Isn’t it interesting how age old practices are reclaiming the spotlight and often presented as new phenomena? Things that were simply passed down from generation to generation and then lost its way? Babywearing is one of those things. From villages in Africa to cotton fields of slavery it was a way for mothers to not just get things done but also maintain their sanity. It was and should remain a normal part of the postpartum stage. As we prepare to celebrate and acknowledge Black Babywearing Week, June 15-21, 2025, let’s explore the postpartum benefits of babywearing.

What is Black Babywearing Week?

Black Babywearing Week “is an annual week-long event, typically in June, that celebrates the cultural significance of babywearing within the Black community. It aims to uplift and inspire Black babywearers, connect the community, and acknowledge the historical and cultural roots of babywearing practices within the Black diaspora.”

What is babywearing?

It’s exactly what the name implies. Babywearing is when you use fabric or a device to keep your baby close to your body. It usually allows your hands to be free while holding your baby. Unlike the name implies it can be used for toddlers and special needs children as well. Moms wear their kiddos on their chest, backs and hips. Some simply use a large piece of fabric while others use store bought versions but all of them are called carriers. Here are the different forms carriers come in:

• Wraps: Long pieces of fabric that are tied around the wearer and baby in various configurations
• Ring slings: A length of fabric threaded through rings to create a pouch
• Soft structured carriers (SSCs): Pre-formed carriers with buckles, padding, and structured support
• Mei tais: Traditional Asian-style carriers with a rectangular body panel and four straps
• Onbuhimos: Back carriers with shoulder straps but no waist belt
• Pouch slings: Tube-shaped carriers worn across the body
• Frame backpacks: Structured carriers primarily for older babies/toddlers

Babywearing isn’t just practical — it’s also connected to attachment parenting philosophies and has roots in traditional childcare practices from cultures worldwide where keeping babies close was both practical and culturally significant.

What are the physical and mental health benefits of carrying your baby?

The postpartum stage is a beautiful time of bonding and learning. It can be really overwhelming too, even when you’ve prepared and have support. Finding simple ways to care for yourself as you care for a new baby has the potential to elevate your postpartum experience. I consider babywearing to be one way to do that because it:

1. Promotes bonding and attachment – Physical closeness increases oxytocin (the “love hormone”), which enhances mood and connection between mother and baby
2. Reduces crying and fussiness – Research shows babies carried in carriers cry 43-54% less, reducing maternal stress and anxiety
3. Enables mobility and independence – Mothers can accomplish daily tasks while keeping baby close, decreasing feelings of isolation and being “trapped”
4. Supports breastfeeding success – Easier, more frequent feeding improves breastfeeding outcomes, which correlates with lower rates of postpartum depression
5. Creates a sense of competence – Successfully soothing baby through wearing can build maternal confidence and self-efficacy
6. Facilitates social engagement – Babywearing makes it easier to leave the house, reducing social isolation that contributes to postpartum depression
7. Provides gentle pressure and physical support – The tactile input of carrying a baby can have a calming effect on the mother’s nervous system, similar to the effects of a weighted blanket

My experience with babywearing

As a mom of three who has served as a childbirth and breastfeeding educator for 10 years, recently as the co-founder of BlackBirthCentral.com, I can tell you babywearing is a game changer. Not only have I taught other moms and dads to babywear but I wore all three of my kids. After being held in the womb for nine straight months, my babies came out clingy and extremely attached to me (which is to be expected).

I wore them around the house as I did chores, put them on my back when I shopped, used it as a way to protect them from weirdos and as an excuse to be almost naked in the summer. I used my carrier more than my strollers and was more likely to have a carrier than a stroller with me. I always had multiple carriers around the house and in both cars so there was no room for me to forget it. Over time I used different carriers for different reasons. 

Reasons I wore all my kids:

1. To get chores done
2. To be able to move faster than pushing a stroller
3. To save space in the car
4. To easily ride public transportation
5. To breastfeed while standing
6. To know my baby was safe and calm
7. To shop
8. So random people couldn’t/wouldn’t touch my kid
9. To easily travel with multiple kids
10. To extend or induce naptime
11. To hold my other kids’ hands
12. To dance
13. To play games at the arcade on a date
14. Avoid grabby little hands while eating
15. For skin to skin
16. To exercise
17. Avoid carrying a carseat

How can babywearing promote a healthy postpartum stage?

The postpartum period is an important time of recovery and there are many things that are essential for moms to do to take care of themselves. Babywearing is a great practice and tradition that promotes optimal development and attachment for babies and helps moms have a healthy postpartum experience. Babywearing integrates wonderfully with these essential postpartum recovery practices:

1. Responsive Feeding – Carrying baby close makes it easier to notice early hunger cues and feed promptly, supporting breastfeeding establishment and nutritional intake for both mother and baby.
   
   
2. Gentle Movement and Circulation – Babywearing encourages appropriate light movement like walking, which improves circulation, reduces swelling, and prevents blood clots without overexerting recovering muscles.
   
   
3. Nutritional Self-Care – Having hands free while keeping baby content enables preparation of nourishing meals and regular eating, critical for healing, energy restoration, and milk production.
   
   
4. Sleep Optimization – Contact napping in a carrier can allow mothers to rest while upright (particularly helpful for those with perineal pain) while ensuring baby sleeps well, addressing the critical need for maternal rest.
   
   
5. Stress Management – The oxytocin release from close contact helps regulate stress hormones, complementing other stress reduction techniques like deep breathing and mindfulness.
   
   
6. Pelvic Floor Recovery – Babywearing promotes proper posture and alignment, which supports pelvic floor healing when combined with gentle rehabilitation exercises.
   
   
7. Bonding & Attachment – The consistent close contact facilitates the development of secure attachment, enhancing emotional wellbeing for both mother and baby.
   
   
8. Social Connection – Babywearing makes it more manageable to attend postpartum support groups, reducing isolation by facilitating outings during a period when social support is crucial.
   
   
9. Hydration Maintenance – Having hands available makes it easier to carry and regularly drink water, addressing the increased fluid needs during lactation and recovery.
   
   
10. Gentle Reintegration of Daily Activities – Allows gradual resumption of light household management and care for older children at an appropriate pace, preventing overexertion while restoring normalcy.
    
    

I encourage you to babywear. Some babies don’t like it initially or a particular carrier but keep trying it. It is worth it for your sanity, recovery, and increased bonding with your baby. Don’t forget to teach your partner how to do it safely and properly. Think of it as another way to support yourself and lean into your new role as mom.

Ashlee Jaye Johnson is the co-founder of Black Birth Central, the #1 resource for all things natural birth and motherhood for Black moms and the birthworkers that love them.