FOUNDATIONS IN BABYWEARING EDUCATION
Our flagship training for babywearing educators
Live Zoom classes + recorded lessons About 7 weeks Max 15 per cohort
About the training
Where babywearing educators get their start
Foundations is for anyone who works with new and expecting parents, adoptive and foster families, or infant caregivers and wants to teach babywearing for real. Doulas, lactation consultants, childbirth educators, nurses, and brand-new consultants all train here.
You'll learn the carries and, just as much, how to teach them: helping families choose a carrier, use it well, and figure out what's going wrong when it doesn't feel right. We also dig into infant touch, how babies are built to be carried, and how to connect with clients so they actually trust what you're telling them.
Our flagship training. Pass testing at the end and you're a Certified CBWS Babywearing Consultant. Approved for Lamaze CEUs.
Your week at a glance
Two live Zoom classes with Joanna, each 2.5 hours plus 30 minutes of optional teaching practice
About 2 to 3 hours of videos and prework between sessions
Hands-on practice with your carriers and a weighted demo doll
Plan on roughly 7 to 9 hours a week, depending on how much practice you stay for
How the training works
What your weeks actually look like
Live classes with Joanna
You'll meet on Zoom twice a week with your cohort. Expect hands-on carrier practice, real discussion of that week's videos, and plenty of chances to teach your classmates. Cameras on, carriers out.
The last 30 minutes of each class is optional teaching practice in small breakout rooms, where you take turns being the educator.
Videos and prework between classes
Plan on about 2 to 3 hours of prework and video watching between sessions, depending on the week. Class time builds on these, so staying caught up makes a big difference.
A catch-up week is built in partway through, so you get a breather before the second half.
What you'll dig into
- How babies are built to be carried: reflexes, hips, digestion, touch, and development
- Ring slings, stretchy wraps, woven wraps, short wraps and knots
- Meh dais, soft structured carriers, and hybrids
- Newborn adaptations and back carries
- How adults learn, and what kind of teacher you want to be
- Connecting with clients: listening, information vs. advice, and preparing families for crying
- Respecting the cultures carrying comes from
- A step-by-step recipe for teaching any carrier
- Safety, and what to do with incident reports
If you miss a class
Three cohorts run at the same time, so you can often hop into the same class with another group.
If that doesn't work, watch the recording (usually up within a day), leave a couple of responses under the video, and complete a short make-up for any hands-on practice you missed.
Finishing and testing
To test, you'll need to have attended every live session or completed the make-up work for any you missed. A wrap-up and practice session right before testing helps you get ready.
Testing has two parts, a written test and a live skills assessment. Pass both and you're a Certified CBWS Babywearing Consultant. Paid in full? Your certificate goes out within a few days. On a payment plan, it's sent once your last payment is in. Foundations is also approved for Lamaze CEUs.
Extras that come with your spot
What to have on hand
Your gear list
- Ring sling
- Stretchy wrap
- Long woven wrap
- Short wrapA long wrap works if you don't mind longer tails
- Two scarves in different colorsFor practicing knots
- Meh dai
- Soft structured carrier
- Weighted demo doll, or something similarWe'll share our suggestions, plus how to make one at home
When you'll need it
Once you enroll, we'll point you to where to find everything.
After you finish
Graduates come back for quarterly Community Hours with Joanna and get the Graduate Gazette, our monthly grads-only newsletter with CBWS updates and the latest from the babywearing industry.
Want more? The Carry On Collective is our membership community. It's open to anyone, and most members are Foundations grads who want ongoing calls, a resource vault, and a group of educators who get the work.
See the Carry On Collective »Register below
These are the current session until Spring 2027 - The rest of the 2027 will be up late OctoberÂ
- ✦ Live sessions every THU + FRI
- ✦ 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM EST
- ✦ Limited to 15 students
- ✦ Live sessions every THU + FRI
- ✦ 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM EST
- ✦ Limited to 15 students
- ✦ Live sessions every SAT + SUN
- ✦ 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM EST
- ✦ Limited to 15 students
- ✦ Live sessions every THU + FRI
- ✦ 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM ET
- ✦ Limited to 15 students
- ✦ Live sessions every FRI + SAT
- ✦ 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM ET
- ✦ Limited to 15 students
- ✦ Live sessions every SAT + SUN
- ✦ 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM ET
- ✦ Limited to 15 students
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get to attend all live sessions?
What happens if I miss a live session?
Are there breaks scheduled during live class sessions?
What are the technical requirements?
Let’s Keep in Touch
Our 2026 Foundations sessions are set, but there’s always more ahead! Get updates on future trainings, new projects, and ways to stay connected with the babywearing education community.
