babywearing

noun

ba·​by·​wear·​ing ˈbā-bē-ˌwer-iŋ 

variants or less commonly baby wearing

: the act or practice of holding an infant against an adult's torso by using a supporting device (such as a baby carrier) that buckles or ties onto the adult's body

We've always wanted to present a primer on babywearing for parents who wished to try it but felt intimidated by the practice. After all, to the uninitiated, baby can look a bit precarious when wrapped to mom. But done correctly, babywearing is perfectly safe—and it makes life easier.

—Mothering

Once you're home, there are many other effective routes to bonding. Babywearing is one. A Columbia University study found that after a year, 83 percent of infants whose moms wore them in front carriers were strongly attached to their moms compared with 38 percent of infants who were placed in baby seats.

—Paula Spencer

… different cultures around the world have been practicing baby wearing techniques for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years.

—Ashley Marcin

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

These are just a few reasons for why the best baby carriers—and babywearing, period—can be a real lifesaver for caretakers. —Shanna Shipin, Glamour, 10 Feb. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1989, in the meaning defined above