Babywearing and Breastfeeding: A Note from Bethany
Lauren Rush is one of my favorite people to refer families to, and I mean that sincerely. Babywearing and breastfeeding touch each other more than most mamas realize, and Lauren brings a level of expertise and care to this space that I deeply trust. She is a Certified Babywearing Consultant and Educator serving Central Indiana through Thrive in Parenthood, and I send my own families to her when they need support with carriers, fit, and positioning.
If something Lauren shares makes you wonder about what’s happening on the feeding side, that is where I come in. You can always reach out to me directly, or grab my free guide Why Does Feeding Feel So Hard as a first step.
Now, read on. Lauren is wonderful.
Feeding your baby can definitely feel like a full time job – you may have heard that parents spend approximately 1,800 hours feeding their baby during the first year! Whether you’re nursing, pumping, bottle-feeding, or some combination of the three, feeding is a significant part of your everyday life.
On top of that, you also have a toddler or an older child who needs you, chores to get done, appointments to attend, and errands to run.
Or maybe you’re trying to meet a specific feeding goal: breastfeeding, pumping, increasing opportunities to nurse, responding to early hunger cues, navigating feeding with reflux, or simply making feeding fit into real life.
When you’re working toward a feeding goal, there can be a lot to figure out. As a lactation professional, Bethany can help you understand what’s happening with feeding, work through challenges, and figure out what approach makes sense for you and your baby. But feeding doesn’t happen in a vacuum. You still have a life happening around those feeds. That’s where babywearing can become another tool in your toolbox. I can help you find ways to keep your baby close, respond to feeding cues, and make your feeding goals work alongside everything else your day requires.
Babywearing isn’t a substitute for feeding, and it isn’t a magic solution for breastfeeding challenges. But when used appropriately, it can make it easier to keep feeding your baby while continuing to participate in everyday life, helping you move from simply surviving the demands of parenthood to finding ways to thrive in them.
What Does Babywearing Have to Do with Feeding?
If you are nursing your baby, you probably were encouraged from the minute you met them at birth to keep your baby on your chest for skin-to-skin – for multiple reasons, one being that skin-to-skin contact can support breastfeeding and the hormones involved in milk letdown.
Keeping your baby on your chest also allows them to be close to the breast to eat whenever they need to, and it also helps you to learn their cues before they get too upset. When your baby is close, you are more aware of their patterns.
An easy way to keep your baby close to you so you can respond to their feeding cues and patterns is by wearing them.
Babywearing can also be a practical option after a feeding. Some babies are more comfortable when they are held upright after eating, particularly babies who experience reflux or frequently spit up. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends considering keeping babies upright for about 30 minutes after feeding, with close supervision.
For some families, babywearing can make that upright time much easier to manage. Instead of sitting on the couch holding your baby for the next 30 minutes, you may be able to put your baby in a properly fitted carrier and continue with your day while keeping them close and upright.
Babywearing isn’t a treatment for reflux, and it won’t prevent every baby from spitting up. But if your baby is more comfortable upright after a feeding, a carrier can be another practical tool to add to your toolbox.
Babywearing and Different Feeding Goals
Every family’s feeding goals are different, and babywearing can support those goals in different ways.
Breastfeeding
If you’re breastfeeding, keeping your baby close may make it easier to notice early hunger cues and respond to them.
It can also be helpful when you’re caring for an older child. If your baby wants to nurse while you’re helping your toddler, going to the park, or moving through your normal routine, a carrier can give you a way to meet that need while keeping your hands more available.
Pumping
Pumping can take up a significant amount of time, especially when you’re pumping multiple times throughout the day.
Some wearable breast pumps are designed to give parents more freedom to move around while pumping. Depending on the specific pump, carrier, and situation, some parents may also be able to combine wearable pumping with babywearing.
This could be useful for a parent who is trying to pump while caring for an older child, moving through their day at home, or fitting pumping into a busy routine.
Of course, hands-free doesn’t mean completely hands-off. If you’re pumping while babywearing, you still need to be able to monitor your baby and maintain a safe carrying position. You also want to make sure you’re following the instructions for both your pump and your carrier.
Bottle-feeding
It is possible to bottle-feed your baby while wearing them, and for some families, this can be a helpful way to keep your baby close and responsive while continuing with the rest of their day.
Babywearing Can Support Feeding, But It Can’t Solve Every Feeding Challenge
It’s important to be realistic about what babywearing can and can’t do.
Babywearing can help you:
- Keep your baby close.
- Notice feeding cues.
- Respond to your baby’s needs.
- Make parts of your daily routine more manageable.
- Keep your baby upright after a feeding when appropriate.
- Create more flexibility around nursing, bottle-feeding, and pumping.
- Care for an older child while keeping your baby close.
But babywearing can’t:
- Diagnose a feeding problem.
- Fix a painful latch.
- Resolve an oral-motor concern.
- Guarantee that your baby is transferring enough milk.
- Treat reflux.
- Replace lactation support when you or your baby are struggling with feeding.
