Research: Carrying a baby in a sling helped increase breastfeeding rates 6 months after birth

Quick Summary: Research finds babywearing parents were more likely to be breastfeeding or feeding expressed human milk at 6 months postpartum compared to non babywearers.

A new study finds the power of babywearing (carrying a baby in a sling) as a fantastic yet simple way to hugely improve breastfeeding rates 6 months after birth.

As you know, immediate skin-to-skin contact after birth increases initiation and duration of breastfeeding.

Indigenous communities around the world already know the importance of carrying a baby for breastfeeding. Indeed, carrying a baby may promote breastfeeding through increased responsiveness to early hungry cries, increased bonding and decreased crying.

Now a recent study by Little E. et al., (2021) found babywearing parents were more likely to be breastfeeding or feeding expressed human milk at 6 months postpartum (68%) compared to parents in the control group (40%).

The hypothesis

Researchers and community health professionals from Project Concern International, University of California Merced, University of Oregon, and University of Texas at Austin investigated this question: