Intervention
Upon completion of baseline measures, intervention participants were invited to attend a two-hour drop-in session at the sling library. These drop-in sessions were part of the sling library’s usual provision at the time of the study. In this usual provision, parents were welcome to stay for as long as they wished within this time-period. In usual provision, parents typically attend these sessions seeking advice and to try using a sling for the first time before buying or hiring, as well as seeking advice for slings that they are already using (e.g. through a previous purchase or hire). All contact between staff and parents takes place within one large room. As such, staff may sometimes demonstrate a sling to a group of interested parents, and parents are able to meet and chat to each other, offering opportunities for the development of social networks and social support.To support standardisation of session content and improve replicability, a checklist was created for use by sling library staff during interactions with study participants. Following the checklist, participants were offered sling training and advice, and a sling demonstration. Participants learned how to use one of two different types of sling: a ‘Close Caboo’ or buckle carrier, dependent on the needs and preferences of the mother and their infant. Participants were then given this sling, for free hire, for the duration of the study. Participants were invited to join an online sling community for further support and were given information about safe sling use and further sling library services. Throughout the study participants were able to attend further sling library sessions and swap their sling if they had any concerns or felt that another sling may be more suited to themselves and their infant. This flexibility was designed to replicate the responsive flexibility of usual provision by the sling library, but, unlike usual provision, at no cost to the participant.