Babywearing is a rich cultural tradition with deep roots around the world. For thousands of years, babywearing has allowed caregivers to keep their babies close, safe, and connected. Like those in many places around the world, people across the African continent have been babywearing for thousands of years.
For millennia, parents around the world have been carrying their children. Moving while maintaining contact with your child, whether by choice or necessity, is universal. Babywearing transcends cultures and eras.
In a modern world where the pace of our lives is accelerating, babywearing is making a comeback. A fad? It's true, babywearing is attracting more and more parents thanks to ergonomic, practical and aesthetic accessories that allow them to enjoy moments of closeness with their baby. But babywearing is a universal practice that has many benefits. Carrying your child also allowed you to travel long distances, at a time when strollers and prams did not exist...
In different parts of the world, babywearing takes various forms. In South America, peoples such as the Mayans or the Quechuas have developed unique carrying methods. Each culture adapts babywearing to its specific needs, its environment and the means at its disposal. Babywearing also had a strong symbolic dimension. In many cultures, babywearing is a marker of cultural and community belonging. The fabrics used, the knotting techniques, and even the way the child was carried (on the back, on the stomach, on the hip) are specific to each ethnic group or region.
With the appearance of the first fabrics, we see the precursors of baby carriers appear. In the Middle Ages, babywearing was still widely practiced, especially to be able to work without leaving the baby unattended. And yes, strollers did not appear until 1733!
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Little by little, around the Renaissance, wet nurses appeared in Western society, particularly in France. This is a major turning point for babywearing, where we see a real separation between children and their mothers. At that time, young children spent most of their time with their wet nurse and were even breastfed by her most of the time! In 1780, it is estimated that only 1,000 children out of the 21,000 born in Paris were breastfed by their mother.
Psychoanalysis influences parents by suggesting that too much physical proximity could hinder the child's autonomous development. Increasingly, babywearing is seen as an outdated practice. It is the time of the industrial revolution during which women are called upon to work en masse.
However, a new obstacle is emerging in the face of the regular practice of babywearing: the democratization of the pram and the stroller. With them, there is no longer any need to carry children during various trips. With these modern means of transport, portering is becoming increasingly rare and even synonymous with great poverty.
The developments - and revolutions - continue and studies are conducted by many scientists. Doctors advise and contradict each other, nothing is really definitive. The first method adopted and recommended by doctors was the famous “kangaroo method” that was born in 1978 in Bogota, Colombia.
Overwhelmed by the lack of incubators available for premature or very small newborns, doctors Edgar Rey Sanabria and Martinez placed the children on their mothers’ bare chests and covered them with a blanket. Studies show that proximity has a real impact on the infant mortality rate: it decreases, as do the infection rate and the length of hospitalization! It is also noted that children who have used the kangaroo method have better respiratory stability, better temperature regulation and even better sleep.
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During this same period, in Germany, Erika Hoffman created the modern baby sling, inspired by Mexican methods of carrying her twin girls. Researchers on the subject understand that the upright and M-shaped position is physiological.
Since the 1970s, babywearing has experienced a real revival in the West, driven by the proximal parenting movement. Scientific research on attachment and brain development has shown that regular physical contact between parent and child promotes the child's emotional and neurological development.
Once again, the models and methods of carrying have multiplied in Europe: slings to tie, ring slings, onbuhimo baby carriers or headbands, skin to skin... It's not just mothers who are attracted to it. Fathers are also getting into babywearing, as are other members of the family, including the youngest ones, thanks to baby carriers.
Babywearing-the practice of carrying a baby close to one's body using a cloth or carrier-is a timeless tradition that has been integral to parenting across cultures. While modern baby carriers have gained popularity worldwide, the roots of babywearing trace back thousands of years, with profound origins in African societies. In many African communities, babywearing has been more than a practical solution; it's a cultural expression of love, care, and community. Mothers traditionally used simple cloths to secure their infants to their backs, allowing them to continue daily tasks while keeping their babies close.
Baby wearing varies from region to region in Africa. But the beautiful Kanga, originating from East Africa, is a traditional wrap with an immense cultural significance. This special garment consists of 1m x 1.5m in size and offers people the versatility to carry or wear it as they wish! Not only that - each piece gets its own unique character through its woven frame (Swahili: pindo) and aphorism at center field( mji). To attach it onto their bodies, individuals tie up both corners together which creates a secure fit around the waistline. Additionally, In Nigeria, the beautiful Yoruba cloth is used in a special way-as an ancient tradition of baby carrying. Tied around mother's waist with loving care, it cradles the little one close against her back and allows mom to go about her daily activities hands free!
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Baby wearing provides so many advantages for both babies and their parents. Babies love the closeness to their parent, as well as the warmth and safety a baby carrier provides. It helps keep them contented, making life with a newborn easier for everyone. In addition, baby carriers can make it much simpler for moms and dads to move around while doing chores or running errands without leaving their infant behind. Ultimately, not only does baby wearing offer convenience and practicality - it also brings meaningful connection between parent and child.
