How a baby carrier can support breastfeeding

I would recommend a baby carrier for any new parent, and here are some great ways that it can benefit the breastfeeding relationship. You can wear your baby from day one; many new parents are nervous about it but there is no need to be. Snuggle that baby!!!

Keeps baby close so that you can spot early feeding and hunger cues.

Boosts your milk supply! You take in baby's smells and movements and your body responds by making milk.

Soothing to baby, and happier babies are usually better at feeding (this is a bit of a chicken and egg thing but definitely goes both ways!)

Super convenient so that you can have more time and flexibility to respond to baby's needs.

My absolute favorite carrier for the first few months is the Baby K’tan! What I love most about it is you can just wear it around the house and you can pop baby in and out as needed for feeding. This was soooo helpful with my second son who had some challenges that resulted in very frequent but short feeds. I found with the more structured carriers that it was hard to take him out and breastfeed right away, then put him back in easily. That was really important for me while managing my 3 year old also.

Another option is a stretchy wrap like the Moby or Boba. This is similar to the K'Tan and has a benefit that it can be adjusted to fit any parent (with the Baby K'Tan it's important to have the right size based on the adult wearing it). A lot of people find the wrap a little inconvenient though. As with most things breastfeeding, do what works best for you.

If you want something that is a little more substantial, we loved the Baby Bjorn that we got from my sister in law for our first baby. It was so easy to get him in and out and it was especially great and comfortable for Dad.

The Baby K’Tan saved me because I broke my ankle when he was only 10 weeks old. It wasn’t too long before I could hobble around the house with my babe in the Baby K’Tan.

What’s your favorite baby carrier? I would love to hear, let me know in the comments!