Central NJ Babywearing

Membership Agreement

1. I understand that Central New Jersey Babywearing Educators and group leaders are volunteers and are not professionals. I affirm that I am not acting in reliance on any advice received from them and that, instead, I am responsible for evaluating the usefulness and safety of any babywearing technique or device that I use with my baby. I affirm that I will hold Central New Jersey Babywearing and its group leaders and volunteers harmless of and from any claim or cause of action whatsoever arising from any injury to myself or my child related to or caused in any way by babywearing.

2. I understand that babywearing has many benefits but is not without risk, and that the risks include, but are not limited to, falls (either while putting the baby into the carrier or while using the carrier), positional asphyxia (if a baby is held in a position that closes his or her airway), and physical strain for the person carrying the baby. I understand that it is my responsibility to ensure that my baby’s airway is open and unobstructed, and that it is my responsibility not to drop my baby. I understand that I am responsible for my own well being and my baby’s while babywearing.

Lending Lending Agreement

I understand that neither Central New Jersey Babywearing nor its Educators can inspect every sling in the lending library for flaws, and I agree to inspect the stitching and materials of any sling that I borrow to assure that it is sound. I further agree that neither Central New Jersey Babywearing nor its Educators can assure that the slings in the lending library are free from design flaws.

Carrier Lending Library Policies Central New Jersey Babywearing has a library of baby carriers and babywearing educational materials that paid members may borrow for free. The following policies apply:

1. Your Responsibility. You assume responsibility for safely using all carriers and for inspecting the stitching and fabric on all carriers to satisfy yourself that the carrier is sound and suitable for use with your child, and you assume the risk of using a carrier. It is your responsibility to read and follow the manufacturer instructions for any baby carrier you use. Baby carriers may include but are NOT limited to any ring sling, wrap, pouch, meh dai or soft structured carrier. Each time you borrow a carrier, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless Central New Jersey Babywearing its’ leaders and members (the “Releasees”), for any harm that may result to you or your child from the use of the carrier, including but not limited to harm allegedly resulting from the Releasees’ instruction or alleged failure to instruct.

2. Tobacco Smoke, Pet Hair, Perfume. Do not expose a carrier to tobacco smoke or tobacco smoke residue, nor to perfume, cologne, or similar heavily scented personal products. Do not use a carrier where people are smoking, and do not store a carrier in a place where there is tobacco smoke residue, such as in a car where someone smokes. If you use the carrier around animals, please take care to remove any pet hair before you return it.

3. Duration of Checkout. Checkout period is one month only. Carriers are due back at the meeting they were checked out from (weekday carriers to the weekday meeting, weeknight/end carriers to the weeknight/end meeting). If you cannot return the item at the next month’s meeting, please return it to a leader before the next meeting in person or by mail (make sure to mail it in time for it to be received before the next meeting). You can make arrangements to return an item by mail or in person to the leader nearest you by e-mailing cnjbabywearing@gmail.com. To return a carrier by mail, please use Priority Mail with delivery confirmation. Covid modification:  Carriers are able to be kept for two months from the date of checkout, or until the next meeting, whichever is first. 

4. Late Fee. There will be a $5 late fee charge plus $1 per day for late return of carriers. If your carrier is not returned in the first 30 minutes of the meeting, a late fee may be collected. Members may not borrow another carrier until late fees are paid in full. 

5. One at a Time. One carrier may be borrowed at a time. A carrier may be returned to ANY meeting location at any time, though it MUST be returned at or before the next month’s meeting at the location from which it was borrowed. If there is no scheduled meeting at the location you borrowed the carrier, the carrier is due at the meeting closest to a month away (will be specified at checkout). Once a carrier has been returned in good condition, the member may borrow another. Covid modification: Annual members may borrow two carriers at a time. 

6. Condition on Return. Please return all carriers in such condition that they are ready for the next person to check out. This means that the carrier should be reasonably clean and neatly folded. This does not mean you necessarily have to wash the carrier. If it is not dirty, you do not have to wash it. Do not wash it if it has only sustained normal wear and tear (such as a small amount of baby drool). Minimal washing will keep the carriers looking newer longer. If it is dirty (has been through a diaper blowout or straps dropped in mud, etc.), please wash it as gently as possible (see paragraph 7). If a carrier is obviously dirty, or is wadded up and generally not in ready-for-checkout condition, you will be charged a $3 cleaning fee.

7. Cleaning. Each carrier has specific washing instructions so please contact us (cnjbabywearing@gmail.com) before washing so we can give you the directions specific to the carrier you borrowed. Many detergents are not safe for carriers, so please contact us for a list of approved detergents.

8. Harm to Carriers. Please treat the carriers with respect. If you ruin a carrier, you are responsible for paying the actual replacement cost of the carrier, plus shipping if applicable. Using fabric softener, bleach, or laundering in a manner other than directed will constitute a ruined carrier. The leaders, at their sole discretion, will determine whether a carrier is ruined. Carriers damaged beyond repair will remain property of Central New Jersey Babywearing and cannot be given to those who borrowed the carrier.

9. Termination of Privileges. Violation of these policies may result in termination of a member’s borrowing privileges.

10. Dues. Dues are non-refundable and are considered a donation to Central New Jersey Babywearing and will not be refunded.

11. Duration of Membership. Memberships are available for a one year period.  Annual memberships are $30 and expire one year from the date of joining.