Making Babywearing Education a Standard Part of Prenatal Care


In patient care, we often talk about meeting patients where they are. But what if we also asked: How are they carrying what they're going through?

For new and expecting parents, the physical, emotional, and logistical weight of early parenting is very real. What if something as simple...and as ancient... as carrying their baby in a wrap or sling could lighten that load?

Babywearing is more than a parenting trend. It’s a developmentally rich and emotionally supportive practice that offers measurable benefits for both infants and their caregivers. And yet, most parents don't receive any education about babywearing until after their baby is born, often when they’re sleep-deprived, overwhelmed, and desperate for help.

It’s time to change that.

The Case for Prenatal Babywearing Education

We know that prevention and preparation lead to improved outcomes. We offer lactation education before birth, help parents choose pediatricians before the baby arrives, and walk them through birth plans and postpartum recovery strategies.

So, why wait until the 6-week checkup (or later) to discuss something that can support sleep, bonding, mental health, feeding, and infant regulation from day one?

Research has shown that babywearing can:

• Reduce infant crying by up to 43% during the day and 51% in the evening (Hunziker & Barr, 1986)
• Improve attachment and parental confidence (Anisfeld et al., 1990)
• Support thermoregulation, breastfeeding success, and infant sleep organization (Moore et al., 2012; Franco et al., 2005)

Babywearing creates an opportunity for parents to learn to respond intuitively to their baby's cues. It facilitates skin-to-skin contact, oxytocin release, and secure attachment.

These aren't just nice-to-haves. They’re foundational to physical and emotional health.

Why It Needs to Happen Before Birth

By the time many parents reach out for help with babywearing, they’re already struggling. Their baby may have reflux, colic, or an urgent need for soothing. The parent may be in physical pain, emotionally tapped out, or questioning their ability to do this at all.

Prenatal babywearing education gives parents the chance to learn with calm hands and a clear mind. It helps them practice before they’re in survival mode.

It can also be an unexpected gateway into body literacy and mental health support, offering a moment of grounding, connection, and confidence at a time when many parents are flooded with anxiety and uncertainty.

What This Could Look Like in Practice

This isn’t about asking every healthcare provider to become a babywearing expert. It’s about recognizing that how a baby is carried matters. And creating space to support it within existing systems of care.

Here are a few ways providers can bring babywearing into prenatal care:

OBGYNs and Midwives

• Ask patients if they’ve considered babywearing, just as you would ask about feeding preferences or car seat installation.
• Invite a babywearing consultant to do a short demo or share a handout in prenatal classes.
• Refer patients to certified babywearing educators before birth, especially those at risk for postpartum anxiety, depression, or attachment challenges.

Nurses and Lactation Consultants

• Invite a babywearing consultant to do a hands-on demo during childbirth education sessions.
• Teach skin-to-skin and upright feeding techniques before inviting a babywearing consultant to teach how to use wraps or slings as supportive tools.
• Normalize holding babies close, as part of a broader conversation about responsive care.

Pelvic Floor PTs and Perinatal Fitness Pros

• Teach posture and breathwork using a baby carrier before birth.
• Help pregnant clients explore carrier options that will support their body type and postpartum recovery.
• Offer movement-based sessions that include gentle stretching and carrier practice.

Pediatricians and Family Doctors

• Include babywearing education in prenatal visits and newborn care talks.
• Hire a babywearing consultant to join your staff or partner with one locally to offer classes, education, and support.
• Flag common carrier misuse issues (poor airway positioning, unsupported spines) and refer to a certified babywearing consultant for support.
• Encourage using babywearing as a regulatory and bonding tool
• for NICU grads, high-needs babies, or overwhelmed parents refer to the consultant for personalized attention.

Occupational and Physical Therapists

• Collaborate with clients who have sensory needs, musculoskeletal concerns, or disabilities that might make babywearing feel inaccessible.
• Work with babywearing educators to find adaptive, safe, and comfortable solutions.

A Holistic Approach to Whole-Family Wellness

Ultimately, this isn’t about adding one more item to the prenatal checklist. It’s about recognizing babywearing as a powerful, evidence-based strategy that supports:

• Early secure attachment
• Sustained breastfeeding success
• Parental mental health
• Infant regulation and sleep
• Functional postpartum recovery

It’s also about giving parents the tools to navigate early parenthood with more confidence, support, and, of course, more hands-free snuggles.

Call to Action: Let’s Make This Standard Care

If you're a healthcare provider, you already know that what happens in the first days and weeks of life matters. Let’s give families one more tool to thrive, not just survive.

• Add a question about babywearing to your prenatal intake form.
• Refer to babywearing consultants alongside lactation consultants and doulas.
• Host a “Babywearing Basics” session in your clinic or community center.
• Learn the basics, so you can recognize safe vs. unsafe use and know when to refer out.
• Advocate for babywearing education as part of your practice’s standard offerings.

This is what whole-person care looks like. And it starts before the baby is even born.

Citations

Hunziker, U. A., & Barr, R. G. (1986). Increased carrying reduces infant crying: A randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics, 77(5), 641–648. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3517799/

Anisfeld, E., Casper, V., Nozyce, M., & Cunningham, N. (1990). Does infant carrying promote attachment? An experimental study of the effects of increased physical contact on the development of attachment. Child Development, 61(5), 1617–1627. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2377300/

Moore, E. R., Bergman, N., Anderson, G. C., & Medley, N. (2016). Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (11). Art. No.: CD003519. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003519.pub4