Babywearing In The Summer
by Sarah Rockwell
Today is Memorial Day – the start of summer. Summer means enjoying cookouts, running through sprinklers, and eating popsicles. It also means enduring heat and humidity. The summer heat may be welcome to many people, but for babywearers it’s a major concern. We wonder how we’ll ever be able to continue wearing our babies in the heat. So we read blogs that offer conflicting solutions to hot weather babywearing and wonder whether we need to buy all new carriers to endure the heat. Here is the simple answer: NO. You do not need to buy all new carriers to babywear in the summer. If you’ve been planning to upgrade your Soft Structured Carrier it may be helpful to buy one with a mesh panel that will help keep baby somewhat cooler. If you’ve been wanting an excuse to try out a linen blend, 100% linen, or gauze wrap summer might be the ideal time. But you do not NEED to buy all new carriers to use in the summer. In fact, you probably shouldn’t buy all new carriers. Chances are you’ll regret selling carriers you love to buy what someone else thinks is comfortable in the heat. In reality no carrier will keep you cool when it’s 95 degrees and 70% humidity. Babies are hot. They have a larger surface area to volume ratio than adults, so they dissipate heat rapidly. This means your little one will often feel like an oven. When you press that warm baby body against yours it will be hot. In hot weather it will be even hotter. I’ve been known to get sweaty while babywearing even in cool weather. My arms or legs or face may be cold, but my chest or back where baby’s body is pressed against mine gets hot and sweaty. There is no getting around it. When you babywear in the summer you will be hot and sweaty no matter what carrier you use. So, my advice to you is to use what you love. If you’re going to be hot and sweaty anyhow you might as well be comfortable otherwise. That said, there are some tips and tricks that will keep you a bit cooler in the heat without the need to revamp your entire stash:
Shade is your friend. Consider carrying a parasol or umbrella for portable shade. You may look silly, but you’ll be more comfortable.
Get a spray bottle with an attached battery-powered fan. Fill the bottle with ice water. Give yourself a spritz when you’re feeling too hot.
Stay hydrated and keep baby hydrated. Insulated water bottles and sippy cups will keep fluids cool. Remember to nurse or bottle-feed on demand.
A cooling towel like Chill-Its or Frogg Toggs can be placed between you and baby to help keep you both cooler.
A water-friendly carrier will allow you and baby to cool off by wading and splashing.
Yes, I did just suggest buying a new carrier. A water-friendly carrier is my only recommendation for purchasing a carrier for hot weather. If you can afford to buy a carrier specifically for summer, a water carrier is an inexpensive and useful addition to your carrier stash. Remember that it’s an addition and is not intended to replace any of your current carriers. If you have to sell in order to buy, a water carrier may not be ideal for you.Keep in mind that water carriers are not intended for swimming. But you can wade, play in the sprinklers, and support older children in shallow water while babywearing. There are a variety of water carriers available at different price points:
Solarveil Ring Slings and Pouches – If you’re willing to hunt the used carriers you can find a Solarveil carrier. Solarveil is a sun protective mesh polyester fabric that is no longer made. It’s a bit rough, but it dries quickly, doesn’t get heavy in the water, is breathable, and protects baby from the sun.
Solarweave Ring Slings – Solarweave is a sun protective woven nylon rip-stop fabric. It is soft and supportive, dries quickly, is readily available, and protects baby from the sun. It is not as breathable as Solarveil and tends to get a bit heavy in the water. It is great option if your child, like my first, is sensitive to polyester.
Athletic Mesh Wrap or Ring Sling – Athletic mesh is made of polyester. It is not sun protective, but it is soft, breathable, and dries quickly. It is less supportive than other options, but is also less expensive.
Stretchy Water Wraps – these wraps are made from the same polyester/lycra knit material as women’s bathing suits. They are soft and dry quickly, but tend to be a bit warmer than other options.
For those of you who prefer Soft Structured Carriers, I am not aware of a carrier that is marketed for use in the water. I suspect that the Boba Air may be suited to this use. I have an inquiry in to Boba to be sure that the carrier would not be damaged by use in water. I will update you with their response.
I hope that this gives you some ideas to stay cool(er) and keep babywearing through the summer months. Happy babywearing! ***EDIT*** I've received a response from Boba. The Boba Air is a water resistant carrier. It would be fine for use to play at a splash pad or run through a sprinkler or for wading, but should not be submerged for extended periods of time.
You can follow Sarah Rockwell @ http://www.specialconnectionsconsulting.com
