From Cold Tea to Hot and Soothing Tea and Outings

The café smelled of cinnamon scones and clove tea, the kind of cozy fall day that begged for scarves and long conversations. Addy, seven months pregnant, sat across from Sarah, her doula, and, though Addy hadn’t thought much of it, apparently, Sarah is also a certified babywearing consultant, whatever that means.

“So, I looked over your contract again,”

she said, “and I noticed you added the babywearing package. Honestly, I don’t think I need it. I can watch a YouTube video, right? It’s not rocket science. Besides, I’m not even sure if I’ll do that babywearing thing.”

Sarah smiled, not defensive but warm, like she’d heard this before. “You’re right, there are thousands of tutorials. You can watch someone tie a wrap, click a buckle, or tighten up a sling. With time and trial and error, you’d certainly figure out how to use your baby carrier and to do so with your baby as well.”

“Exactly.”

“But at what cost, Addy? What those videos can’t answer for you is how your baby will respond. Or how your body, healing from birth, tired from sleepless nights, will feel when you try the carrier with a demanding baby. They can’t tell you why your baby resists one position but melts in another. Those videos don’t see the your tension in your shoulder, or understand your baby’s reflexes, or give insight into how your family rhythm might actually impact how you choose to carry.”

Consultant’s Eye:
  A babywearing consultant doesn’t just teach you the “how.” They examine posture, development, reflexes, feeding rhythms, and even how you tense your shoulders when trying a new carry or carrier.

Before Addy could respond, the café door chimed, and a woman pushed her way in. She maneuvered the stroller through the narrow aisle, the diaper bag sliding down her shoulder as she balanced it and her phone. She ordered and looked around, a little flushed, then settled herself at a corner table.

Her number was called within moments. The stroller wheels caught on a chair leg as she tried to move it so she could get up. She knocked the diaper bag off the opposite chair and bumped the stroller as she reached to catch it, but just then, the baby startled. Within seconds, the baby’s eyes popped open and the cries began: sharp, insistent, echoing through the small café.

Did you know?
  Babies are born with a startle reflex (the Moro reflex), which can be triggered by sudden changes in position or noise. Carriers help buffer these transitions by keeping them close to your body, making those startled wake-ups less likely.

The woman froze, torn between the counter and the wailing. She heard them call her number again. Finally, she picked up the baby, bouncing it with one hand and somehow managed to grab her steaming tea with the other. Luckily, someone offered to bring her sandwich over to her table. She tried to soothe the baby, but the cries were full-throated. And while she fumbled to soothe and settle, shushing and patting, her tea and food were already cooling.

Postpartum Recovery Reality Check: Many new parents don’t realize how much core recovery, birth trauma, or even C-section scars affect how a carrier feels on their body. Minor tweaks, or carrier changes, can mean the difference between pain and comfort.

A stroller might seem easier, but pushing, lifting, and folding it can strain healing muscles. A well-fitted carrier can actually be more ergonomic, spreading weight evenly and supporting recovery.

Sarah didn’t say anything at first. She just gestured lightly toward the scene and asked Addy.

“Tell me what you notice.”

Addy hesitated.

“Well… she looks tired. She’s hungry, but she can’t eat. The baby’s really upset. It looks… hard.”

“And now imagine yourself here, a few months from now,”

Sarah said softly.

“How do you want your experience to be?”

Addy’s face softened.

“Different,”

she admitted.

“I’d want to actually eat my sandwich while it’s hot. Maybe sip my tea while it’s still steaming. I’d want my baby calm, not screaming. I’d want less stress.”

Sarah nodded and tilted her head.

“Ok, now imagine this same moment, but different. In a café this size, she could’ve skipped the stroller altogether, left it in the car. With a baby carrier she already knew and trusted, she could’ve lifted her baby straight out of the car seat and buckled the baby straight to her. Or if she used the stroller, then she could have the carrier ready for when those first cries started. Two clips, a snug adjustment, and the baby would be calming against her chest while she picked up her food with free hands. But when she was 7 months pregnant, she told herself she’d figure it out later; she could watch a YouTube video if needed, and maybe decide then if she really wanted to use a carrier. And now? She doesn’t have one. If she did, she might not know how to use it anyway.”

From Surviving to Thriving:
 Research shows babies carried more, cry less, sleep better, and regulate their heart rate faster. Parents who feel confident responding to those cues also report lower stress.

Addy watched the mom pacing with her crying baby, sandwich untouched. Something clicked.

“So you’re saying it’s not just about learning how to put the thing on: it’s about knowing how to use it in real-life situations.”

“Exactly,”

Sarah said.

“That’s what a consultant does. I don’t just teach you how to tie or buckle, I help you plan your daily navigation, such as what to do when your baby melts down in a café. How to carry comfortably while you heal. How to balance babywearing with strollers, siblings, errands, and life. That’s why I include six months of monthly support groups in the package. It’s not just one lesson; it’s ongoing practice in everyday situations, with me there to troubleshoot alongside you. I don’t want you standing in this café with cold tea and a screaming baby, wishing you’d figured it out sooner. I want you sipping your tea while your baby naps against your chest, both of you calm and connected.”

“But of course, I would still help you with babywearing later if you decide to wait.” Sarah shared quickly.

Addy’s gaze lingered on the woman’s untouched tea as she thought for a few minutes.

“Ok, I want the other version of that moment. The one where the baby is snuggled in and I actually get to drink my tea,”

she said decisively.

Sarah smiled.

“That’s exactly the difference I want for you, too.”

Outside, a gust of leaves swept past the window, a reminder of the season’s change. Addy wrapped her hands around her warm mug, picturing the winter ahead, not just with a baby, but with a plan.