Babywearing Voices: Eric Peterson

A Champion for Care: Merging Nursing Expertise with Babywearing Education 

In the fast-paced world of emergency medicine, it’s rare to find a healthcare professional who seamlessly blends clinical expertise with a passion for empowering caregivers. Eric Peterson, RN, an Emergency Department nurse and seasoned babywearing educator, does exactly that. His innovative approach to caregiving goes beyond the immediate demands of patient care, weaving in a deep commitment to family-centered support.

A Babywearing Dad First and Foremost

Before he became a babywearing educator and a voice for its importance in healthcare, Peterson was a babywearing dad himself. His personal experience began during a particularly challenging period of fatherhood, juggling the demands of a toddler and a baby in the NICU. Babywearing became his lifeline, allowing him to stay connected to both children while navigating the chaos of everyday life.

“I’m so grateful to the Slings in the City support and educational meetings; they helped me get comfortable wearing my first kid,” Peterson reflects.

“Those years of carrying my kids close are some of my most cherished memories. It not only helped me survive the tough days but also built a bond with my kids that I treasure to this day.”

His firsthand experience helped him understand the emotional and practical value of babywearing. From soothing an inconsolable newborn to giving a toddler the security of closeness, babywearing became an integral part of his parenting journey and planted the seeds for the work he does now.

Bringing Babywearing to the Bedside

Peterson’s dual roles as a nurse and babywearing educator creates a unique bridge between medical science and practical caregiving. Recognizing that the early months of parenthood are as challenging as they are transformative, he uses his role in the Emergency Department to share vital carrying and caring tips with caregivers when he has the opportunity.

“Babywearing isn’t just about convenience; it’s about fostering secure attachment, improving infant development, and making caregiving more enjoyable,” Peterson says.

His approach underscores the importance of understanding safe-carrying practices, from cloth carriers to when to stop using bouncy seats or swings to proper usage of car seats outside of vehicles. He educates across all the devices weekly. “There are many misunderstandings related to all of these devices. I try to educate on the spot and reduce confusion for caregivers, especially when they show up in my ED,” Peterson shared.

Improving Incident Data for Better Outcomes

Peterson’s expertise doesn’t stop at education. His deep understanding of body-worn baby carriers allows him to accurately document incidents involving ‘carriers’—whether they’re car seats, wraps, slings, swings, bouncy seats, strollers, or arms—into his care chart. By clearly identifying the types of carriers involved, he contributes to more precise incident data, which is critical for improving safety standards and outcomes.

“When Joanna spoke to me about how unclear the incident data can be and how this leads to misrepresentations around safety, I knew I had to contribute. So my attempts to accurately document are about ensuring we can look back at the incident data and see the full picture,” Peterson explains. “When we know what kind of 'carrier' was involved, we can identify patterns and make informed decisions about future education and safety recommendations.”

Empowering Fellow Healthcare Providers

Peterson’s dedication to babywearing education extends beyond his patients to his colleagues. Over the years, he worked side-by-side with Bianca and Joanna and has taught babywearing classes tailored explicitly for dads, recognizing their unique perspectives and needs in caregiving. These experiences now inform his efforts to educate fellow nurses and doctors on the benefits of babywearing and on identifying proper carrying practices.

“Incorporating babywearing into our understanding of family care can improve both clinical interactions and long-term outcomes for the families right here in my community,” Peterson shares. “It’s a small but meaningful way to support the bond between caregivers and their babies.”

Peterson notes, “Whenever someone asks for more information about babywearing, I point them to CBWS. Joanna and Bianca live and breathe all things babywearing, and the training is evidence-based, which is important.”

A Legacy of Care and Connection

Through his dual expertise in nursing and babywearing, Eric Peterson is setting a standard for holistic care. His work not only improves caregivers' immediate experience, but his careful documentation also contributes to broader safety and education efforts that benefit families everywhere.

But for Peterson, it all comes back to those early days as a babywearing dad.

“Those moments taught me the power of closeness and connection,” he says. “It’s why I’m so passionate about sharing this knowledge: because I’ve lived it and felt the difference it can make.”

Eric Peterson’s journey reminds us that healthcare is more than treating symptoms; it’s about nurturing relationships, empowering caregivers, and fostering community. In every baby he treats, every caregiver he supports, and every colleague he educates, Peterson is building a legacy of care and connection that extends far beyond the Emergency Department.