Babywearing for Birthworkers w/ Adriane Stare (In-Person at The Wild)

Register HERE! 

Please email Adriane at stumbleyne@gmail.com with any questions and check out her website at  https://www.mostpartum.nyc/ for more information about Adriane and her classes.

SPRING 2024: 

5-Class Series (2 Virtual, 3 In-Person):

Virtual: Wednesday, March 6 (1:00pm - 3:00pm)

In-Person: Saturday, March 9 (1:00pm - 3:00pm)

Saturday, March 16 (1:00pm - 3:00pm)

In-Person: Saturday, March 23 (1:00pm - 3:00pm)

Virtual: Wednesday, March 27 (1:00pm - 3:00pm)

About the Course:

Build your babywearing skills and confidence and update your knowledge on current products, research and safety guidelines. Birth and Postpartum Doulas, IBCLCs, childbirth educators, nurses, midwives, infant care specialists, breastfeeding counselors, and all others who work with perinatal families are invited.

In 2023, nearly every family you work with will likely be using, or thinking about using, a baby carrier. Carriers are tools that allow parents to function like adults, while still meeting the physiological and emotional needs of their babies. If you are in the business of providing accurate, evidence-based information to families, but feel like you need more knowledge and confidence when it comes to fielding your client’s babywearing questions, then this workshop is perfect for you!

In addition to my work as a babywearing educator, I am also a postpartum doula. While the types of doula work I provide can vary greatly from family-to-family, babywearing support is the one consistent thing that all of my clients want, need and expect. When our clients are not physically ready to babywear themselves, they still learn how a carrier can and will help them in the future by watching us demonstrate safe positioning, soothe or put their baby to sleep easily on our chests, or model how baby carrying allows us free hands to get our other pressing doula tasks done in their homes.

Not all babies love all baby carriers, not all carriers fit all bodies, and not all parents have the same babywearing goals and abilities. Regardless, every single one of my testimonials from families (and subsequently, my future clients that are referrals) come with praise for whatever amount of babywearing support I provided them. I want YOU to be this magical provider for YOUR clients, as you help families build their own solutions and learn real-life skills that will benefit their babies and families for years to come.

Class Timeline:

This workshop series consists of 5 classes spread out over 4 weeks. Shorter class modules will help you digest and retain tons of new information, and space in between classes will give you the necessary time to practice, troubleshoot and integrate complex skills.

Please note this is a hybrid virtual/in-person class! Classes are 2 hours each and will run from 1-3pm on each day they are taught. Classes 1 and 5, which are predominantly lecture and demonstration, will be taught virtually on zoom. Classes 2, 3 and 4 are for live carrier skill-building and practice and will be taugh in-person at The Wild, in Greenpoint Brooklyn.

The 2 virtual classes will be recorded for you in case you cannot make them, but the in-person classes are critical to attend live, as they cannot be made up nor properly recorded.

Class Schedule:

Class 1 - 10/13 Fri, 1-3pm,(virtual): Babywearing History, Science, Benefits, Safety and Positioning

Class 2 - 10/15, Sat, 1-3pm (In-person): Carrier practice (Stretchy, Woven and Hybrid Wraps)

Class 3 - 10/22, Sat, 1-3pm (In-person): Carrier practice (Ring Slings and Meh Dais)

Class 4 - 10/29, Sat, 1-3pm (In-person): Carrier practice (Buckle Carriers and Hybrid Buckles)

Class 5 - 11/3 Fri, 1-3pm,(virtual): Special situations, Teaching Parents to Babywear, Troubleshooting and More

Class Content:

This 5-week intensive workshop covers:

• Babywearing as a tool to promote bonding, lessen the impact of mood and anxiety disorders, and increase breastfeeding success. We’ll explore the physiological and psychological benefits of babywearing, for both babies and wearers of all kinds.
• Safety for newborns. Learn how to recognize safe positioning in any carrier. Use evidence-based research to advise your clients appropriately and accurately.
• The rich, multicultural history of babywearing. Don’t appropriate! Learn how to meet your clients where they are in our collective American culture, and also use language and an approach that honors and respects babywearing traditions worldwide.
• A comprehensive introduction to at least 5 of the most commonly used baby carriers, with in-depth, hands-on practice with these during our in-person practicum classes. This is what you came for! Get your own body in different carriers and gain real experience while learning to adjust and troubleshoot the carriers that you are most likely to encounter.
• Wearing premature babies and multiples. Learn safety guidelines and pro tips and tricks to share with families who may need some extra babywearing support.
• How to choose your OWN carrier. Learn how wearing other people's babies can expand your own birthworker repertoire, all while building your clients' own babywearing confidence.
• What is the “best” carrier for your clients? Engage in group roleplay to decode the most common questions and concerns of new parents. Discover how babywearing can be a window into the deeper needs of new families, and center your client as you build creative babywearing solutions together.
• Teaching Families. Working with our own assumptions and limitations, and a deep understanding of what the postpartum time entails, we learn to use our own language, body language and curiosity to help families feel safe, included, optimistic and engaged while they work to master a complicated, new skill.

Tea will be provided throughout class, but please bring your own snacks and drinks that you feel will make you most comfortable. A fridge and microwave will be available. Dress comfortably and be ready to try on carriers! In order to give all students the hands-on attention they need, attendance in this class will be limited to 8 people. One scholarship will be provided per class for BIPOC birthworkers, or individuals otherwise dedicated to serving marginalized communities.