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

Examples of babywearing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The ease of use means that babywearing will be a more enticing option, even with that $1,000 stroller sitting by the front door. —Cameron Leblanc, Parents, 12 Feb. 2025

The educational portion of the retreat walks parents through courses with topics including infant CPR and safety, babywearing, tummy time, and bathtime. —Blake Bakkila, Sunset Magazine, 23 May 2024

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly recommends safe babywearing for soothing, bonding, and nurturing a baby’s development. —Ashley Ziegler, Parents, 20 Mar. 2024

Additionally, there are no removable front panels to facilitate babywearing. —Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 23 Feb. 2024

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

Rhymes for babywearing

• commandeering
• disappearing
• domineering
• engineering
• interfering
• overhearing
• persevering
• pioneering
• privateering
• profiteering
• racketeering
• reappearing