Summer is upon us here in Boston, and this heat and humidity can make wearing your child a little more challenging.
Sometimes, babywearing is not the best choice if it means overheating you and your baby. A stroller can be a great alternative when it is just too hot---if you're somewhere stroller-accessible! If you are out and about and need or prefer to wear your baby despite the heat, try some of these:
Summer Babywearing Tips to keep cool!
*Please note that Solarveil® is actually no longer produced (manufacturers found it too expensive), though it can still be found in older or used carriers. The best place to look would be an online "For Sale Or Trade" or swap board. While a great Summer option, please be aware that it can be a scratchy material.
Sometimes, babywearing is not the best choice if it means overheating you and your baby. A stroller can be a great alternative when it is just too hot---if you're somewhere stroller-accessible! If you are out and about and need or prefer to wear your baby despite the heat, try some of these:
Summer Babywearing Tips to keep cool!
- In the heat of the summer months, try putting on your carrier in the car before getting out in the hot sun and leaving the comfort of your air conditioning.
- Dress yourself and your child in light-weight clothing.
- Avoid lots of skin-to-skin contact – a thin layer of clothing in between will keep you both drier and cooler.
- Choose your carrier for the weather: ring slings and mei tais are generally good choices, since they have minimal fabric, and many SSC manufacturers have carriers with mesh or breathable fabric panels to let some of the heat out.
- Try a gauze wrap or a regular woven instead of a stretchy wrap (Moby). Woven wraps are very breathable, and gauze is even more light-weight. Keep in mind that gauze may not be as supportive due to the thinness of the fabric.
- Natural fibers, especially linen, tend to be coolest. Cotton is the next best choice.
- Avoid heavily padded carriers. Though they're a great choice for wearing a heavy child, the extra padding and fabric may be too warm.
- You can get additional sun protection from fabric that has built in SPF, such as Solarveil®* and solarweave (SPF protection varies by fabric). These, along with mesh, are breathable materials that are light-weight and great for water.
- If you are really hot, consider wrapping a soft ice pack in a towel and placing it between you and your child, or misting yourself and baby with water.
- Remember to put sunscreen on yourself and your child if you are going to be in the sun. While it won’t keep you cooler, it will protect against harmful UV rays.
- Wear a large hat that will protect you and your child from the sun and consider dressing your child in Babylegs with UV protection.
*Please note that Solarveil® is actually no longer produced (manufacturers found it too expensive), though it can still be found in older or used carriers. The best place to look would be an online "For Sale Or Trade" or swap board. While a great Summer option, please be aware that it can be a scratchy material.
We have there separate Lending Libraries. Here is a break down of summer friendly carriers you can find at each meeting. (List subject to change due to carrier acquisitions and shuffles)
Wednesday Meetings
Jamaica Plain Meetings
Weekend/Weeknight Meetings
Wednesday Meetings
- Sakura Bloom Linen Ring Sling
- Wrapsody WrapDuO (water wrap)
- Wrapsody Bali Breeze
- Calin Bleu Guaze Wrap
- Ella Roo Wrap
- Ergo Performance
- Onya Baby Outback
- Boba Air
- Mei Tai
- Kinderpack with Comfort Mesh
Jamaica Plain Meetings
- Calin Bleu Gauze Wrap
- Wrapsody WrapDuO (water wrap)
- Wrapsody Bali Breeze
- Mei Tai
- Ergo Performance
- Ring Sings
Weekend/Weeknight Meetings
- Wrapsody WrapDuO (water wrap)
- Sleeping Baby Production Linen Ring Sling
- Wrapsody Bali Breeze
- Calin Blue Gauze Wrap
- Boba Air
- Mei Tais
- Kinderpack with Comfort Mesh