From the very beginning of human history, carrying our babies has been far more than a simple means of transport — it has always been an expression of love, connection, and survival. Across every climate and culture, babywearing has remained a constant thread, evolving to meet different needs and environments, yet always centred on keeping babies close to their caregivers’ hearts.

The 20th century was a time of immense social and cultural change, and babywearing evolved alongside it. As industrialisation and modern parenting advice reshaped family life in Western countries, the simple act of carrying babies close — a practice so deeply woven into human history — began to fade. Yet, even during this time, passionate voices and innovative thinkers worked to keep this ancient tradition alive, adapting and reimagining it for new generations.

As the 21st century unfolded, babywearing education and community support blossomed worldwide. In Europe, babywearing schools such as Die Trageschule® Dresden and ClauWi® in Germany, and Slingababy in the UK, laid the foundation for modern consultant training. These schools emphasised optimal positioning, infant safety, cultural sensitivity, and biomechanics, creating a global network of highly skilled educators.

Social movements in the 1970s — including feminism, the natural childbirth movement, and a renewed interest in Indigenous and ancestral practices — sparked a return to softer, more responsive parenting. Jean Liedloff’s The Continuum Concept (1975) inspired many Western parents to rethink infant separation.

Pioneers like Erica Hoffmann (Didymos), Rayner and Sacchi Garner (ring sling), and William and Martha Sears (who coined babywearing) helped revive carrying in Western contexts, connecting it to attachment and breastfeeding advocacy.