Compassion Survival: Everyday Care for Vulnerable Moms & Babies
For decades, Compassion has equipped local churches to intervene early in the lives of the most vulnerable: moms and babies living in poverty. Through our Survival program, churches can deliver care to expecting moms and those with babies under 12 months, from prenatal visits and postnatal care to education and biblical mentoring.
Sometimes, care looks like providing medical support during delivery or offering income-generating opportunities so moms can provide for their growing families. Other times, it looks like providing seemingly small, everyday tools — like baby wraps — that make a big difference in the lives of moms.
For the moms we serve, the baby wrap is indispensable. It helps them bond with their babies, promotes healthy early childhood development and empowers moms to navigate daily life while keeping their little ones safe and comforted.
Babywearing Around the World: 6 Moms Wrapping Their Babies in Love
From the vibrant patterns of the Burkinabe furungdu to the sturdy weaves of the Papuan noken and the complex, layered Peruvian queperina, baby wraps embody a tradition of closeness and love.
Come and take a closer look at some of these beautiful and useful baby wraps and meet the mothers and babies who use them.
Mimi From Thailand: The Ya-Pue Wrap
In northern Thailand, the Karen tribe uses a traditional woven fabric called ya-pue to wrap and carry their babies, a practice passed down through generations.
Mimi is a Karen mother who once lived in a refugee settlement, fleeing conflict along the Thai-Myanmar border. Mimi left the refugee settlement and moved to a small town near the border.
When she was pregnant with her son, Tinnapat, she received pa-khaw-ma — a special local fabric that’s lightweight, checkered and made of cotton — to be her ya-pue through her Compassion center’s Survival program.
“It’s the most useful cloth I have, as I’ve used it to wrap my baby from the time that he was born. I use it to carry him around while I walk somewhere or do chores.” — Mimi
The traditional wrap costs around 500 baht or about $15, which is roughly two weeks’ wages for a family in Mimi’s community. But the Survival program provided Mimi with one made from better material that’s easier to tie and warmer for little Tinnapat.
“With the ya-pue, I can carry Tinnapat for one to two hours if he’s not cranky. I enjoy taking him for walks around the village in the morning and evening.” — Mimi
Ebriana From Peru: The Queperina Wrap
Ebriana is a young mother who lives in the stunning mountains of Cusco, Peru. She has two children, Lizeth and Yimi. She and her 8-month-old son, Yimi, are part of the Survival program at her local Compassion center.
When Ebriana had her oldest daughter, her mother taught her how to wrap the baby using the queperina, a beautiful, colorful blanket made of wool.
“You can’t wrap the baby with something else because when it gets warm, the knot can get untangled. The baby can slip through and fall. Using the queperina is best.” — Ebriana
Taking time to wrap Yimi is one of the first things she does each day. Then, Ebriana takes Lizeth to school, goes to the market, visits the church and even takes Yimi to a local farm at times.
Yimi is her faithful companion everywhere, each step of the way. Ebriana always carries him with her — it’s her joy to do so. She wants nothing more than to protect him.
“My mom raised me this way. I can wrap it well now, and I’ve helped other moms in the Survival program too. I can’t leave my baby. I always carry him; something could go wrong if I’m not close to him. I have to make sure he’s okay.” — Mimi
Tirunesh From Ethiopia: The Dugdati Bachu Wrap
In Ethiopia, in the town of Woliso, mother Tirunesh lifts her 4-month-old daughter, Ididiya, onto her back and into a dugdati bachu. She wraps her, positioning her securely on her back. Tirunesh then drapes the netela (a cotton shawl) over Ididiya, crossing the ends over her own chest and tying it firmly.
With Ididiya nestled safely, Tirunesh is ready for her day. She can move freely, whether grinding coffee, tending her garden or visiting the local Compassion center for support.
For Tirunesh, the dugdati bachu offers more than just practicality. It maintains a profound bond as she and her baby enjoy life together. Her love for her daughter is woven into every action of the day, as securely as the netela that holds them together.
Alince From Indonesia: The Noken Wrap
The noken, a handmade net or woven bag, is a significant part of local identity in the community of Wamena, Papua, Indonesia. Creating this handmade bag is complex, involving bark fibers and traditional weaving methods without machines.
“The necks of Papuan women are generally strong because we carry noken on our heads. But what supports it is our necks. I usually carry my baby, Desi, in a noken so I can do household chores and make sure that she sleeps close to me.” — Alince
A woman’s ability to handmake a noken indicates readiness for marriage, and new mothers traditionally make a new noken for their babies. Both men and women use these bags to carry catches from the nearby lake, firewood, small animals and, of course, their babies.
For this most precious cargo, mothers often use several layers of cloth inside the noken as pillows for their babes.
“Noken is our identity, and it will always be like that.” — Alince
Nathalie From Burkina Faso: The Furungdu or Pagne Wrap
For generations, women in Burkina Faso have carried babies on their backs using a rectangular cloth or fabric, known as furungu (Moore language) or pagne (French).
For a Burkinabe mother, wrapping a baby on her back and tying the four ends of the cloth around her chest is more than a method of transport — it’s a powerful symbol of maternal love.
It allows Nathalie to walk up to six kilometers (roughly three miles) each day, ride a bike and do household chores while her 4-month-old, Steeve, is comfortably and securely resting.
Carolina From Mexico: The Rebozo Wrap
“At the Survival program, they have taught me that in the first months it is very important for the baby to bond with his mother, as this helps the baby feel safe, calm and confident.” — Carolina
Carolina’s baby wrap is made of cotton fabric in the traditional colors of her Mexican region: green, red and pink. This textile is made on a machine called a telar, and the rectangular cloth is called a rebozo.
Carolina’s own mother passed away when she was 17, and so she took on the responsibility of caring for her then 2-year-old sister. She carried her on her back as she did household chores.
Today, she takes her own baby, Nicholas, on walks and carries him to the local Compassion center — an hour-long journey.
“The good thing is that he sleeps on the way.” — Carolina
From the villages of Thailand to the vibrant communities of Mexico, millions of mothers faithfully care for their babies day in and day out, no matter what comes their way.
While it may look like a simple piece of fabric, a baby wrap is so much more; it’s a symbol of love. It allows resilient mothers to do what they do best: care for, provide for and protect their little miracles, wrapping them in love in more ways than one.
