Ok, so you are looking for recommendations for babywearing in the heat? Well you've come to the right place. I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about hot babywearing because I live in a pretty warm climate, and have for 90% of my time as a babywearer. South Alabama can be brutally hot. August is when things really crank up. So right now (late June) high 80s to 90s with 70% humidity and a “real feel” temp of 103 is pretty mild. Add about 15 degrees to those temps and that is what August will feel like. It's not that fun.

Suggested Carriers

So what are some wraps and carriers that I’d recommend if you want to wrap up your little one and head outdoors? Ok, first off I’d say mid-size and shorty wraps or a ring sling is the way to go. Or if you only have a long wrap you can use it as a shorty in a pinch, just get creative with the knot so you dont trip on those tails. (The image of me on the upper left with Petite Otomi is a size 4.7 m used as I would a 3.2 m wrap.)  I rarely wear long wraps this time of year, I just would prefer less fabric. Some VERY VERY thin wraps I can handle in longer lengths, but really it's not often that I reach for a long wrap on a hot day. I’d recommend single-layer carries, ring slings or a buckle carrier like a Tula or Beco for this kind of heat.

I know it’s hard to sort out which wraps are “summer worthy” so we made a Summer Wraps collection in our store. I'll include some photos of my recent faves because, well, photos are always fun! Keeping your baby's face protected from the sun on summer days is a great idea, too. Urban Baby Bonnets are our favorite hats for babywearing and just hanging at the beach. Super cute and very functional.

Tips

Some helpful tips for babywearing in the heat:

• Stay in the shade as much as possible
• Avoid peak-sun times
• Keep baby's face shaded
• Use a cooling towel on your neck or between you and your baby
• Stay hydrated
• Use single layer carries/ring slings/buckle carriers

Fave Hotties

Here is a photo of some of my recent favorite hot-weather wraps. Two of these are in loom state—can you guess which? Turquoise Emerald Indio and Spring in Flanders, which is why they appear so flat, but I think it’s fun to see them all together.

OK, top to bottom, left to right:

A Few More Suggestions

A lot of other great wraps are in our Summer Babywearing collection so be sure to have a good look. I like to stick to wraps that are under or around 230 g/m2, but there are exceptions for sure. The weave structure of a wrap will really affect the way it feels, so some wraps will feel light and yet have a high g/m2. I also think most Indios are great in the heat, so take a peek at those. Easycares are wonderful, too. Tekhni Repreve is quite thick, but so light it's really a conundrum. We have had a few Repreve wraps in stock, but they sell out really quickly. Tekhni Dove Chlrois and Tekhni Tidepool Chloris are both wonderful, especially in shorter lengths.

What are my favorite mid length / shorty carries?

Back carries:

Ruck Tied in Front

Reinforced Ruck

Knotless Double Hammock- I need a 4 for this

Half Jordon's Back Carry

Double Hammock Rebozo

Front Carries:

Kangaroo

Inside Out Coolest Hip Carry

Front Reinforced Torso Rebozo

Front Wrap Cross Carry Tied under Bottom

Hopefully that gives you some good ideas to keep on babywearing even in the hottest temps! If you've got any questions feel free to drop me a line and I'll do my best to help. Stay cool...