More Cold Weather Babywearing

Babywearing in the cold weather takes a unique set of skills. Maybe you’re expecting your first winter baby and need to figure out how to adapt your carrier to the cold. Or maybe baby was born in the warm weather months, you’re comfortable babywearing, but now have to figure in layers and jackets and gloves. Have no fear! hope&plum is here with another set of tips and tricks to keep you babywearing all year long.

One of the easiest ways to adapt babywearing to the cold weather is to start with warm, but thin layers on both you and baby. Wool and flannel are two great natural fibers that help regulate temperature, and there are many other lightweight, long sleeve shirts and long underwear or leggings that help keep your body warm without adding too much bulk. Find similar options for baby. Start with one or two layers on yourself then add the carrier. If you’re doing a front or hip carry, you can also easily add your jacket on top of the carrier. If you’re unable to close the jacket over baby, you can add a blanket to keep you both warm. Back carries complicate things a bit. There are some hoodies and jackets made specifically for babywearing that may be better options (see below)!

It’s recommended to dress baby in one extra layer than you are wearing, and remember that the carrier counts as that extra layer! Start with one, thin, lightweight, but warm layer on baby, then add a sweater, light jacket, or thin bodysuit. Keep in mind that if baby’s clothes are too bulky, it will be difficult to get them into a ring sling where you have to make your own seat. If the weather dictates that baby needs to be in a snowsuit, your best option will be a panel carrier like the Lark or a meh dai. Also, the fabric on baby’s outer layer can sometimes be more slippery, so be mindful of that when you’re setting up your carrier. If babywearing in a front or hip carry with arms out, you can slip baby's jacket on over the carrier, which will allow for easier removal if they are getting too hot. This goes for a back carry too if you have an extra set of hands or you’re babywearing a bigger kid who can get their own jacket on while in the carrier.

There are a variety of jackets and sweatshirts that are babywearing friendly. They are designed to be worn over both you and baby. Many of the sweatshirts have a hole in the front where baby’s head is designed to come through. The jackets usually come with panels you can zip in or out to provide a space for baby’s head and body. Some of these can be used in a back carry as well.

If you can’t find outwear specifically designed for babywearing, you may be able to zip your own child’s jacket into your own to create a similar effect as the babywearing jackets with panels. 

Likewise, you may be able to find a sweater with certain design elements that facilitate babywearing. A favorite hoodie purchased from a big-box store had an open back that was designed to fold over itself and be flowy and fashionable. But it worked great in a back carry to allow baby’s body to come through!

For those of us who drive from one place to another, it can be so hard to couple babywearing with wind, rain, and snow. If you have room, you can sit in your backseat next to baby and get them in the carrier after you're parked and safe. But if you don’t, choosing a poppable carrier, pre-tying, or pre-buckling can save you when the weather is weathering.

Stretchy wraps are a great poppable option. Tie them well and tightly once, and you can keep the carrier on you all day long while popping baby in and out. Ring slings are similar in that you can keep the carrier on your body, make small adjustments, and just pop baby in and out.

For babywearing in your Lark or meh dai, you can tuck the shoulder straps into the waistband to keep them off the wet ground. In a front carry, you can buckle one side of your lark, slip baby in, buckle the other side, and tighten as normal. This should speed up the process when you’ve gotta get out of the cold.

How do you keep baby’s socks, boots, gloves, and hats on while babywearing? While not necessarily a babywearing tip, this section can help you keep baby warm for outdoor time all year long. Whenever you can, tuck socks and gloves into another layer, rather than putting them on the outside. That way, it’s harder for our little escape artists to take them off. Heavy boots can get uncomfortable for baby while babywearing, so opt to carry those and double up the socks or find booties with snaps or Velcro so they stay stuck to those little feet. Choose hats that have Velcro, snap, or tie closures at the chin so baby is less likely to yank them off. Hoods are another great option since, even if baby manages to take them off their head, hoods are still attached to the sweatshirt or jacket. If you’re babywearing in a back carry, always be sure that baby’s accessories are secure before putting baby on your back, unless you have an extra set of hands.

While babywearing in cold weather, watch for signs of overheating or getting too cold. If either of you are getting sweaty, remove a layer. If that doesn’t help, take a babywearing break to cool down if you can. Then remove a layer and try again! If baby’s lips are turning blue, teeth are chattering, or you feel very cold, add another layer. If that doesn’t help, take a babywearing break inside to warm up out of the carrier if you can.