Is a baby wrap too hot?
Tina wrote:
“I just had a question about using a wrap here in Florida. My daughter is 12 weeks old and loves being in the wrap, except she sweats so much! When I take her out she’s soaked in sweat, and I was just wondering if that was ok? Is there a better blend of fabric recommended for the intense heat we have here in Florida?”
Timely question, and I wanted to address it for everyone. I’m in Florida too, and this is what I do with my five month old:
- often she is naked or in diaper only inside the wrap. Honestly, I don’t dress her for shopping, the park, or anywhere, when we go out in the Summer. She’s a baby, and she can get away with it! The exception is if I think she’ll get too much sun and I want to cover her skin. When in the wrap, I often put a hat or scarf on her with no clothes since the wrap is covering her.
- I keep her hydrated with plenty of nursing. Water isn’t necessary for the exclusively breastfed baby.
- I often use carries that put fewer layers of fabric over her. For front carries, the kangaroo carry or the abbreviated FWCC put only one layer over the baby. The front cross carry is very similar to the front wrap cross carry, but with only two layers instead of three. The front wrap cross carry itself can be used with the crosses bunched on either side of her and only the one layer over her body. A rucksack is the perfect cool back carry for mom and baby.
- I tend to use an airier wrap–gauze is the thinnest, coolest wrap and the EllaRoo wraps are also much cooler than most of the popular German Style Woven wraps (such as Storchenwiege and Neobulle), and I find myself reaching for one of these during the hot months.
- Sometimes I use a shorter wrap so there’s less fabric around both of us. A shorter wrap can be used for a rucksack, abbreviated FWCC, hip cross carry, and some other great Summer wrap jobs. It’s nice to have the option of different sized wraps.
She and I get soaked with sweat all the time in or out of the wrap. When I nurse on the couch I have to peel her off me afterward! And any mom who uses a carseat or stroller can attest to how hot their babies get in those. Just make sure she is peeing normally, her soft spot isn’t unusually depressed, etc. All the usual precautions for Florida!
Front Wrap Cross Carry with straps bunched for fewer layers.
Abbreviated Front Wrap Cross Carry--short wrap tied under the baby's bottom instead of in the back.
Rucksack Carry
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