Sometimes babywearing is the missing piece that helps a feeding plan work in real life. Other times, there is a feeding concern that needs to be addressed separately.
What About Nursing in the Carrier?
One question I hear is: Can I actually breastfeed while wearing my baby?
For some families, nursing in a carrier can be a useful tool. It can be especially appealing when you’re caring for another child, out running errands, traveling, or simply have a baby who wants to nurse frequently.
But nursing in a carrier isn’t something that should be approached as simply putting your baby into a carrier and nursing without making adjustments.
I always tell families I work with: Babywearing is its own skill. Breastfeeding is its own skill. Combining the two is its own skill. Be sure you are comfortable with babywearing and breastfeeding on their own before doing both together.
How to nurse in the carrier
Nursing in the carrier looks slightly different depending on which carrier you use, and some carriers are more comfortable to breastfeed in than others. When you book a consultation with me, I can help you choose the best carrier to nurse in and can show you how to do it, step-by-step.
When your baby is in the carrier and ready to nurse, loosen the carrier and hold onto your baby as you bring them to your breast. Once they are latched, adjust the carrier as needed to support your baby while continuing to actively monitor them throughout the feed. After they are done or have fallen asleep, immediately bring them back to their original position by loosening the carrier, moving them back up to where they are close enough to kiss, and re-tighten.
When nursing in a carrier, you need to be able to actively monitor your baby throughout the feed. Your baby’s face should remain visible, and their nose and mouth need to stay clear of fabric or your body. Their chin should not be pressed against their chest, and they should not be slumped into a position that could restrict their airway.
Nursing in a carrier is an active feeding activity. It isn’t a position for your baby to sleep or simply hang out in once they’re finished eating. If your baby falls asleep while nursing, make sure they are returned to a safe, supported carrying position and that their airway remains clear.
Your carrier also needs to be appropriate for your baby’s age, size, and developmental stage – which are all things I can help with during our consultation.
Your body shape and breast/chest size can also affect whether nursing in a carrier is a safe and comfortable option. For some parents, there may not be enough space between the breast and the carrier to maintain a clear view of your baby’s face and airway while your baby is nursing. If your breast or chest is obstructing your view of your baby’s face, pressing against their nose or mouth, or making it difficult to maintain a safe position, nursing in the carrier may not be the right option for you in that carrier or position.
This doesn’t mean you can’t babywear or breastfeed. It simply means that nursing in the carrier may require a different carrier, position, or approach, or you may decide that nursing outside of the carrier works better for you.
Be sure to check out my video on my Instagram page, where I go through how to nurse in a ring sling, but it can be helpful to see even if you want to nurse in a different type of carrier.
How to bottle feed in the carrier
Just like nursing in a carrier, bottle-feeding in a carrier requires attention to your baby’s positioning and your ability to actively respond to their cues. Your baby should never be propped or left to feed independently, as this prevents you from quickly removing the bottle if your baby coughs, chokes, or needs a break. You should be able to clearly see their face and monitor their airway throughout the feed.
When you’re ready to bottle-feed your baby, loosen the top of the carrier enough to create space for your baby to recline slightly and comfortably take the bottle. Once they start drinking, you can re-tighten the carrier while continuing to hold the bottle manually. When your baby is finished, loosen the carrier so you can help them return to their original position on your chest, making sure they are high and snug, with their face visible and close enough to kiss. Then re-tighten the carrier.
If you’re interested in learning how to safely bottle-feed while babywearing, this is something I can walk you through during a consultation.
You Don’t Have to Nurse in a Carrier
If the idea of nursing in a carrier makes you nervous, that’s okay.
You don’t have to breastfeed in a carrier for babywearing to support your feeding goals.
Babywearing can still be useful while you’re breastfeeding, pumping, or bottle-feeding without ever feeding your baby inside the carrier.
Maybe you wear your baby while you get your older child ready for school, then sit down to nurse. Maybe you wear your baby after a feeding while they prefer to stay upright. You wear your baby while you’re getting ready to pump, or while you finish up a few things around the house afterward.
Individualized support can be really helpful for babywearing and feeding. A babywearing consultant and lactation professional each bring a different area of expertise to the process. A babywearing consultant can help with the carrier, fit, positioning, and babywearing mechanics, while a lactation professional can help with latch, milk transfer, and feeding mechanics. Sometimes, having both perspectives can help you determine whether nursing in a carrier is a safe and workable option for you and your baby.
Because every parent and baby is different, what works safely for one family may not work for another. Factors like your baby’s age and development, your carrier, your body shape and breast size, and your baby’s latch and feeding patterns can all affect whether nursing in a carrier is an appropriate option for you.
There are so many ways babywearing can fit around feeding without requiring you to feed while wearing. The goal isn’t to find another thing you “should” be doing. The goal is to find tools that make your actual life work a little better.
When Should You Reach Out for Help?
Sometimes it’s hard to know whether what you’re experiencing is a babywearing issue, a feeding issue, or both.
That’s where having the right support can make a difference.