Wearing your baby in a wrap or carrier is an excellent way to keep your baby close and comfortable while you go about your day. It also frees up your hands so you can stay productive and prompt if need be. However, it's important to use a wrap or carrier that was designed specifically for babies to ensure safe use. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions closely when using any type of baby carrying device, paying special attention to the proper weight limit and making sure the material is not damaged in any way. Additionally, keep both you and the child comfortable; make sure that the wrap or carrier fits well with no pressure on either of you, as this may cause discomfort later on. Finally, never forget to practice common sense - if its doesn't feel right, don't do it!
Baby wearing can be an amazing bonding experience for both you and your little one as it allows you to keep your new bundle of joy close while still maintaining the freedom of movement for both parties. In order for baby wearing to be enjoyable and comfortable, there are a few considerations you should take into account. Consider selecting a carrier or wrap that is both supportive for the baby and comfortable for yourself. Before each use, make sure to double check that the baby is situated securely before taking them out in public. Additionally, many parents find baby-slinging to be more enjoyable if you ensure that your posture remains upright; this helps not only help protect against muscle strain but ensures that the source of comfort lies in having your child close rather than in being able to move quickly without carrying a bundle.
Baby wearing has been practiced in Africa and neighboring regions for centuries, being passed down through generations with great ease. It is a beautiful practice that can bring parents and infants closer together, comforting both of them and allowing for easy collaboration and mutual understanding between the two. Although it may seem like a challenging thing to do at first, when done correctly, baby wearing is wonderfully comfortable for both parent and child. By following simple and safe guidelines for baby wearing, such as picking the right type of carrier for your needs, it can be enjoyed by everyone involved.
In African cultures, women would wrap a long piece of non-stretch fabric around their bodies, as their little one lay asleep on their back. They would tie and tuck the loose ends underneath their breast and proceed upon their day, babe in tow. Women of the village would congregate, walking along with the soil, all while being hands-free. They breastfed their children. They laughed. So when did babywearing make its way West? in the 1970s.
Doula, Kaytee Crawford explains it best, "Carriers like these with buckles and straps, they all had to come from somewhere, right? and decided to make a carrier with buckles and straps to mimic the way Africans were carrying their babies." And just like that, babywearing took off.
We acknowledge the deep rich roots that have been erased. We acknowledge the history of where our favorite Ergobaby Carrier and so many other carriers have come from... We acknowledge that THIS is not a new idea. Attachment parenting is not a new idea. We push for representation.
As a new mother in 2006, I didn't see many Black mothers wearing their babes. I didn't see it in my day to day, and I most certainly didn't see it in mainstream media. And why? It wasn't because Black moms weren't babywearing. It was because it wasn't being represented as the norm and because it was being represented, I metabolized it as perhaps that this babywearing thing wasn't for me.
We open doors. Finding and supporting your local Black Babywearing Group is necessary to this work. I'll never forget going to one of my first Mama Groups here in Los Angeles. I was surrounded by Black and Brown mothers, helping each other breastfeed, babywear, etc. We cried together. We laughed together. It felt ancestral and similar perhaps to what the African women I described at the beginning of this piece experienced. It felt communal. It felt like home.
Being in the space and in the community allowed me to feel seen and heard, outside of a world that so often doesn't see or hear Black mothers, let alone Black women. Happy Black History Month.
When Ann Moore was a Peace Corps nurse in Togo, West Africa, in the 1960s, she was intrigued by the way African mothers carried their babies in fabric slings tied to their backs. "The babies were so calm because they felt secure and close to their mothers," says Moore.
Moore's experience in Africa was the first step in a journey that led her to invent the original soft baby carrier--the Snugli®--as well as other kinds of specialized carrying cases.
Wearing traditional West African clothing, Ann and Mike showed the students slides of people and places they knew in Togo. They also led the students in singing African songs and in playing drums, tambourines, and other instruments. Ann and Mike encouraged the students to think of themselves as inventive people. "How many times have you repaired something that is broken? Had to figure out a way to repair it?" asked Ann. "Now I think that's kind of being an inventor because you had to solve a problem and figure out a way to fix it.
Moore said her inventive spirit could be traced back to her childhood when she would create simple dolls and toys. She grew up on a farm in Ohio, raised by parents who belonged to the Dunkard Church. The Dunkards practice a faith similar to the Amish and other "plain clothes people." Early on, she learned about the importance of community, thinking in innovative ways, and drawing upon limited resources to create new things.
"I knew from the time I was a little girl I wanted to be a nurse," says Moore. "Back in those days, women became nurses or teachers and now there are lots of options. Moore specialized in pediatric nursing and taught at Columbia University's Babies Hospital in New York.
Soon after, she worked in Germany with refugees from Eastern Europe, and then in an international work camp in Morocco, aiding victims of an earthquake. While Ann was in French language training, she fell in love with her teacher, Mike Moore. They were married eight weeks later and soon began their work together in Togo.
That was just the beginning of the adventure. Their partnership has included experiences such as participating in the Civil Rights movement, supporting Mike's career as the director of a Community Action Agency in the War on Poverty, raising three daughters, singing together professionally, and founding Air Lift®, a company that makes soft-sided carriers for oxygen canisters and high-tech instruments.
