By Vern Hill, Founder of Carifit and expert speaker at The Baby Show which returns to Olympia London from 24th – 26th October 2025.
What do James Bond, Deadpool and Thor all have in common…they all wore their babies, well at least the actors playing those characters did. Babywearing for dads is always on trend, but it isn’t just a cute photo moment it is a powerful tool for building connection, boosting confidence and raising high performance and successful children.
1. Hormonal Connection: The Chemistry of Bonding
While less documented than for mothers, emerging research shows that physical closeness via carriers increases oxytocin levels and can decrease cortisol in dads, hormonal shifts associated with greater sensitivity, reduced stress, and more caregiving attunement. In short if you want to be a great dad and useful partner wear your baby often and from the start.
2. Emotional Growth: Presence, Sensitivity, Attachment
Even without hormone data, dads report powerful emotional effects from babywearing. It builds confidence, boost caregiver sensitivity and makes dads a more useful parent. Caregiver sensitivity is a precursor to secure attachment and his vital for the healthy development of your baby’s future mental health. More than this baby wearing helps new dads to recognise the signals from their baby and meet that baby’s needs more quickly. Study show that this is incredibly empowering for new dads having a huge positive impact on their own mental health.
3. Practical Freedom: Hands-On Parenting with Hands-Free Ease
Babywearing empowers dads to multitask, whether cooking, gardening, building, or running errands while keeping their baby close. It normalizes everyday fatherhood in a visible, engaged way. That’s part of why modern dads embrace it: it signals partnership, presence, and practicality. It also feels amazing, the smell off the top of your baby’s head in a carrier is a core parenting memory that will last a lifetime.
4. Shared Burden, Shared Bond
Babywearing demystifies caregiving and makes dads feel connected to and part of those early newborn stages, where traditionally father have been reported to feel left out, useless and unsure of their new role. Babywearing can be a wonderful shared family experience, studies show that babies that grow up with secure attachments to both mother and father will have better mental and physical health outcomes as adults.
5. Dos for Safe & Comfortable Wearing
- Choose a Well-Fitting Carrier
Prioritize carriers with supportive waists and padded straps to distribute weight evenly and minimize strain. - Follow HTV. Safety First
High. Tight. Visible. High enough on your torso that you can readily kiss the top of your baby’s head. Tight enough in their carrier that there is no chance of them slumping. Their face fully visible with support to the baseline of the ear to stop babies’ heads flopping. If your baby carrier doesn’t meet this simple checklist boost your baby up in the carrier and look for slack in the straps to tighten up. - Practice Before the Real Deal
Using a pillow or doll helps dads develop confidence with buckles, wraps, and adjustments, without the pressure of a fussy baby. Simply put the first time you use your baby carrier should not be with your real baby. - Support Your Core
Engage abdominal muscles gently to protect your posture, especially during longer carries. A well fitted baby carrier should allow you to stand in a good neutral position and should not feel like it is a pull on your back or shoulders. Not all baby carriers are created equal and certain carriers undoubtedly provide better support for the wearer. - Check for Overheating
Babies regulate temperature differently when close. Ensure proper airflow, adjust layers, and monitor baby’s back/chest for heat. Baby wearing is a great tool for helping your baby’s thermoregulation system to develop. Remember that your baby carrier acts as one layer so always take off a layer of clothing from your baby before using the carrier.
6. Don’ts: Avoiding Common Pitfalls
- Don’t Rush the Fit
Precision matters for safety and comfort. Taking an extra minute to ensure snug fit prevents strain and slips. - Don’t Ignore Strap Discomfort
Pads and right tension can make or break comfort. If you feel pain, adjust immediately or consider a different carrier. - Don’t Overlook Breaks
Long carries are bonding, but occasional breaks paired with baby on the lap or floor give both of you a change of tone and posture. - Don’t Go It Alone
Lean on your partner, babywearing consultant, or babywearing group for feedback. A quick check can make a huge difference in fit and confidence. Some brands like Carifit even offer complementary fit checks with every baby carrier bought.
7. Cultural Momentum: Becoming a “Viklefar”
In Denmark, the term viklefar (wrap-dad) captures how babywearing is woven into fatherhood, with no stigma, just warmth and function. The simple truth is that wherever you are in the world babywearing is cool, it makes dads feel incredible, it makes dads more useful more quickly and it sets your baby up for future success.
Final Thoughts
I say this jokingly to thousands of dads that I meet, every man should experience walking into Starbucks just once wearing their own baby, watch the heads turn and then the sense of pride the feelings of protection and the deep love rush through your body. These are feelings and emotions that are enhanced through confident baby wearing and are moments that every new father should get to that enjoy.
