Who are we?
We are a collaborative panel of experienced babywearers, educators and industry professionals active in the Australian babywearing community, both through sling meets and online support structures.
We aim to provide accurate, up to date information about baby-carrying in Australia to support the ever growing community. We also aim to host a streamlined National support structure and raise the public awareness of baby carrying through the implementation of public health campaigns.
Bianca Vaszolyi
Bianca began her babywearing journey 7 years ago. Starting out with soft structured carriers with her two eldest children, she quickly developed a passion for babywearing, both for practicality and the bond of having your child close.
When expecting her third child, she became smitten with the beauty of woven wraps.
She has since developed a sound understanding and appreciation for the technique of using a woven wrap as a tool to carry her children.
Bianca is a co-leader of her local sling meets in Melbourne, and is a qualified peer-educator with Babywearing Victoria Incorporated.
Bianca has three children, aged 7, 5 and 1. She is currently a full-time mum, studying part-time, and helps co-ordinate a playgroup for children with special needs.
Jacinta Gartner
Jacinta began babywearing with her first child 5 years ago, trialling a variety of commercial baby carriers. After the birth of her second child, post natal depression took hold and babywearing allowed for precious bonding moments.
A love grew for not only carriers, woven wraps and everything in between, but also for the community that came with it. Now following the birth of her third child, Jacinta is a qualified peer-educator with Babywearing Victoria Incorporated, co-leads local sling groups in Melbourne and sits on the BVI committee as groups coordinator.
She is committed to promoting baby carrying and safety across all abilities and parenting styles as well as promoting positive maternal/child relationships and mental health through community involvement
Ashleigh O'Neill
Ashleigh started her babywearing journey 5 years ago with a Bjorn and later an Ergo with her daughter. She discovered woven wraps which became a versatile option to continue carrying a growing toddler! This followed through to the arrival of her son who was worn from birth.
A battle with post natal depression further cemented in her mind the benefits of keeping our babies close as carrying her son aided in bonding and recovery.
Now expecting her third child, Ashleigh is passionate about sharing the babywearing love, and hopes to incorporate her enthusiasm for babywearing with her current midwifery studies to enable safe and comfortable babywearing in the wider community.
Nadine Manzella
Elizabeth Close
Elizabeth Close is an Aboriginal Artist, a Yankunytjatjara/Pitjantjatjara woman, a Registered Nurse and a mother of 2 children aged 4.5 and 18 months.
She started her Babywearing journey when her eldest was born. Suffering from antenatal depression and fearing a disconnect between her and her baby, she bought a Mini-Monkey pouch sling when she read about the benefits of baby wearing for parents at risk of bonding difficulties. She quickly decided it wasn't for her when she found it uncomfortable and fraught with risk. When she saw a friend with her baby in an Ergo, she tried it and loved it, and bought one the same day - it saw much use!
When she fell pregnant with baby number two, she invested in a woven wrap and because a passionate advocate for baby-wearing and baby carrying. She became involved in her local sling-group, Adelaide Baby Wearers and joined the leadership team as a planner, and then an Admin, where she runs meets and gives online support and advocacy to member of their online community.
Elizabeth also runs a sling library within her remote Aboriginal community in the APY lands, where she helps encourage mothers to carry their babies. Furthermore, as an artist; Elizabeth has been privileged enough to collaborate with Oscha, Ankalia, Tula, Ergo and Weaving Waves to produce artisan baby-wearing carriers.
Nadine familiarized herself with babywearing before her son was born. Wanting to keep him close and following the popular idea of the fourth trimester, Nadine bought a stretch wrap.
She is now co leader for a BOW in Melbourne, and a qualified BVI Peer Educator. Nadine plans to help normalize Babywearing in her local community by bringing awareness to the act of wearing babies in carriers other than mass marketed structured carriers. Also showing how easy and affordable it can be and how having this tool in your parenting tool box can open up your world!