. Starting again, almost from scratch in a new area, I quickly built up to multiple sessions a week. I was also now working as a Babywearing Consultant at various national baby shows and training people all over the UK.

Then in March 2020 all of this stopped. Everyone still needed my help and support but they could no longer access it in person.  Video calls were great but they weren’t the same as face-to-face.

So… on 4th June I decided I needed to open a shop.  On 8th June I found my current premises and on 11th July – exactly 9 years to the day after my Sling Library started – Bambino Baby opened!

It was honestly the BEST decision I could have made. I’d never even thought about having a shop; it was working fine for me travelling around the all the different venues. But having a shop has meant I can help so many more people. Plus I’m seeing a lot more people before their baby arrives, hugely reducing the “Oh I wish I’d known about you sooner/before baby arrived/before I bought something online that I don’t find comfortable”

Bambino Baby turned 3 years old last year (and my Sling Library turned 12 years old). I still absolutely love what I do.

As Mark Twain wrote: ““Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life” I feel very, very privileged that I get the support parents and parents-to-be in their parenting journey every day.