Carrying your baby in a baby carrier/baby wrap in winter – how to dress your baby correctly
Carrying your baby in a baby carrier/baby wrap in the winter can be both cozy and practical. The baby gets closeness and warmth while you have your hands free. At the same time, it can be difficult to know how to dress the baby when it's cold outside .
Because the baby is sitting close to your body, it often gets extra warmth from you. Therefore, in many cases the baby does not need as much clothing as in a stroller.
Here are some things that might be good to keep in mind when carrying your baby in a baby carrier on cold days.
Dress the child in layers
A good way to dress your baby for winter wear is to use the layering principle . This makes it easier to adjust the clothes according to temperature and activity.
A common setup might be:
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a soft base layer, such as wool or cotton
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a mid-layer that keeps you warm
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a protective outer layer if necessary
Because the baby sits close to your body, your own jacket or a baby carrier can often act as an extra warming layer.
Avoid thick overalls in the baby carrier/carrier wrap
It may feel natural to put a thick winter coat on your baby, but in a baby carrier/carrier wrap, it is usually not the best option.
Thick overalls can cause the child to not sit as deep in the harness and affect the ergonomic position. In addition, the child can become too hot when it sits close to the body.
Many people instead choose thinner layers and use:
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a babywearing jacket
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or a roomy jacket that can be closed around the child.
Protect your head, hands and feet
The baby's head, hands and feet are often the parts of the body that get cold first.
It may therefore be good to use:
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a warm hat
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socks or booties
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possibly mittens if it's really cold
The feet in particular may need a little extra warmth because they sometimes stick out of the baby carrier.
Keep an eye on your child's temperature
It can be easy to become unsure whether the baby is warm enough.
A good way to check is to feel the baby's neck or back. If the skin feels warm but not sweaty, the temperature is usually right.
If the child feels cold, an extra layer may be needed, and if the child feels sweaty, it may be a good idea to remove a layer.
Consider the child's airways
When the baby is carried close to the body, it is important that the face is always free and visible.
Make sure that:
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the baby's chin is not pressed against the chest
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the face is not covered by cloth or jacket
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the child has a clear airway.
This is important regardless of the season but can be especially important when using jackets or carrier covers.
Adjust according to weather and activity
How much clothing the child needs can depend on several things, such as:
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temperature
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wind
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How long are you out?
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if you move a lot or stand still
On longer walks, it may be a good idea to bring an extra layer in case the child gets cold.
Summary
Carrying a baby in a baby carrier in the winter can work well as long as the child is dressed in a way that both keeps the child warm and allows the child to sit comfortably in the carrier.
Keep in mind that:
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use layers upon layers
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avoid thick overalls in the harness
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protect head, hands and feet
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keep the child's face free
With the right clothes, winter wear can be a cozy way to be outside together even on cold days.
