Q:  "I am 7 months pregnant with our first baby, and among many other 
decisions my husband and I have made, we have decided we want to be 
"babywearers"!  We are very excited about this concept and all the 
wonderful benefits it will award not only our daughter, but us both as 
well.  I have purchased a wrap carrier (the CuddlyWrap) and several 
books-- all talk in length about the benefits of baby wearing, types of 
carriers, positions, etc., but I have yet to find a baby wearing 
"schedule" for lack of a better word.  At this point I'm trying to 
figure out just how much to wear the baby, does the baby need to put 
down to sleep, can you wear the baby to much, etc.  I was hoping  you 
might be able to help.  Thanks so much!!"

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A: <p>
It's wonderful that you are doing all this research before your baby is born. Once she's on the outside, you'll be pretty busy. I suggest that you start practicing different carries and techniques now, using a doll or teddy bear. That way, when she's born, you'll be ready to go. 
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You've asked an excellent question. It is possible to wear your baby too much. However, it is extremely difficult to do so before the child learns to walk. In cultures that have never lost the art of babywearing, mothers wrap their babies on first thing in the morning and the baby stays on mother's body, except for brief interludes, nearly all day long. These babies learn to sit, crawl and walk at least as early as babies in modern cultures do. In fact, babywearing counts as "tummy time". 
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Tiny newborn babies are used to being worn 24 hours a day, so, if you offer them this service at birth they will be thrilled. Having grown in such snuggly accommodations for the last 9 months, your daughter will have no trouble getting used to you wearing her. She'll likely be much more upset when you try to put her down and walk away. Toward the end of your daughter's first year, once she develops a tremendous desire to explore her world on foot, there will be times when you want to wear her but she doesn't want to be worn. Rest assured, she will certainly tell you so! 
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The best schedule for babywearing a newborn would be to dress yourself in the morning, then layer the carrier over that, then tuck the baby into the carrier. Keep the carrier on all day, and pop the baby in and out for diaper changes, etc. In the first few months, you might even wear a wrap as your shirt (while at home), so that she has better access to her milk. 
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There is no need to put her down to sleep. It's quite convenient for mother if baby is able to sleep on your back -- it means you don't have to rush around to find a dark quiet place every day at her nap time. You can just slide her around to your back (the most convenient portable crib in the world), and then let her nap however long she needs to. 
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Of course, you may decide to use the carrier only for outings. You may only use it for evenings when she's fussy and nothing else seems to work. You may use it only for hands-free breastfeeding. Though, I'll bet that, with a little practice, you'll find the carrier to be one of your most valuable mothering tools. 
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Congratulations. Enjoy your new daughter. 
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Tracy Dower