From the moment we find out we’re expecting, most moms feel an instant instinct kick in: “I want to keep my baby safe, well, and protected.”

Having our baby in our arms is one of the simplest ways to know they’re okay — and that’s why many parents choose to wear their baby in a carrier from the very beginning. Babies want and need to be held — they’re biologically wired to stay close to their caregiver.

Gradually, even in Greece, babywearing has gone from “something only a few crazy moms do” to being widely recognized as one of the main ways to raise a baby. It’s no longer rare or “exotic” — you can now often see parents wearing their babies while grocery shopping, walking their older kids to school, or simply going for a stroll.

Still, a new mom often feels pressure from others to “go back to normal” — as if she must manage everything at once.

“Can I do housework while wearing the baby in the Asteraki?” they ask me. Almost just as often: “Can I breastfeed and do chores at the same time?”
And many moms want to be able to breastfeed discreetly in public. As a mom who breastfed, I understand completely. And the answer is yes — it’s possible.

However, I always feel the need to say this: Babywearing is something you learn. So is breastfeeding. Trying to do both at once — without giving yourself time to learn — can lead to frustration or feeling like you’re “failing.”
As the days go by and your baby grows, you’ll find your rhythm — and combining breastfeeding with babywearing will become almost second nature.
But in those early days, when you’re still getting to know your baby, please don’t feel pressured to do it all at once. You can sit down, rest, breastfeed calmly, and watch your baby’s cues in peace.

In fact, in the beginning, it’s almost necessary to keep things simple. If your mind is focused on how to cover up, you won’t be able to focus on helping your baby latch properly.
That feeling of “having free hands to multitask” doesn’t apply when breastfeeding.
Wearing your baby in a soft carrier helps you position them without needing pillows, lets you support your breast properly, and helps you feel more at ease.
But there’s a difference between being able to stand up to answer the door or grab a glass of water — and trying to complete full tasks while feeding.
And never — never — let go of your baby’s head during breastfeeding. The baby’s head should never be inside the sling during feeding. It should always be in your hand — you’re in control.

Note: When we think of breastfeeding, we often imagine a baby lying in mom’s arms. That’s how we’re taught — because without a carrier, upright feeding would take a hundred hands or a hundred pillows!
But babies actually breastfeed very well in an upright position (and let’s face it — we eat better sitting up too).
Upright feeding improves digestion, reduces reflux, and helps with spit-up.
From what I’ve seen, most moms who try upright feeding rarely go back to laid-back positions — even in a ring sling, which allows both.

Watch this video of a newborn breastfeeding in a mei tai carrier:

As a society, we’re used to seeing infants lying in arms. But in a babywearing carrier, babies should only lie down to breastfeed, and only while you’re holding their head, and only for the duration of the feed.
For naps or walks, babies should always be in an upright position — from day one.