Check out our updated 2014 Guide to Sumemr Baby Carriers
Summer heat is upon us and many people are finding that babywearing in the heat is HOT! Unfortunately, having a little body touch you when it's 90 degrees out is going to feel hot, no matter what. But luckily, there are some carries that are cooler than others and will help keep you and your baby a little more comfortable while babywearing this summer.
First you need to think about what your needs are. If you have
a little baby or a toddler that you only wear for short periods of time, a ring
sling might be the best option. If you plan to do a lot of babywearing this
summer, than you are going to want the comfort of a two shoulder carrier like a
mei tai, soft structured carrier (aka buckle carrier), or even a lighter wrap. Here's a run down on
the different styles and some of the brands that might work well for
you.
Ring
Slings
Ring slings
are great for summer. They don't have as much fabric touching you and your baby
as some carriers and they are great for quick carries when a busy toddler wants
to be held for a few minutes and then wants down again. But ring slings are a
one shoulder carrier and unless you are used to it, prolonged wearing with a
ring sling can get uncomfortable since your child's weight will mostly be on one
shoulder.
By nature, ring slings will be cooler just because of the lack of fabric, but there are lots of ring slings that are made using fabrics that are cooler and more breathable than others. The super thin Hoppediz Pune wraps we had converted by
Kalea Baby make an AMAZINGLY light wrap conversion sling that is thin, lightweight, super soft, but still really supportive. We also had
SweetPea Ring Slings convert some Wrapsody Bali Breeze wraps for us. These lightweight gauze wraps are still breathable even as a double layer ring sling. Linen is also a fabric that many people like for summer and you can find them available by Sakura Bloom, SweetPea Ring Slings, and Kalea Baby, as well as other brands. If you can find one, Solarveil is really lightweight and airy, although please be aware that it does not offer any UV protection like once believed (read more
here). We do carry a
Kalea Baby sling made out of Solarweave, which offers a UPF rating of 50+. This fabric is really lightweight and thin and dries fast, which is why it is listed as a water carrier.
Realistically though, most ring slings are going to be fairly cool simply
due to the open design, so unless you are planning to spend a large amount of time outside or live in a particularly hot area, you might was well just pick the ring sling you like most and will enjoy using year round!
Wraps
For the wrappers out there, you don't have
to stop wrapping just because it's summer. There are a lot of great wraps out
there that are lighter and better in the heat. Wraps can be a great option for
summer since there are so many different ways to use them. You can find lots of
different ways to wrap using The Babywearer's extensive wrap instructions
links page or by purchasing wrap instruction media like the
Wrapsody DVD or
Hoppediz instruction booklet.
If you are looking for a
woven, both the Pune and Light by
Hoppediz are great wraps for summer. They are thin, light weight, and breathable, the Light feels more like a high quality thick cotton sheet while the Jacquard Pune feels more like a traditional woven, only super thin and floppy, but surprisingly supportive. The
Amazonas
Classic wraps are lighter than many wovens, though they are not well known in the US and are harder to find here. Vatanai and
Didymos linens are other brands of lighter woven wraps that people recommend for
warmer weather.
Gauze wraps, like the
Wrapsody Bali Breeze, are very light and airy. You have to be
more careful when wrapping a gauze wrap to avoid pressure points, but these
wraps are very cool and lighter than a woven.
Wrapsody also makes a
stretch wrap that is kind of a hybrid wrap. It's not as
stretchy as a standard stretch wrap and can be used comfortably with older,
heavier babies. The wraps are thinner than other stretch wraps, making them
much lighter and cooler. You can also safely use this wrap to do other carries
that are not safe to do in a traditional stretch wrap.
If you just absolutely love stretch wraps
though, or have a tiny baby you want to snuggle this summer, check out one made
with a bamboo blend since bamboo tends to be a cooler fabric and helps wick moisture away. The
Anaju stretch wraps by 3TD are made of 70% organically grown
viscose of bamboo and 30% organic cotton. These wraps are amazingly soft and
light. Lovey Duds also makes a bamboo stretch wrap and you can even make your
own by purchasing a bamboo jersey at the fabric store.
Moby wraps
aren't bamboo and are fairly heavy, but they do have some that offer extra UV
protection if that is a concern for you.
Mei
Tais and Soft Structured Carriers
Mei Tais and soft structured
carriers (buckle carriers) can be another good option for summer babywearing.
If you wear your little one a lot and for long periods of time, you will want
the support of a two shoulder carrier like these.
When looking for a Mei Tai or soft
structured carrier, try to avoid anything made with heavy materials or lots of
layers. Thinner, narrower bodied carriers are going to allow more air around you
and baby and help keep you both cooler.
AngelPack,
Olives & Applesauce and Two Mommas Designs are some of my favorite carriers, but there really are too many to
list!
Nuzzle Me Creations has designed the
NMC Stay Cool Carrier which is designed specifically for summer, but these can be very hard to find. You can also find carriers made out of Solarweave, which is really thin and light and has a UPF 50+ rating, or occasionally find a used carrier made out of Solarveil, which is light and airy, but does not offer any UV protection (see more about Solarveil
here).
Water
Carriers
A water
carrier can be a really useful thing to own, especially in summer. These can be
worn in the ocean or pool, as well as the shower. Many also provide some sun
protection, but protection can vary. Water carriers can be found in a variety of
styles, including stretch wraps, ring slings, and Mei Tais.
Wrapsody makes a stretch wrap water carrier with a UPF rating
for 45. Our
Kalea Baby water slings are made with Solarweave, which is super light, dries fast, and has a UPF 50+ rating. SweetPea Ring Slings and TaylorMade make mesh ring slings. Solarveil Mei Tais and ring slings are harder to
find, but they are out there, especially if you look for people selling used
carriers (see more about Solarveil
here).
Final thought
Summer is hot and having
your baby touch you is never going to be cool. That being said, a little sweat
never hurt anyone and it's worth the added convenience and snuggles you get in
exchange! So find a carrier that makes you more comfortable and enjoy your
summer!
Have a tip you'd like to share? Contact us,
we'd love to hear it!
