Wondering how to wear your baby in hot weather?
Unfortunately, no one has yet invented a baby carrier with an air conditioner feature, but we’ll be the first ones to sign up when they do.
Until that miracle carrier comes along, we need to accept that wearing your baby in hot weather is going to be, well, hot!
But: this doesn’t mean you have no options, so don’t despair!
Read on for our top tips on how to wear your baby in hot weather.
Tips for babywearing in the hot weather:
1. Dress both yourself and baby for the weather.
Light and airy clothes are best. We like linen or 100% cotton clothes, although sporty performance fabrics are also great if that is your style!
Remember that whatever carrier you are using acts as a layer, too. Also, keep sun protection in mind. Baby Legs or other leg/arm covers are an easy on/off way to provide light protection while staying cool. Rash guards meant for swimming are breathable and often offer UV protection as well.
2. Keep a layer of fabric between you and baby to help make things feel less sticky.
Wearing a high-neck shirt is the easiest way to do this. Some people like to keep a thin piece of muslin or cotton to place between them and the baby (bonus: this can easily be swapped out).
3. Stay in the shade!
This may seem obvious, but if you’re anything like most parents we know, you may be stubbornly trying to go about your business without any regard for the weather.
If at all possible, try to make the hottest summer days a time to slow down, take it easy as much as you can, and stay in the shade whenever possible. If you can, try to schedule your activities for the coolest part of the day (often early mornings) and before or after the sun is at its peak.
4. If it’s not possible to stay in the shade, make your own!
An easy way is to keep both of you in brimmed hats when you are outside. We like baby hats with a Velcro strap so baby can’t easily tug it off. If your little one really fusses with a hat, try a hat with a big brim for you – the right hat can provide both of you with quite a bit of shade!
An umbrella can also come in handy for making your own shade. Did you know the word parasol literally means “for the sun”?
5. Use water to help keep your body cool.
Of course, you should drink plenty of liquids (and keep your child hydrated as well) but water can also help you cool off in other ways.
Fill a little spray bottle for giving yourself and your baby a spritz on hands, feet, and hair. Wetting clothing (both yours and baby’s) helps keep you cool even longer.
Bonus: if you have a toddler or older child, they are usually thrilled to help with the spritzing! And of course, actually going in the water at the beach or pool is great, too, but you know that already.
6. Use air to help keep you and your baby cool.
Remember those little fans you made by folding paper as a child? They really work! We have even seen customers buy little clip-on battery-powered fans to attach to their baby carriers.
7. Wear your lightest, thinnest baby carrier, made from breathable fabrics.
We love Hip Baby Wrap Ring Sling and the Wrapsody Breeze wraps for hot weather babywearing.
For a little one, the Wrapsody WrapDuo and the Beachfront Baby Wrap are amazing for its fast-drying and wicking properties (and they can go in the water too!) If your carrier has a sleeping hood, you can use that to offer a little extra shade. The tail of a ring offers extra coverage, too.
There are also summer-ready buckle carriers that offer a bit of relief from the standard buckle carrier.
Looking for a new carrier for hot weather and summer babywearing? See all our favorites here. Please note that it is not necessary to buy a carrier specifically for hot weather, but there are definitely some great options that are very comfy if a new carrier is in your budget!
8. Some carrying positions feel cooler than others!
Choose your carry with the weather in mind. Back carries and hip carries feel cooler in the hot weather, so try one of these if your baby is older. For an infant, we still recommend a front carry so that you can monitor your baby.
If you are wrapping, choose a carrier that involves the fewest layers around you, such as a rucksack carry or a kangaroo carry.
Safety Tips for Wearing Baby in the Water
Water carriers are a great way to keep baby secure and near you
- Follow safe babywearing practices just as you would with baby out of the water. Keep baby visible and kissable while in an upright position.
- Always be mindful of water entering or pooling near your baby’s face. Babies should not inhale or swallow the water.
- Only wear baby on your front (or hip if an older child with head control) so that you can monitor them closely at all times.
- No swimming, diving or snorkeling while wearing baby in the water!
- Don’t submerge yourself higher than your waist in the water. Ideally, you would only go in the water up to your knees.
- Make sure that you are comfortable with the water conditions before you go in.
- Water carriers are not a substitute for life vests and should not be used instead a life vest while boating. Be sure to put your baby in a properly fitting Coast Guard-approved life vest before getting on a boat, just as you would for any other child.
Tips for Hot Weather Babywearing from our Fans & Customers!
We asked our Facebook fans how they cope with hot weather babywearing, and they had some great tips to add for how to wear your baby in hot weather!
“When we are out and about, I keep a separate outfit for my girls in the cooler (in a Ziploc bag to keep them dry)… when they start getting too hot, I change them into the outfits from the cooler. I put the clothes they were wearing into the bag in the cooler. It’s a little more work, but it helps them cool and of course, their cool clothes against my body keep me cool too!” – Melissa
“I carry an umbrella. I probably look silly but who cares? We went to Six Flags last weekend and it was in the 90’s but with my own portable shade we were quite comfortable.” – Karin
“I keep a handkerchief in the diaper bag. On hot days, I dip it in cool water and drape it around our necks and pressure points to cool us both down.” – Molly
“I actually bought one of those electrics fans on a clip and I clip it to our Tula when the heat gets to be too much. I get a few stares, but who cares?” – Troy
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