baby wearing in summer??

[ubba82]

Is it safe to babywear in summer? I want to buy a Close baby carrier but Im worried about bubs overheating.

Thanks so much for your replies.

[Kitt3n]

hun you will be fine - i have 2 close carriers, they are so light and soft!

[Snowy Love]

Thanks for posting this Ubba, I was wondering what carrier would be best for a newborn in Summer too.

[Visitor8]

in summer I found a wrap the BEST. And the mei tai I had (beansling). I didn't have the close carrier then but I don't think it would be an issue either

[Ozstar]

I have bought a close carrier for this bub and am hoping it will be ok in summer.

[Maruschke]

I tried out a close carrier today and I absolutely loved it . I think it will be fine over summer.

[suse]

Babywearing in summer can be fine, you just need to take a little more care to keep your baby cool than you would at other times of the year (just as you would in summer if you were not wearing them). My DS was born end of November at the start of the wet season - we are in far north queensland - and was worn a lot. Skin to skin contact actually helps babies regulate their own body temperature, so if you carry them dressed in only a nappy, then this will help immensely. I tend to wear as little as possible too - topless if I am at home, a cotton singlet if out. Ensure that they are well hydrated (as you would anyway in summer), and choose carries (if wrapping) that leave as much skin exposed to air as possible.

For a newborn, you could use any carrier that you would normally use for a newborn, except choosing lighter, airier fabrics for preference. As a newborn is so light, this is a time you can really utilise light fabrics and not have to worry about extra support.

In ring slings, linen is wonderfully cool in summer, as it is a very strong fibre for its weight. Bear Hug Baby are an Australian manufacturer that make a linen / cotton blend sling, or internationally Psling and Sakura Bloom make stunning (and expensive LOL) pure linen slings. If you sew and want to make your own, use handkerchief weight in double layers, and medium weight in single. Otherwise, any cotton ring sling can still be quite cool compared to other carriers because they are single layered.

In wraps - there are a few international manufacturers that make gauze and light cotton woven wraps - Calin Bleu and Bali Baby Breeze are two. Vatanai wraps are a very light but supportive woven wrap (I have one) - the stripes are lighter than the jacquard weaves, and they are brilliant in summer in single layer carries. If you are using a stretch cotton (jersey) wrap like a HAB or Moby wrap (or a DIY stretchy wrap), a single layer carry will be much cooler than multiple layer carries. I think (correct me if I'm wrong Kitt3n) that the Close carrier uses a fabric not dissimilar in weight and openness of weave to the HAB, so given the way that it is worn, it would be cooler than a HAB. Never used one myself though, so this is just a guess.

For mei tais and soft structured carriers, solarveil and solarweave are brilliant, but hard to find as they are discontinued (solarveil also makes great ring slings and wraps for wearing in or near water as it dries super quickly). These are open weave, UV resistant synthetic fabrics that are also very strong. Many of the lighter natural fabrics are not strong or supportive enough for mei tais and soft structured carriers. Connecta made a very good solarweave carrier, you can often find them on thebabywearer FSOT (for sale or trade) board - these are a great summer buckle tai. I've used both a catbirdbaby and a ball baby overall mei tai throughout summer and these have both been good too.

Ergo apparently make a summer carrier now using an open weave fabric in the body, but given that you would still need to use the infant insert for a newborn, I wonder whether you would find any benefit until after you no longer needed the infant insert. Hopefully some Ergo users can shed some light on this. But I used an Ergo when my DS was three months old without the insert - it was still extremely hot up here and it was OK. But not my first choice for a summer carrier admittedly.

HTH.

[Kitt3n]

Vatanai wraps are a very light but supportive woven wrap (I have one) - the stripes are lighter than the jacquard weaves, and they are brilliant in summer in single layer carries.

Suse I am pondering ones of these now - I love the look of the rucksack carry and hip carry - have just joined BCD so i'll say hellop there soon!

I think (correct me if I'm wrong Kitt3n) that the Close carrier uses a fabric not dissimilar in weight and openness of weave to the HAB, so given the way that it is worn, it would be cooler than a HAB. Never used one myself though, so this is just a guess.

The Close is actually a bit dfferent to the HAB. The Close is made from a soft stretchy organic cotton - not too dissimilar to top quality t-shirt material. I found it cooler than the density of the HAB,which is a harder fabric in comparison, also the Close is much easier in the early days when baby is getting in/out more frequently as you dont have to re-wrap every time, as you do with the HAB.

hth

[rufalina]

Kittens close wraps are really great, and her little Laa looked so comfortable in it...

I got a solarveil ring sling from eaby for use in January with my new baby...

Thanks suse for all the info above too... I am still considering what other carriers I will need... hmmmm.....

[ellen21]

i find the close carrier the best during summer just try them out