Babywearing a baby in the summer (or year-round if you live somewhere like Florida!) means knowing how to keep everyone comfortable in hot weather. Here are some suggestions for lighter Summertime wraps, recommendations for cooler carries to use with your wraps, and tips for surviving hot weather wrapping so you don’t have to stay in-doors all Summer with those busy babies!
Tips for Choosing a Wrap
Thin wraps and wraps with open weaves: a thin, airy wrap will be more comfortable than a thick, densely woven wrap and because there is no padding or heavy canvas, has the potential for cooler carrying than many other carriers. I don’t recommend stretchy wraps because most are very warm, and they won’t provide the versatility and comfort throughout the first couple of years that you can get from these woven (non stretchy) wraps! Try Ellevill, Wrapsody Breeze, and EllaRoo woven wraps for the most comfort this Summer.
Ellevill wraps are woven in Norway with a super-soft but airy weave that gives you a cushier feeling without holding in the heat making it a very comfortable, breathable Summer wrapping option. Breathable Ellevill wraps are available here.
Wrapsody Breeze wraps are made from bottom-weight gauze which means they are sturdier than gauze found at a fabric store for more support and comfort, yet still the thinnest, coolest wrapping option around, even in multi-layer carries. You can find Wrapsody Breeze wraps in a variety of colors and designs here.
EllaRoo wraps, are hand-woven in Guatemala with a very thin, flat weave that makes them perfect for babywearing on hot days without feeling like you’re bundled up. Find thin EllaRoo wraps for sale here.Short wraps and carries with fewer layers: another cooler option for hot days is a shortie in a single layer carry. If you already have a wrap and it’s not the coolest fabric, it’s good to know that a heavier wrap in a single layer carry can be as cool as a thin wrap with multiple layers. A size 3 or 4 will give most parents several front, back, and hip carry options that won’t warm you up as much as a longer wrap. Find more information about short wrap carries and which size wrap will work for a parent of ANY size, here.
Even a thicker wrap is cool enough for Summer in a single layer carry like this rebozo carry, which you can learn here.If you want a stretchy wrap, choose a cooler stretchy wrap: the silky-soft Wrap DuO, is similar to other stretchy wraps on the market, but SO MUCH COOLER, and it does double duty as a wrap you can wear in the water. Think pool, beach, splash park, or shower – perfect for managing on hot summer days!
The Wrap DuO is a light and cool, silky-soft stretchy wrap from Wrapsody that will keep you cooler in the water or out. You can find Wrap DuO water wraps for sale here.Tips for Choosing a Carry:
- A carry that does not tie around your waist can keep you cooler (click on photos below for tutorials).
- You can often bunch up instead of spreading a pass in a front carry that has more than one layer – just make sure that baby is secure, supported, and you are both comfy.
- For older babies, a back carry usually feels cooler than a chest to chest carry, but you want to be able to see and interact with them enough to know if they are doing well or getting too hot.
Cooler carry suggestions (click on the photo below to go to instructions page):
Kangaroo Carry is a front carry that can be used for newborn through toddler with a single layer over baby and open sides for airflow. With a short wrap, tie the carry under your baby’s bottom to avoid a warm strap tied around your waist. This carry can also be done with a longer wrap but you would wrap around your waist to tie in back to use up the extra length. Shown here with Easycare Rainbow Baby wrap. Learn how to do a Kangaroo Carry with a woven wrap using the photo or video tutorial here.
Front Wrap Cross Carry TUB (tied under bottom) is great for all ages especially if you’re already familiar with FWCC and want to try it as a single layer carry with a shorter wrap. Shown with a Joy and Joe Birthing Goddess wrap – find it here.
Semi FWCC (shown here with dad and baby in a Lenny Lamb Smoki wrap which is available here) is another great front carry for someone who is familiar with FWCC and feels cooler with only two layers over baby and only one shoulder wrapped. Even if you’re totally new to woven wraps, you can learn how to do this short, cool carry here.
You can learn to do a Rucksack Carry here – it is a great choice for a back carry in hot weather with only a single layer on baby and rucksack strap on the parent instead of fabric covering any part of your torso. Shown here with EllaRoo Kristen, available here.
Double Hammock Rebozo (DHR) gives you much of the same famous support as a full Double Hammock Carry but with only one shoulder and a much shorter wrap it will leave you feeling much cooler. Shown with discontinued Natibaby Henna wrap. Learn to use your wrap in a Double Hammock Rebozo here.There are also some very short carries (size 2 or 3 wrap for most parents) that are tied at shoulder with no waist belt and no pass over the caregiver’s torso and these are great for hot Summer weather:Rucksack TAS (tied at shoulder)
Double Rebozo Back Carry
Half Jordan’s Back CarryIf you have a longer wrap and are doing Front Wrap Cross Carry, try bunching the crosses at baby’s side to keep some of the layers off baby in hot weather (click the photo to go the the tutorial page where you’ll find instructions for both spread and bunches passes):
Try bunching the FWCC crosses to keep baby cooler. Demonstrated with a Natibaby Tattooed wrap.
6 Tips for Sun Protection:
Even the FDA recommends against using sun screen on babies under 6 months old so here are some old fashioned methods of protecting yourself from excessive sun exposure.
- find shade frequently or provide your own by using a wide brimmed hat or parasol
- cover baby’s legs and arms with light, loose clothing
- use your wrap or wrap tails to cover baby (but not baby’s face) while still allowing airflow
- the WrapDuO mentioned above provides UPF 45 Sun Protection
- Shea Butter and Coconut Oil are safe for babies and both provide some protection
- avoid being outside for prolonged periods between 10am and 2pm
6 Tips to Avoid Over-heating:
- keep yourself hydrated – drink plenty of water
- keep your baby hydrated – if breastfeeding, allow baby to nurse as often as they want, and switch sides as frequently as they like as they will instinctively switch more often when they need more of the watery foremilk; if using formula, baby may need extra when out on hot days or even supplement with water; babies who are eating solids should drink water frequently
- sticking to the shade makes a huge difference
- make a breeze – use a small clip on fan with foam fan blades, or carry a paper fan with you (or improvise with a magazine)
- if using a cooling towel, be attentive to your baby to ensure that he or she is not getting too cold, especially with young babies who are not yet able to regulate temperature well and do not use ice packs or cloths soaked with ice water directly on babies
- take breaks – remove baby from wrap and use the wrap as a blanket for you and baby to hang out on for a few minutes in a shady spot
Babies get hydrated from nursing, formula, or water supplementation; mom and dad or other caregiver should drink plenty of water. Shown with Wrapsody Breeze Haumea wrap.
Sunhats can protect delicate skin from the sun, either on baby, or a large brimmed hat on the caregiver . . . or both! Shown with Wrapsody Wrap Duo Lagoon, available here.
Bring your own shade when you’re wrapping in hot weather or on a sunny day to protect baby’s skin without having to use sunscreen. Shown with Girasol Barefoot Rainbow, available here.
The Wrapsody Wrap DuO, available here, is a water wrap that is light and cool and has a UV protection rating of 45. Tuck the ends of the wrap over baby’s legs to keep them protected from the sun.
Wrapping lets you include your little one in all the fun Summer outings but it’s important to monitor yours and baby’s heat level and take breaks if necessary.Diana Rosenfield is a mother of three who is passionate about sharing the relief families gain when they learn a convenient and comfortable way of calming baby that also supports baby’s needs for optimum growth and development. She shares woven wrap tutorials and resources at WrapYourBaby.com, where you can also purchase any/ all of the products in this article and support her Mama-owned business!