Call Bethany if you’re experiencing:
- Pain during feeding
- Difficulty with latch
- Concerns about milk supply
- Concerns about milk transfer
- A baby who consistently seems unsatisfied after feeds
- Clicking or other concerns during feeding
- Concerns about oral function
- Difficulty meeting your feeding goals
- Questions about pumping or your pumping routine
Call me if you’re experiencing:
- Uncertainty about which carrier is right for your baby
- Difficulty getting a comfortable or secure fit
- Concerns about baby’s positioning in the carrier
- Questions about whether your baby is developmentally ready for a particular carrier or position
- Questions about nursing in a carrier
- Questions about using your carrier while pumping
- A baby who seems uncomfortable or unhappy in the carrier
And sometimes, you may benefit from both.
You don’t have to figure out which professional you need before reaching out. If you’re having feeding challenges and also struggling with babywearing, it’s okay to get support from both sides.
A Quick Check Before Nursing in a Carrier
If you’re considering nursing while babywearing, take a moment to check:
- Can I see my baby’s face?
- Are their nose and mouth completely clear?
- Is their chin free from their chest?
- Can I actively monitor my baby throughout the feed?
- Is this carrier and position appropriate for my baby’s age, size, and development?
- Do I know how to return my baby to a safe, supported carrying position when the feeding is finished?
If you’re unsure about any of these things, that’s a good reason to get a hands-on fit check before trying it on your own.
Feeding Is Part of Life, But It Isn’t All of Life
Feeding your baby is a huge part of parenthood, but it isn’t the only part.
You still have other children who need you. You still have appointments, errands, meals, chores, work, and all of the little everyday things that don’t stop just because you have a new baby.
Your feeding goals matter. So does your ability to function within your actual life.
Babywearing isn’t going to solve every feeding challenge, and it isn’t a replacement for lactation or medical support when you need it. But it can be one more tool in your toolbox, helping you keep your baby close, respond to their needs, and create a little more flexibility around the things you already have to do.
You don’t have to choose between caring for your baby and participating in the rest of your life. Sometimes, finding ways for those two things to work together is what helps you move from surviving to thriving in parenthood.
About Lauren Rush
Lauren is a Certified Babywearing Consultant & Educator and the owner of Thrive in Parenthood, LLC. She helps families feel safe, comfortable, and confident using baby carriers through personalized education, hands-on fit support, and practical guidance that fits their individual needs and lifestyles.
Lauren offers in-home consultations throughout Central Indiana and virtual consultations for families elsewhere. During a consultation, families can explore her library of 30+ carriers, learn about different carrier types and options, and receive an in-depth, step-by-step fit tailored to their baby, their body, and the way they want to use babywearing in everyday life.
Lauren’s website: thriveinparenthoodllc.com
A Closing Note from Bethany
Lauren and I make such a natural team, and I hope this post helped you see how these two worlds fit together. If anything she shared made you wonder about what is happening with feeding specifically, that is exactly where I can help.
My free guide Why Does Feeding Feel So Hard is a great place to start. It walks through the most common signs that oral function may be affecting your baby’s feeding, in language that is clear and calm at any hour of the day.
If you want someone in your corner more consistently, Mama, I’ve Got You is my $47/month text membership for exactly those everyday questions that do not feel big enough for an appointment but are too important to leave unanswered. And when you are ready for a full evaluation, I am available for in-home visits throughout Brownsburg, Avon, Plainfield, Zionsville, Danville, and the westside of Indianapolis.
Rooting for you, Bethany
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you breastfeed while babywearing?
Yes, some parents can safely nurse while using a carrier when their baby is developmentally ready and the carrier and positioning are appropriate. Nursing in a carrier requires active supervision and attention to your baby’s airway and positioning. Your baby should be returned to a safe, supported carrying position after the feeding.
I always tell families that babywearing is its own skill and breastfeeding is its own skill, and combining the two is its own skill – so be sure you are comfortable with babywearing and breastfeeding on their own before doing both together.
Can babywearing help with reflux?
Babywearing does not treat reflux, but keeping a baby upright after feeding may be helpful for some babies who experience normal infant reflux. A properly fitted carrier can provide a practical way to keep your baby upright while continuing with your day. If your baby has painful, persistent, or concerning reflux symptoms, talk with their pediatrician.
Can I pump while babywearing?
Some parents may be able to use a wearable breast pump while babywearing, depending on the pump, carrier, and baby’s position. If you do this, make sure you can continue to monitor your baby and maintain a safe carrying position. Follow the instructions for both products.
Does babywearing help with breastfeeding?
Babywearing doesn’t directly solve breastfeeding challenges, but it can support some of the logistics around breastfeeding. Keeping your baby close may make it easier to notice early feeding cues and respond to them, and it can make parts of your daily routine more manageable. If you are noticing signs that something more is going on with feeding, the free guide Why Does Feeding Feel So Hard is a helpful first look.
Do I have to nurse in a carrier for babywearing to support my feeding goals?
Absolutely not. Babywearing can support your feeding goals in many ways without ever nursing in the carrier. Wearing your baby between feeds, after feeds, or while caring for other children can all help make feeding fit into everyday life.