Now that June is here, it’s officially hot season here in Utah. Boo. On the plus side, though: things are f i n a l l y opening back up! For those of us with kids—especially little kids—that means the ability to get out more. To give our kids some more enriching experiences To have a plethora of new ways to wear our kids out.
But, not everywhere you go will be a place where you want toddlers scuttling around, or having to deal with clunky strollers, or heaving around a baby car seat. Enter: babywearing.
“But it’s hot!” I hear you say. Yes, but heat doesn’t mean you can’t wear your littles. With no thought, your summer babywearing experience could be frustrating and unpleasant. Luckily for you, you’re in the right place, and I want to help you wear your baby comfortably this summer!
onbuhimo 
ring sling 
woven wrap
what carrier?
If you need to brush up on carrier options, and fabric types, I have you complete covered in my comprehensive babywearing guide.
Material, and style of carrier really matter when it comes to keeping cool. The less fabric and layers, the comfier you’re going to be. For me, this means ruling out SSC with padded waistbands. They’re heavier, and just hotter.
My top suggestion would be to use a ring sling, as they are very minimal, and don’t cover your entire torso. Plus, you can easily switch sides, if you feel you need to to cool down. Onbuhimos would be another great option, as they don’t have a waistband for you to sweat into, but still have baby’s weight evenly distributed on both shoulders. Barring those, a simple carrier—I highly recommend Happy Baby carriers—in a breathable fabric works.
Speaking of fabric: not all are created equal in terms of they ability to keep you from overheating in summer. For example, cotton is typically not considered too hot, but I find it entirely u n b e a r a b l e under Utah’s scorching summer sun.
Your coolest options are going to be linen, hemp, and wool (yes, wool). Linen is lightweight and very breathable. We have linen sheets now (because I love linen baby carriers so much), and nothing can keep those moist for more than a few minutes. Hemp is light and surprisingly strong. Even though it’s easy to think of wool in terms of cozy, warm wool socks, wool actually keeps you warm, and cool. It’s basically a magic material that insulates when it needs to, and wicks like a dream when you need it to.
Any of these fabric options, or a blend that has a high-ratio of one or more of these will keep you and your babe feeling good.
what should baby wear?
Keeping sensitive (i.e. all) babies from overheating is our goal here. If you’ve got a decent carrier, that’s the biggest step; but what they wear matters, too. If you can keep to the shade, there’s nothing wrong with baby wearing as little as you want (I’ve worn my babies in just a diaper in a pinch before).
I expect that you’re likely going to be in the sun, at least some of the time, though. It’s tempting to just put baby in the shortest sleeves and shorts, but this leaves them vulnerable to burns (particularly in high-elevation areas), and I am personally not a fan of remembering to re-applying sunscreen, especially in my carriers.
Instead, I suggest you put baby in some lightweight pants (linen is fantastic ha), or at least light in color, and a top that covers their shoulders. Since they may spend some carrier time arms-in, they will be largely protected from the sun. A full-coverage hat is also appropriate. I have these for my kiddos.
what should you wear?
As you’re tummy-to-tummy (or back-to-tummy) with your little one, you’re not going to want to wear anything too thick. I’ve worn in summer a lot—especially when Gwendolyn was littler—in high-elevation roasting heat; and in high heat + high-humidity. We’ve stayed comfortable enough, but you’re still likely to sweat at contact points. A thinner shirt is highly recommended, and anything else is up to you, as it won’t effect baby. Don’t forget your own sunscreen and hat!
anything else?
If you know you’re going to be out for a long time (perhaps hiking), it’s a good idea to have a cooling-pack/ice pack. You can put it between you two, or on baby’s back to ensure you don’t overheat. In hot situations that aren’t in the wilderness, a cool washcloth or paper towel on baby’s neck can keep them cool, too.
tips?
When babywearing, it’s always good to stay tuned-in to your baby to make sure they are comfortable, and happy; but it’s even more important in any more extreme weather.
If you notice baby is getting a bit bit warm (perhaps flushed cheeks, or a little sweaty), removing their shoes (not on blacktop, or other highly hot space) to let them enjoy a breeze is nice.
Hydration is key in the heat. Ensure that baby (and yourself) drinks more, and at more frequent intervals, than usual. Whether you’re breastfeeding, or sharing a water bottle, if you lower baby in the carrier to give them more room to drink, re-adjust them back into their previous position once they’re done. In summer especially, it’s vital you keep baby up high enough so they don’t overheat, or have their airflow blocked.
Finally, it’s okay to take a wearing break. When Gwendolyn was about 9 months old, we went to an outdoor event, and it was s w e l t e r i n g. She was getting very flushed, even after breastfeeding, so I took her out, and laid her in the shade for 15/20 minutes until she’d cooled down a bit.
I hope this helps you feel more confident babywearing during the summer months. Please, don’t hesitate to comment if you have any questions!
