Defining Scope: What Can a Babywearing Consultant Do That a Peer Supporter Can’t?
Jan 27, 2026
Peer support and professional babywearing consultation are different roles, and they hold different responsibilities.
And understanding that difference is essential for caregivers and educators.
Peer supporters, volunteers, group leaders, and experienced caregivers are often the first people families turn to. Many bring years of hands-on experience, technical knowledge of carriers, and a genuine commitment to supporting families well.
Peer supporters often operate in community-based, volunteer, or informal settings.
They draw from:
- Lived experience
- Practical carrier knowledge
- Repeated exposure to common challenges
- A relational, community-centered approach
They may offer technical guidance, demonstrate carriers, troubleshoot common issues, and provide reassurance grounded in real-life use, all within the limits of time, scope, and setting that peer support allows. A peer supporter may notice a red flag or a deeper need - but their scope of practice is what determines whether they are responsible for addressing it or whether they should refer out to another professional.
Scope, as we describe it here, is ethical and functional, not regulatory. At the time of this writing, there is no universal babywearing governing body that says, “At this point you must stop talking.” Anyone can technically call themselves a consultant. And that’s why clarity matters so much.
Peer support work is meaningful, skilled, and valuable.
It is also intentionally bounded.
What Our Babywearing Consultants Are Trained For
CBWS babywearing consultants step into a different layer of care.
Some situations call for a practitioner who can zoom out to understand the broader context of a family’s needs and zoom in to address specific, nuanced concerns with precision.
Our consultants are trained to work at the intersection of:
- Infant development and physiology
- Caregiver biomechanics and recovery
- Trauma-informed care
- Intentional teaching structures
- Observation, assessment, and interpretation
- Empathetic communication that reflects and respects the needs of the individual
This is no longer just how to wear a baby.
We have intentionally focused our consultant trainings around why something works, when it doesn’t, and what else might be influencing the experience… including factors that may have nothing to do with the carrier itself.
Many peer supporters possess deep technical knowledge, and can help caregivers with some of the most pressing issues that would otherwise discourage them from babywearing.
Our consultants are trained and ethically positioned to:
- Hold responsibility for individualized guidance
- Work within complex or vulnerable situations
- Recognize when babywearing is the right tool (and when it isn’t)
- Adapt teaching in real time based on what they observe
- Support caregivers beyond a single moment or interaction
Consultation requires time, intention, and a framework that allows for nuance.
Not every peer supporter wants that role, and peer support settings often don’t practically allow for it because of constraints on time, attention, etc.
Different roles serve different needs.
When Caregivers Need the Next Layer
As caregivers move from curious to stuck, from trying something new to something really doesn’t feel right, they often need more than technical reassurance or a new carrier suggestion.
They need someone who can see the whole picture and guide them thoughtfully.
That’s where babywearing consultants come in as the NEXT STEP when families need professional-level guidance grounded in development, context, and care.
This is Why Our Foundations in Babywearing Education Training Exists
At the Center for Babywearing Studies, Foundations in Babywearing Education was created to support educators stepping into this expanded role.
We prepare consultants to:
- Hold complexity with confidence
- Teach intentionally, not reactively
- Support families with nuance and specificity
- Understand the broader impact of their words and guidance
Knowing technique is important.
Understanding people, context, and responsibility makes the impact of babywearing support even bigger.
Both peer supporters and consultants are essential.
And knowing which role you’re in and what that role asks of you is what allows caregivers to receive the support they actually need.
Thinking about going further?
If you’re feeling drawn toward professional babywearing education, our Foundations in Babywearing Education training is the place to start.
In 2026, Foundations is offered three times a year, with three cohorts running simultaneously in February, June, and October. We also offer a special hybrid in-person session in Baltimore in April. Registration for the April session closes in late March to allow time for required preparatory work before we meet in person.
These are the only Foundations trainings offered in 2026. The 2027 schedule will be shared in October 2026.
