Ep. 373: Baby Wearing Without the Stress: Safety, Benefits, and Choosing the Right Fit with OT Jordan Morillo

In this episode, we’re diving headfirst into the world of baby wearing with Jordan Morillo, a perinatal health OT, certified babywearing consultant, and toddler mom. We’re talking everything from the ABCs of carrier choices to spotting a perfect carry (and avoiding the not-so-perfect ones). You’ll learn how to safely position your baby, back carry like a pro, tandem wear without losing your mind, and even breastfeed on the go. We tackle fears, hot-weather hacks, and ethical carrier picks, so whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned wearer, you’ll walk away confident, informed, and ready to rock that baby wearing life.

00:00 Introduction and Importance of Baby Wearing

05:42 Key Safety Components: The ABCs of Baby Wearing

08:53 Understanding the M Position for Baby's Legs

15:21 Choosing the Right Baby Carrier

20:59 Addressing Common Concerns and Misconceptions

25:03 Risks and Benefits of Baby Wearing

29:36 Special Considerations for NICU and Preemie Babies

33:40 Misleading Marketing and Safety Testing

39:22 Addressing Baby's Discomfort with Carriers

39:45 Tips for Easing Baby into Baby Wearing

41:05 Understanding Baby's Resistance to Carriers

45:14 Debunking Myths: Baby Wearing and Clinginess

48:52 Breastfeeding Benefits and Baby Wearing

50:55 Toddler Wearing: Tips and Techniques

54:44 Tandem Wearing: Managing Two Kids

56:21 Forward Facing: When and How

01:00:21 Favorite Carriers for Different Scenarios

01:07:44 Water Safe Baby Wearing

01:11:22 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Guest Bio:

Jordan Morillo is a perinatal health OT, certified babywearing consultant, and toddler mom, who is passionate about empowering families with the knowledge they need to babywear safely, comfortably, and with confidence. She provides parent support through worldwide virtual 1:1 consultations, home health services, and by sharing free resources and tutorials on social media.

INSTAGRAM:

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Connect with Jordan on IG

BIRTH EDUCATION:

Join The Birth Lounge here for judgment-free childbirth education that prepares you for an informed birth and how to confidently navigate hospital policy to have a trauma-free labor experience!

Download The Birth Lounge App for birth & postpartum prep delivered straight to your phone!

LINKS MENTIONED:

Visit Motherhoodtherapyservices.janeapp.com to book a consultation with Jordan!

Babywearing Resources Everyday Carriers

• Hoppediz Primeo – https://hoppediz.de/en/baby-carriers/primeo A buckle carrier that’s perfect for smaller babies.
• Neko Tiny – https://www.nekoslings.com/en/ A stretchy wrap–buckle hybrid carrier for newborns.
• Solly Baby – https://sollybaby.com/ Lightweight stretchy wraps designed for comfort in the early months.
• Boba – https://boba.com/ Known for soft structured carriers and stretchy wraps.
• Ring Slings – Popular ones are from Sakura Bloom https://sakurabloom.com/collections/ring-sling and Mama & Roos https://www.mama-roo.com/collections/ring-slings Easy to adjust and stylish for on-the-go babywearing.
• Onbuhimo Buckle Carrier Strap-and-back-only carrier, ideal for toddlers who want up and down often.
• Forward Facing Options – ErgoBaby Omni https://ergobaby.com/omni-breeze-baby-carrier and Tula Explore https://babytula.com/products/explore-baby-carrier Safe forward-facing carry for older babies.
• Jordan’s favorite ethical/organic brands: Ethically made, sustainable carriers with thoughtful design.
  • Hope & Plum https://www.hopeandplum.co/collections/baby-carriers
  • Heritage Baby Designs https://heritagebaby.ca/
  • LoveHeld https://loveheld.com/collections/shop-all-baby-carriers
  • Beluga Baby https://belugababy.ca/

Size Inclusive Carriers

• Ring Slings – Sakura Bloom https://sakurabloom.com/collections/ring-sling, Mama & Roos https://www.mama-roo.com/collections/ring-slings Adjustable and versatile for all body types.
• Woven Wraps – Didymos https://www.didymos.de/en/Baby-Wraps/, Oscha Slings https://oschaslings.com/collections/baby-wraps Endless tying options for perfect fit and comfort.
• Keep Close(r) – https://keepcloser.com/ Designed specifically with plus-size parents in mind.
• Kinderpack – https://kindercarry.com/ Extended sizes and supportive structure for all bodies.
• Integra Baby – https://integrababy.co.uk/ Lightweight carriers with adjustable straps for inclusivity.
• Hope & Plum – https://www.hopeandplum.co/collections/baby-carriers Ring slings made for every parent’s comfort.
• LoveHeld – https://loveheld.com/collections/shop-all-baby-carriers Soft, ethically made carriers with flexible sizing.
• Tula Belt Extenders – https://babytula.com/products/tula-waistband-extenders Expand Tula carriers for a more inclusive fit.
• Meh Dai Carriers – Didymos https://www.didymos.de/en/Meh-Dai/, BabyHawk https://babyhawk.com/ Tie-on carriers with a customizable fit.
• Lamb (Europe) – https://lamb-babycarriers.com/ European-made woven carriers, size-friendly.
• WildBird – https://wildbird.co/ Long-tail ring slings for flexible carrying options.

Water Wearing Carriers

• Integra Solar – https://integrababy.co.uk/collections/integra-solar Quick-drying, lightweight carrier for water activities.
• Hope & Plum Hemp Sling – https://www.hopeandplum.co/collections/baby-carriers Breathable sling, perfect for summer and pool days.
• LoveHeld Hemp Carrier – https://loveheld.com/collections/shop-all-baby-carriers Durable hemp blend, suitable for water and sun.
• Aloha & Light Eco Silk Hemp Blend – https://alohaandlight.com/ Soft, eco-friendly slings designed for hot climates.
• Beachfront Baby – https://beachfrontbabywraps.com/ Mesh Meh Dais and wraps made for swimming and beach days.
• Gustine Mesh Sling – https://gustinebabycarriers.com/ Breathable mesh sling perfect for water play.

RESEARCH: Study on reduction of PMADs: Randomized controlled trial to prevent postpartum depressive symptomatology: An infant carrier intervention. Little EE, Bain L, Hahn-Holbrook J. J Affect Disord. 2023 Nov 1;340:871-876. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.08.044. Epub 2023 Aug 15. PMID: 37586649.

Study on decreased cry time when worn: Increased Carrying Reduces Infant Crying: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Urs A. Hunziker; Ronald G. Barr. Pediatrics (1986) 77 (5): 641–648

Vital signs regulation:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39369660/