Babywearing Helped Me Feel Like Myself Again Postpartum

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My husband says I’m like a shark, because I never stop moving. So when I had an unplanned C-section to bring our son into the world, I was having a really hard time staying still during the first few weeks of my recovery. I was able to start my daily walks again around five days postpartum (with our baby in the stroller) but I was struggling to just sit around holding him at home. I wanted to be up and moving to feel more like myself, while still staying as close to my baby as possible. I had already picked up a secondhand baby carrier before my son arrived, but after the C-section surgery my core didn’t feel strong enough to try it out just yet. At around two weeks postpartum, I was finally ready to give it a shot.

When I put my baby in my carrier for the first time, I cried tears of joy. It might sound silly, but I had been picturing this everyday routine of wearing my sweet baby for so long. It has been such a wonderful bonding experience for us, and I think I’d go crazy if I didn’t have a hands-free way to enjoy our snuggles throughout the day while still checking things off my to-do list. (Plus, the movement puts him to sleep almost immediately.) For the record, if your baby doesn’t like the carrier right away, don’t stress. While I was crying tears of joy, my baby was crying tears of anger. But after my second or third babywearing attempt, he loved it as much as I did, and it’s been part of our daily routine ever since.

Babywearing gives moms freedom, flexibility, and connection with your baby—not just productivity. To give you the confidence to get started, this post answers three key questions you may have if you’re considering babywearing for the first time.

What can I (safely) do while babywearing?

Before trying it out, make sure to learn about safe babywearing practices for your baby’s age, size, and the type of carrier you’re using. This article from Solly Baby is simple yet informative.

While considering the following ideas, it’s also key to remember that babywearing itself is already accomplishing something important. Sometimes the most “productive” thing you can do is simply be present with your baby. That being said, here are some productive and enjoyable activities I actually do while babywearing to benefit my home, body, mind, and personal connections:

For the House

Most of my laundry folding, dishwasher unloading, and general tidying happens while my son naps in the carrier. I also use my babywearing time as an opportunity to do light cleaning and organization, so our home environment feels more calm and relaxing.

For Your Body

My dog was actually my first baby, and it’s so special to still enjoy our daily walks together with his human brother in the baby carrier. I also keep up with my fitness habits by doing squats, lunges and modified weights workouts while babywearing (just no weights above my shoulders). I think most moms can relate to hardly having time to feed ourselves, so during my son’s carrier naps I often make myself something to eat as long as I’m not using the stove or oven. (My baby doesn’t seem to mind when I occasionally drop food crumbs in his hair.)

For Your Mind

I love reading, and motherhood has given me many quiet moments to enjoy books while looking after my son. When my baby is demanding movement for his carrier nap, I will often stand on our patio swaying back and forth, reading on the Kindle app on my phone. Babywearing is also a great way to have your hands free to work on a side hustle or creative project. (I write a lot of my blog posts during these times!)

For Connection

Being a new mom can feel surprisingly lonely and isolating at times, even when you and your new little buddy are literally attached at the hip. One of my early babywearing adventures was meeting a friend and her toddler at the Denver Children’s Museum. My tiny baby and I enjoyed watching the older kids run around and play, while he stayed safe in the carrier and I could catch up with my friend. While babywearing, I have also strengthened connections by writing thank-you notes for baby gifts and video chatting with loved ones who live far away.

Besides productivity, what are some other benefits of babywearing?

The first few weeks after bringing our son home from the hospital, I was so intimidated by leaving the house with him (especially without my husband). Our first solo outing together felt like such a huge breakthrough for me: I was able to shop for a few things I needed, while my curious baby was content to peep over the edge of his carrier and take in the new sights and sounds of Target. A few weeks later, I was confidently wearing him while exploring downtown Breckenridge on our first family vacation.

In addition to this freedom it allows, babywearing also promotes bonding with your new little one, enables cozy contact naps (without mom being “nap trapped”), calms your baby when they’re upset, prevents strangers from getting too close, and serves as a much less bulky alternative to a stroller system when out and about.

Which types of carriers should I consider?

One of the most overwhelming parts of getting started with babywearing is realizing just how many carrier options exist. The good news is that there isn’t one “best” carrier, because different styles simply work better for different stages, activities, and personal preferences. (You’ll likely end up using more than one!)

As a general rule, softer carriers tend to shine during the newborn stage, while more structured carriers become increasingly comfortable as your baby grows. If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a quick overview of the most common carrier styles and who they’re best suited for:

Soft wraps are best for the newborn stage, contact naps, and hanging out around the house. Popular options include the Solly wrap and the Boba wrap.
Newborn-friendly soft structured carriers serve a similar purpose as the traditional soft wraps, but are typically a little less intimidating to put on for babywearing beginners. I loved my BabyBjorn Mini carrier for this stage, and would like to try out the Wildbird Aerial Buckle Wrap in the future.
Soft structured carriers are best for longer walks, older babies, and travel. I use my Wildbird Aerial structured carrier every day, and I’ve heard good things about the Mabe Monarch which has a similar design.
Ring slings are best for quick ups and downs. I personally haven’t mastered how to use these, but other moms love the Wildbird ring sling and the Nalakai ring sling.

Enjoy sweet baby snuggles with the freedom to get things done.

Babywearing helps moms get things done, but more importantly, it helps us participate in daily life while keeping our babies close. For me, some days that means folding laundry, but other days it means just sitting on the porch and watching him sleep. Both are productive, worthwhile, and rewarding uses of my time. Above all, babywearing truly helped me feel like myself again postpartum, with my favorite little sidekick along for the ride.