Babywearing Is for Everyone: Simple Ways to Welcome Every Caregiver with Inclusive Consultations

Babywearing brings families closer—no matter who’s in the family photo or doing the carrying. As babywearing consultants, we frequently emphasize the importance of helping families feel supported, seen, and confident. But for many queer parents and caregivers, showing up for a consult takes trust, vulnerability, and hope that they’ll be met with respect. The same might even be said for other caregivers like grandparents, aunts, uncles, foster parents, nannies, and anyone else who loves and cares for a baby.

Showing up for a consult, class or group can feel like a leap of faith, a “fingers-crossed I-can-be-supported-here” moment.

This Pride Month, we’re taking a quick look at how tiny tweaks in our approach, and in our mindset, can help all caregivers feel at home when working with us. Because babywearing is for everyone.

The steps below aren’t new tricks; they’re gentle reminders that babywearing is for everyone and every body.

Here are a few ways to start:

Ask First. Assume Never.

Inclusivity starts with language. Not every caregiver identifies as “Mom” or “Dad,” and not every family structure fits into binary boxes.

Start simple: “What’s your name?” “What’s baby’s name?” Then use their names.

A couple of open-ended questions help set the tone:
“Who’s joining us today?”
“What will you want your baby to call you?”

Use the words your clients use. If they say “non-binary parent,” “chestfeeding,” or “donor-conceived,” mirror that language back. It’s a small shift that can make a significant difference in helping families feel respected and understood.

Let Clients Share Their Own Story

Go into every consult with curiosity. Don’t assume gender, partner status, birth history, or parenting role. Let each client define their journey, their language, and what support means to them.

Instead of: “Is Dad joining us?”
Try: “Will anyone else be participating today?”

Before you ask a question, make sure you have a good reason for wanting to know. Do you really need to know whether the person in front of you gave birth to the baby? Maybe, but maybe not. If you’re asking out of habit or to satisfy your curiosity, it might be time to rethink and get specific about the information you’re actually looking for.

These subtle changes open space for your clients to show up fully, without needing to correct or explain themselves. You’ll make space for adoptive parents, solo parents, co-parents, and everyone in between. Their story is what matters, so start there.

Audit Your Marketing and Materials

Skim your website, social media, and intake forms. Do they reflect the diversity of families you want to serve?

Using inclusive language, like “parents and caregivers” instead of “moms and dads,” signals that your space is for everyone. Do your images hint at the real-world mix of families you serve? A few swapped words and a wider range of images quietly say, “You’re welcome here.”

And don’t stop there—amplify queer educators and family-centered accounts in your own feed. Who you follow and share shapes what clients see.

Consider How Body Changes Impact Fit and Comfort

If a client has had top surgery, is undergoing hormone therapy, or is navigating gender dysphoria, that may affect how certain carriers feel or function.

Your job isn’t to have all the answers—it’s to ask thoughtful questions and offer creative solutions.

“Is there anything about your body or comfort I should keep in mind as we explore carrier options today?”

This shows that you understand bodies are diverse and that your approach is adaptable.

Slow Down and Hold Space

Past medical trauma, misgendering, fertility struggles, and past bias may be part of your client’s story—even if they don’t say it out loud.

Go slow. Check in. Breathe. And let emotion share the floor with technique. A gentle
“How’s this pace for you?” goes a long way. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to make this space more comfortable or supportive for you.”

Even if nothing comes up in the moment, your intentionality matters.

Own the Oops—and Keep Growing

You’re going to make mistakes. We all slip up. If you use the wrong term or make an assumption, own it. And a quick, sincere:
“Thanks for correcting me, I appreciate it and will do better,” can go a long way. That sincerity and openness is what builds trust.

Vet the Resources You Share

The referrals you give reflect your values. If you’re recommending a family to a lactation consultant, therapist, or postpartum group, check if those resources welcome queer families and other diverse caregivers.
If you’re not sure, ask. And if you find a gap in your local network, seek out new connections. Inclusive care is a team effort.

Babywearing offers many things to our clients, one of which is connection, and that connection should never come with a caveat.

Every family deserves to feel welcomed in the world of babywearing. This Pride Month (and every month), let’s continue building a babywearing community where everyone sees themselves reflected, respected, and uplifted.