Black Babywearing Week was founded by a group of women that saw a need for representation for black people in the babywearing space. We didn’t see ourselves in ads and online. When you clicked the babywearing hashtag, you didn’t see us.
This week is to ensure that black caregivers understand that babywearing is accessible and something that our community practices. Although there was a time in our history when black caregivers feared getting “too attached” to their babies, just in case they were ripped apart… we are here, now, babywearing proudly, as it’s our birthright!
We are bringing light to our history, honoring the way our ancestors wore babies, and embracing our own future.
Black babywearing week serves as a time to celebrate black babywearers, while spotlighting black educators, bloggers and black-owned babywearing companies. Check out these 5 companies owned by BIPOC that sell beautiful wraps, slings, and carrier
CooperRose Baby
CooperRose Baby is an “Eco-Friendly baby brand advocating for natural parenting in communities lacking support.” CooperRose was technically started because of a lack of representation of black folks in the cloth diapering community. They now provide beautiful khangas (which are traditional African wraps) that are from Kenya. Khangas are a simple, lightweight option for carrying your baby. They come in many beautiful prints and colors.
Heritage Baby Designs
Heritage Baby Designs is a “mama owned and mama made” ring sling company. She sews and hand dyes each of her ring slings herself! She launched this company when she realized there was a lack of diversity for us in the babywearing world. She also wanted to have a company that gave back to the community and use sustainable materials. For this reason, each of her slings are 100% European Linen. For each sling purchased, she provides medicine for one mom and one baby through Plan International Canada.
Wrapsody Baby
Wrapsody Baby exists to provide beautiful, handcrafted baby carriers for babywearing in a sustainable way. They are committed to being eco-friendly in production and manufacturing, leaders among safety in babywearing, community building, promoting peace in the world, and making babywearing accessible. Wrapsody provides wraps and rings slings made from knit, jersey knit, cotton, or cotton/linen mix.
DBG (Designed By Geeks) Baby
DBG baby provides affordable, geeks, and reasonably priced woven wraps. This company was birthed out of a lack of diversity among prints in the babywearing world. They saw a niche that needed filling and went for it. DBG designs and digitizes each print themselves, allowing them to create beautiful carriers in prints for the “geeks and nerds.”
Helina Baby Inc
Helina Baby was birthed after its founder decided to create a carrier that was easy to use, and supportive and comfortable at the same time. “She wanted a light and breathable carrier, made with organic cotton, that was designed to feel weightless and allow parents to move freely and comfortably all day.” They now have their baby carrier with it’s unique HUGFIT™ system that allows for a comfortable, safe, non-toxic, sustainably made way to carry your baby for extended periods of time.
About Raven Thomas
Raye Thomas is is a RN turned SAHM with a passion for holistic birth work, breastfeeding and natural parenting. “My mission is to encourage and educate people by creating content that empowers them to live holistically, consciously and sustainably! I love doing this work because it resonates with my soul. I am carrying on the torch from my ancestors who were granny midwives here in Georgia. This makes my heart sing!”
