It's hot and set to get hotter so here are our top 5 tips for baby wearing in the heat:
1. STAY HYDRATED
This one may be super obvious but, stay hydrated! You're going to be needing more fluid to keep you cool while baby wearing as you'll be sweating more to keep cool (sorry, bit icky but true!). Baby needs to stay hydrated too. So give yourself some extra time for milk feeds. Or for bigger toddlers they can just hold a drink whilst you walk. Samuel is pretty good now at being passed a drink while up on my back and not pouring it all down me!
2. GET THE RIGHT WRAP - FABRIC CHOICE
If you like to use woven wraps, their are lots of different options for the fabric. Some are a great choice in the summer. Gauze wraps, such as the wrapsody we have in the library, is a brilliant option for a wrap which is light weight and breathable. Another, personal favourite of mine is something with linen in the blend of the fabric of the wrap. Linen gives the wrap strength needed for bigger babies but is still very breathable.
3. GET THE RIGHT CARRY
A front wrap cross carry with a woven wrap (fwcc) can be pretty hot as it is a multiple pass carry (the fabric covers the baby multiple times). To make a fwcc more summer friendly, the passes can tuck underneath baby's bottom rather than spreading out over the baby's back. Other great alternatives would be a poppins hip carry, especially for a smaller baby. lots of great support but less fabric needed. For back carrying, a reinforced ruck with wiggle proof passes, is a great choice to still give extra support without having extra passes covering the baby. Tie it off tibetan (cross over your chest) for extra comfort.
4. TRICKS
A great trick I was told about was to place a muslin between you and baby (works with wraps and buckles, from or back carrying). This helps soak up the sweat (sorry again). I saw one of our peer supporters tuck the muslin into her vest top straps to keep it from going anywhere. Genius!
5. REMEMBER ABOUT EXTRA LAYERS
Remember that a wrap or carrier counts as at least one extra layer over baby, (more if you are using multiple pass carries). So when it is hot, baby in just a vest or even just a nappy would be enough.
And finally...when baby is tiny, you and they are a little bit magic. Thermoregulation means that when you carry baby, especially skin to skin, your body's tempreature will lower just a touch to help baby's temperature stay safe. AMAZING
We'd love to hear anymore tips you have!
Happy baby wearing xx
1. STAY HYDRATED
This one may be super obvious but, stay hydrated! You're going to be needing more fluid to keep you cool while baby wearing as you'll be sweating more to keep cool (sorry, bit icky but true!). Baby needs to stay hydrated too. So give yourself some extra time for milk feeds. Or for bigger toddlers they can just hold a drink whilst you walk. Samuel is pretty good now at being passed a drink while up on my back and not pouring it all down me!
2. GET THE RIGHT WRAP - FABRIC CHOICE
If you like to use woven wraps, their are lots of different options for the fabric. Some are a great choice in the summer. Gauze wraps, such as the wrapsody we have in the library, is a brilliant option for a wrap which is light weight and breathable. Another, personal favourite of mine is something with linen in the blend of the fabric of the wrap. Linen gives the wrap strength needed for bigger babies but is still very breathable.
3. GET THE RIGHT CARRY
A front wrap cross carry with a woven wrap (fwcc) can be pretty hot as it is a multiple pass carry (the fabric covers the baby multiple times). To make a fwcc more summer friendly, the passes can tuck underneath baby's bottom rather than spreading out over the baby's back. Other great alternatives would be a poppins hip carry, especially for a smaller baby. lots of great support but less fabric needed. For back carrying, a reinforced ruck with wiggle proof passes, is a great choice to still give extra support without having extra passes covering the baby. Tie it off tibetan (cross over your chest) for extra comfort.
4. TRICKS
A great trick I was told about was to place a muslin between you and baby (works with wraps and buckles, from or back carrying). This helps soak up the sweat (sorry again). I saw one of our peer supporters tuck the muslin into her vest top straps to keep it from going anywhere. Genius!
5. REMEMBER ABOUT EXTRA LAYERS
Remember that a wrap or carrier counts as at least one extra layer over baby, (more if you are using multiple pass carries). So when it is hot, baby in just a vest or even just a nappy would be enough.
And finally...when baby is tiny, you and they are a little bit magic. Thermoregulation means that when you carry baby, especially skin to skin, your body's tempreature will lower just a touch to help baby's temperature stay safe. AMAZING
We'd love to hear anymore tips you have!
Happy baby wearing xx
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