In their business partnership, Mike takes care of marketing and sales, and Ann creates and refines the products. "We really complement each other," says Ann.
Moore, who taught nutrition courses in Togo, says she learned as much from the African mothers as they learned from her. "For thousands of years, women around the world have carried their babies close to them," says Moore. "But in America it was considered a radical idea at first.
"In Africa, mothers stay at the hospital to be with their sick babies and it is so comforting to them," says Moore.
Soon after Mike and Ann returned to America, their daughter Mandela--named after the South African leader Nelson Mandela--was born. When Ann left the hospital, she tied her daughter to her back in the African way, but found that the baby kept slipping. Moore asked her mother, Lucy Auckerman, to help her sew a simple backpack for her new daughter.
With Mande strapped to her back, Moore was able to ride her bicycle, run errands, and cook--all while staying close to her daughter. "Some people warned us that we would spoil our baby," says Moore. "But I thought that the more you satisfy a baby's needs in the first year of life, the more they'll grow up to feel secure and loved. And then they would become loving people when they grew up.
Soon, dozens of people were asking where they could buy a baby carrier like Ann's. The Moores did not advertise the product, but news of the carrier spread by word of mouth. Over time, Moore came up with refinements for the pack. She added leg holes and extra padding. She put in tucks and darts so it could be enlarged as the baby grew.
The timing could not have been better. Natural childbirth and breast feeding were becoming popular. The La Leche League International (women who advocate breast feeding) began selling the product to their members. When the Moores attended a La Leche convention in 1968, they found that delegates were carrying their babies in Snuglis on their chests. They complained that the shoulder straps fell off whenever they leaned forward.
In 1966, the Moores were surprised to learn that the Whole Earth Catalogue published an advertisement for the Snugli®. In 1976, a consumer report called it "the soft baby carrier to have." And soon after, the Wall Street Journal carried a front-page story on the product. "This invention was based on an ancient concept, but at the same time it was radically different," says Moore.
In 1985, Ann and Mike sold their rights to the Snugli® to Gerry Baby Products, part of the Huffy Corporation (later purchased by Evenflo). The Moores said the company decided to market the product to large discount retail stores and cheapened the Snugli® for mass manufacture. "We were shocked and disappointed," says Ann. "They completely changed the design and took out a lot of important features. Adjustable webbing and buckles replace tucks and darts that were sewn in the original Snugli®.
Ann's skill at creating carriers for "precious cargo"--and Mike's skill at marketing those products--led to the creation of Air Lift®, a Colorado-based company that manufactures soft-sided carriers. In 1986, at the request of a respiratory therapist, Ann began designing backpacks and fanny packs for carrying liquid oxygen cylinders. The packs feature mesh and air holes to safely carry the cylinders, which contain highly-flammable liquid.
More recently, Moore has begun inventing carrying cases for medical and high-tech instruments. She recently designed a spectrometer case for Hewlett Packard's microwave division. "People are parachuted into rough terrain, carrying these cases with measuring devices on their backs," Moore explains. "Then they climb to the top of these microwave towers.
Although Moore has several patents, and has even won awards for her inventions, she says she doesn't think of herself as an inventor. "I think of myself as more of a problem solver," she says. "When I get engineering drawings, I just panic because it's difficult to read them. But if someone hands me an instrument, then I'm very comfortable. I ask, 'How is it going to be used? Who's going to be using it? What is the purpose of this instrument?' I don't work from drawings. I do much better with the actual instrument, to design around it. It's a trial and error process.
"There have been so many times that I've been thankful in my prayers to the African mothers," Ann continues. "They were really our inspiration and it is so wonderful to think that we in America can have the same closeness with our babies. Now mothers in Africa buy soft baby carriers.
Anthropological studies suggest that early humans utilized natural materials like bark and leaves to fashion rudimentary carriers. As weaving techniques evolved, fabrics became the preferred medium for creating durable and comfortable baby wraps.
The traditional African approach to babywearing has significantly influenced contemporary baby carrier designs. In the late 1960s, Ann Moore, an American nurse, developed the Snugli baby carrier after observing mothers in Togo carrying their babies with cloth wraps.
Today, babywearing remains a vital aspect of cultural identity in many African communities. The practice is passed down through generations, with grandmothers teaching young mothers the art of securely wrapping their babies.
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in traditional babywearing practices, both within African communities and globally. Parents worldwide are embracing the benefits of babywearing, recognizing its role in fostering closeness and convenience.
The migration of African families to Europe throughout the 20th and 21st centuries brought with it many treasured traditions-including babywearing. In recent decades, European midwives, doulas, and parenting educators have begun to embrace the wisdom of African babywearing practices.
European parents began to adopt soft fabric slings modeled after the African pagne and kanga, appreciating both the physical closeness they encouraged and the beautiful designs that told a story. Importantly, many Black European mothers have taken the lead in reclaiming and celebrating these traditions-using social media, workshops, and community networks to teach others how to wrap safely and confidently.
