The Ultimate Guide to Winter Babywearing: Safety, Layers, & Babywearing Coats

It’s recommended to dress baby in one more 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, like a thin bodysuit. Then add a sweater or light jacket. If you decide to put your kid in footie pajamas or similar clothing, you may want to choose stretchy fabrics or size up. Sometimes tight-fitting footies can put pressure on their toes, which can keep you from getting proper positioning and a comfortable fit in your baby carrier.

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 Sprout, 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.

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, 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)!

You don't need one, but depending on how cold it gets where you live and how often you are outside, getting a babywearing coat might be a great option to really keep the warmth in. Lots of cold weather babywearers like to invest in babywearing coats. These are coats made specifically to accommodate a carrier. They're created to be large enough to cover yourself and your child completely, with an extra panel that can be removable. Some of them can even work in a back carry! Often, these coats come with a space for the baby's head to pop through and can even include a hood just for them. If it doesn't get quite as chilly, but you'd still like to add an outer layer, you can look into a babywearing sweatshirt.

Choose a poppable carrier, pre-tie, or pre-buckle to save you time outside in the cold when you aren't able to set your carrier up inside. Stretchy wraps are a great poppable option. Tie them well 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 cold or stormy weather babywearing in your Sprout, 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 or both sides of your Sprout or Lark, slip baby in, buckle the other side (if needed), and tighten as normal. This should speed up the process when you’ve gotta get out of the cold.

If you drive from one place to another, you can sit in your backseat next to baby and get them in the carrier. This works only after you're parked and safe, and as long as you have the room. 

Whenever you can, tuck baby's 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.