Babywearing for Birthworkers 5-Class Series

Class Description:

Calling all Birth and Postpartum Doulas, IBCLCs, Childbirth Educators, Nurses, Midwives, Infant Care Specialists, Lactation counselors, and others who work with perinatal families! You are invited to this 5-class Babywearing series to build your skills and boost your business! In addition to staying up do date on current baby-carrying products, options, practices and safety guidelines, you'll walk away knowing how to more confidently communicate with and support your pregnant and postpartum clients, when they struggle to learn these new skills on their own.

In 2025, nearly every family you work with will likely be using, or thinking about using a baby carrier. Carriers are tools that allow parents to function like adults, while still meeting the physiological and emotional needs of their babies. If you are in the business of providing accurate, evidence-based information to families, but feel like you need more knowledge and confidence when it comes to fielding your client’s babywearing questions, then this workshop is for you!

In addition to my work as a babywearing educator, I'm also a veteran postpartum doula. While the types of families doulas support vary greatly, babywearing support is the one consistent skill that all of our clients want, need and expect. Even when new parents may not be physically ready to babywear yet, they still want to understand how their carriers work for the future. When we're able to soothe our clients' newborn easily with a carrier, or model how baby-carrying allows us to be safe and efficient in the home, we're also inspiring new parents to learn to do this themselves.

Remember: not all babies love all baby carriers, not all carriers fit all bodies, and not all parents have the same babywearing goals and abilities. Regardless, every single one of my testimonials from families come with praise for whatever amount of babywearing support I was able to provide them. Now it's your time to share your magic with familes! Build your business reputation, as you help parents build solutions and learn real-life skills that will benefit their babies and lives for years to come.

Class Timeline:

This workshop series consists of 5 classes spread out over 3 weeks. Shorter class modules will help you digest and retain tons of new information, and space in between classes will give you the necessary time to practice, troubleshoot and integrate complex skills.

Please note this is a hybrid virtual/in-person class! Classes are 2.5 hours each. Classes 1 and 4, which are predominantly lecture and demonstration, will be taught virtually on zoom at 5:30pm. Classes 2, 3 and 5 are for hands-on carrier practice and will be taught in-person at The Wild, in Greenpoint Brooklyn.

The 2 virtual classes will be recorded, in case you cannot make them, but it is still encouraged to attend all 5 classes live, if you can. In-person classes will not be recorded, and cannot be made up if missed.

Class Schedule:

Class 1 - 6/3 Tues, 5:30-8:00p,(Virtual): Babywearing History, Science, Benefits, Safety and Positioning

Class 2 - 6/4 Weds, 2:00-4:30p (In-person): Carrier practice (Stretchy, Woven and Hybrid Wraps,) Intro to teaching and working with new parents, Feeding in Carriers

Class 3 - 6/11 Weds, 2:00-4:30p (In-person): Carrier practice (Ring Slings , Meh Dais, Intro to Buckle Carriers)

Class 4 - 6/17 Tues, 5:30-8:00pm (Virtual): Carrier refresher (Buckle Carriers, Harness carriers and Hybrid Buckles), Special situations, Intro to Tandem/Twin Carrying.

Class 5 - 6/18, Weds, 2:00-4:30pm,(In-person): Choosing Carriers, Case Studies, Troubleshooting, Resources, and Closing Ceremony.

Class Content:

This 5-week intensive workshop covers:

• Babywearing as a tool to promote bonding, lessen the impact of mood and anxiety disorders, and increase breastfeeding success. We’ll explore the physiological and psychological benefits of babywearing, for both babies and wearers of all kinds.
• Safety for newborns. Learn how to recognize safe positioning in any carrier. Use evidence-based research to advise your clients appropriately and accurately.
• The rich, multicultural history of babywearing. Don’t appropriate! Learn how to meet your clients where they are, in our collective American culture. Use language and approach teaching in a way that honors and respects babywearing traditions worldwide.
• A comprehensive introduction to at least 5 styles of the most commonly used baby carriers, with in-depth, hands-on practice with these during our in-person practicum classes. This is what you came for! Get your own body in different carriers and gain real experience while learning to adjust and troubleshoot the carriers that you are most likely to encounter.
• Wearing premature babies and multiples. Learn safety guidelines and pro tips and tricks to share with families who may need some extra babywearing support.
• How to choose your OWN carrier. Learn how wearing other people's babies can expand your own birthworker repertoire, all while building your clients' babywearing confidence.
• What is the “best” carrier for your clients? Engage in group role play to decode the most common questions and concerns of new parents. Discover how babywearing can be a window into the deeper needs of new families, and center your client as you build creative babywearing solutions together.
• Teaching Families. Working with our own assumptions and limitations, and a deep understanding of what the postpartum period of transformation entails, learn to use your own language, body language and curiosity to help families feel safe, included, optimistic and engaged, all while they work to master a complicated, new skill.

Tea will be provided throughout in-person classes, but please bring your own snacks and drinks that you feel will make you most comfortable. A fridge and microwave will be available. Dress comfortably and be ready to try on carriers! In order to give all students the hands-on attention they need, attendance in this class will be limited to 8 people. Two partial scholarships will be provided per class for BIPOC birthworkers, or individuals otherwise dedicated to serving marginalized communities.

For those wishing to bypass the ticketing fees charged through this platform, please message me directly for alternative non-fee payment options!