Every year as it starts to get chillier, we have questions in from parents asking about how to dress their little one while they’re in their baby carrier in cold weather, so here are our Top Five Winter Babywearing tips:
1. Less Is More
Dressing baby in too many layers of clothing could cause them to overheat, so start with fewer layers and add more if you feel baby is too chilly. When dressing baby, remember that your carrier counts as a layer of clothing and so do you as your body warms them up – particularly as your temperature is likely to increase as you’re carrying baby, along with any number of parenting essentials!
2. Wear Your Carrier UNDER Your Coat, Not OVER It
It might be tempting to put your carrier on over coat or cardigans etc. to keep your warmth inside it but not only does this prevent you and baby from sharing warmth but it can also affect the fit of your carrier making it less secure for you and baby. Keeping them close also means you can more easily check your little one’s temperature and make adjustments as needed. You can buy specially designed babywearing coats which wrap around you and baby, just be sure that if you’re using one of these that you follow tip one carefully, it is likely that normal indoor clothes will be enough to keep them toasty if you’re both wrapped up in a coat together.
3. Pack Spares
Baby’s extremities are going to feel coldest, so mittens, a warm hat & socks/booties are essential whilst out and about in cold weather. Unfortunately, these are some of the easiest things to lose out on a walk (there’s a reason for all those odd kids shoes you see on the side of the road!), so it’s always a good idea to pack spares… just in case! Our Omni 360 baby carrier comes with a handy pouch which is the perfect size for your phone, some money, and spare pair of mittens and socks!
4. Avoid Snowsuits (Please!)
However cute a baby in a snowsuit is, it’s important that your little one doesn’t wear one when they are in a carrier or wrap. Not only could it cause them to overheat, but padded snowsuits can prevent your little one from sitting in an ergonomic, safe carry position. This is particularly important for very young babies, as if they are not safe and snug in their carrier or wrap, their airways may not be adequately supported. Fleecy onesies can be okay, as long as baby is adequately dressed underneath them, they aren’t too bulky (aka they allow correct positioning), and there is no fabric covering baby’s face.
5. Consider a Weather Cover
We have specially-designed Weather Covers for use with our Original, Adapt, All Position 360 and Omni 360 baby carriers that easily attach to your carrier before you put it on. There are Rain or Winter Weather options to choose from, so whatever the weather your little one stays snug and dry.
