Cat Jenkins is a farmer. She gets up early and heads out to feed the calves, collect chook eggs, check on the horses and do other farm chores.

But not before she straps her one-year-old onto her back. Or her front.

Cat Jenkins with children Dominic and Aria. Photo: Chris Callinan.

Cat says it gives her so much freedom to work around the farm and still bond with and care for her baby.

And Cat wants to encourage other mums to wear their babies – with no better time to start than next week.

New Zealand and Australia celebrate Babywearing Week from October 1-7, and Cat says the week is to encourage mums to try wearing baby. With events throughout the week, Cat says there's something for every mum to learn.

'We're so used to people buying prams,” says Cat.

'Babywearing has been around for centuries but it's always seemed a bit tribal, so it's pretty new to European countries.”

'We've got lots of different fabric carriers, so you can carry your baby on your front or on your back to keep them close.”

With a multitude of benefits, Cat says babycarrying can help baby grow a stronger bond as well as physical benefits.

'If baby is colicky or refluxy it's really good for them because it keeps them upright,” says Cat.

'Keeping baby close regulates their breathing and heart rate more, and contact if they're sick is really good for them.”

Cat says it's also good for mum, too. 'It helps with breastfeeding because your estrogen levels are higher, and it can help with post-natal depression.”

The wraps come in a range of styles and patterns, and Cat says they can be tied in a range of ways, so wearing your baby really becomes a fashion statement. 'It's an addiction. You start with one! I've got about 10 now,” says Cat.

'There are new ways [of tying] coming out all the time.”

At the meetings, Cat and the team teach mums how to 'get a good seat” for baby to ensure he or she is comfy and secure, and also rent out their babycarriers so mums can 'try before you buy”.

'Babywearing in general has increased and the knowledge is getting out there.”

And it's not just for the ladies. Cat says her husband also carries. 'We go on a night walk every night and my husband wears my three-and-a-half year old.”

For a full list of official events taking place visit the New Zealand Babywearing Week website.