Why this question keeps coming up in babywearing spaces

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room.

Is it worth it to get trained in babywearing education?

Obviously, I have a bias here, but our Foundations in Babywearing Education course is a significant investment in time, money, and emotional and mental energy in a field that’s often framed as passion-driven, volunteer-adjacent, or “nice to have” rather than essential. (And the same can be said for the other professional babywearing training businesses around the world.) 

I get it. No one is doing this in your neighborhood right now. So, maybe that's because there's not much to it? But let me ask you something? Do you think parents are stressed? Do they need someone to help them make the early days and months with a baby easier? Do you think that a fit check or a quick reddit reply can help someone who is overwhelmed and struggling to even find time to go on reddit? The answer to, "Is it worth it to get trained in babywearing education?"

Depends on how you see the job of a babywearing educator.

When babywearing education and support are treated as occasional fit checks, free advice in community spaces, or a nice hobby that you squeeze between other responsibilities, it’s easy to conclude that a 'technique' training feels like overkill. But, after 20 years, I firmly believe that’s not because babywearing education lacks value, (my clients would disagree)

But, Hey, Let’s Talk Numbers

My babywearing training costs money (+ time and energy, also). So, yes, it's an investment. There’s no way around that. I often hear hesitations about this, like “I just don’t know if there’s demand in my area” or “I’m not sure if I’m ready to run a business…is it worth it?” 

So let’s run some back-of-the-napkin style numbers.

Let’s say you run a babywearing workshop at a local community space. 15 people attend, and tickets are $30.

That’s $450.

Run that workshop twice, and you’ve already made back your investment in the course.

And that's without even considering private consults, ongoing classes, or a huge audience.

Now layer in possibilities like:

• babywearing + movement classes
• outdoor groups, hiking groups, or community wellness events
• workshops hosted in collaboration with PTs, chiropractors, or pelvic health providers
• partnerships with lactation consultants, doulas, or mental health professionals
• babywearing education embedded into support groups or parent programs
• infant development classes that make early life make sense
• or ongoing monthly facilitated groups that help parents evolve the carrying as the baby grows.

Business vs. Hobby

Not everyone who takes a babywearing training wants to run a business. And that's ok. There can be a lot of amazing support offered in 1x a month peer groups - that's where I started! Nothing wrong with that - unless you don't know what to do when 10 people and 10 babies of varying ages show up at the same time, and all want your help and attention, and no one feels super supported, and you feel exhausted.Of course, it doesn't have to be that way. 

But for those who do want to help support their family and also build a business that allows them to be the master of their schedule, then it’s important to be honest about this:

If babywearing education is treated like a part-time hobby, it will pay like one.

If it’s approached as a professional service, with a clear scope, structure, boundaries, and value, it can become something very different.

I believe babywearing trainings should be designed to prepare educators to:

• zoom out and understand the context of what is happening between the dyad
• zoom in and provide precise, professional guidance that is consistent and easy to follow
• adapts as babies grow and families’ needs change
• integrates babywearing into the broader landscape of perinatal care

And that starts by imagining babywearing education and support not as a single service, but as a lens that opens doors.