Babywearing Voices: McRae Brittingham

In the world of postpartum care, babywearing has become an essential practice for many new parents, providing a means to keep their babies close while maintaining the freedom to manage daily tasks. McRae, a seasoned postpartum doula with over a decade of experience, shares her journey into babywearing, offering invaluable insights and advice for those starting out in this field.

McRae’s journey into babywearing began unexpectedly. Before she knew much about the practice, she realized that modeling was a powerful tool for new parents. "It became really obvious that modeling was important," she recalls. In her early days as a doula, she would show up at a client's house, strap on a baby carrier, and start doing tasks around the house. This simple act often had a profound impact on her clients, many of whom were overwhelmed and unsure how to manage their daily responsibilities with a newborn.

"I remember wearing one client’s baby," McRae reminisces. "I strapped the baby on— the mom was amazed. She saw me getting stuff done, and that was a turning point for her." These early experiences underscored the importance of showing rather than just telling parents how to incorporate babywearing into their lives.

McRae’s passion for babywearing was deeply rooted in her involvement with her local babywearing chapter. She shares how the community played a pivotal role in her learning process. "I had an 18-month-old, and our babywearing chapter was just starting. The mom running it would come by my house and bring me carriers. I'll never forget how kind and helpful she was.”

As the babywearing community grew, so did the availability of formal training. McRae took the CBWS Foundations in Babywearing Education course to deepen her babywearing knowledge and develop practical teaching skills to help her clients embrace babywearing.

“I remember I saw someone got ‘certified’ in babywearing…I just didn’t get it, it wasn’t really a ‘thing’ then,” McRae recalls. “It wasn’t really until I took the course myself that I realized, ‘oh, there’s so much more to this,’ you know? I learned so much from Joanna, and I still do!”

McRae emphasizes the importance of ongoing education for doulas and babywearing consultants.

"I always encourage doulas to model babywearing. Even if the parents don’t do it, ask them if they are comfortable with you doing it. It’s easier for them to get into it when they see someone else doing it rather than just being told they should."

One of McRae’s key takeaways from her years of experience is the need to be practical and adaptable when introducing babywearing to families. She highlights the importance of selecting the right carrier based on the family's needs and resources. 

"I help with the registry if they’ll let me. If they’ve got one kind of carrier, but I know another kind might be easier for them to use often, I’ll suggest they consider it."

McRae is also mindful of the financial implications for families. "If they have the ability to trade it out or get something else in the first place, I encourage it. If not, we make what they have work. It’s about reading the room and understanding what’s best for them."

She stresses the need for flexibility and openness when working with different families.

"You’re not going to convince everybody to wrap their baby. You need to learn about all kinds of carriers—Ergos, Becos, whatever it takes to get them hands-free. If you give them a beautiful woven wrap and ask them to cross it six times, they might get overwhelmed and shut down. They’ll miss out on all the benefits of babywearing."

For those just starting out in the field, McRae offers some essential advice. "Learn the generational learning styles," she advises. "You need to understand millennials, Gen Z, and even the older generations. Each group has different needs and perspectives. Having a variety of generations on my team is helpful so we can relate to each client in the way they're most comfortable with."

She also emphasizes the importance of being open-minded and not pigeonholing clients based on preconceived notions. "Don’t assume that just because someone wants to babywear, they’re into other things like cloth diapering or breastfeeding. You need to meet people where they are."

Understanding the socioeconomic diversity of clients is also crucial. 

"Learn your area, understand who has contacted you, and tailor your approach accordingly."

McRae’s journey into babywearing and postpartum care is a testament to the power of community, adaptability, and ongoing education. Her experiences highlight the importance of meeting families where they are, providing practical support, and always being open to learning and growth. For those looking to incorporate babywearing into their work, her advice is clear: understand your clients, be flexible, and never stop learning.

If you'd like to learn more about McRae's babywearing journey and her work, you can connect with her on her website and social platforms:

• Website: www.auntmcrae.com
• LinkedIN: McRae
• Instagram: @auntmcrae