babywearing in winter in Northeast?

[mom2ewc]

What do those of you who live in the Northeast do when wearing your babe during the winter?

I have an Ergo carrier, but am not sure how to keep me and my 8-month old warm this winter. We tend to overheat... so I wouldn't want to put him in his snowsuit unless it was really cold outside and we were going for a long walk. But what to do for shorter times outside... or the rain and snow?

I was looking at the Peekaroo vest, which looks awesome... but how would that work during snow and really cold weather? The site says you can put a jacket on over... but how would that work if the babe is in a back carry?

I found a Didymos Mother Child jacket on sale somewhere... would that be a good option?

Thanks for the feedback...

[phoenix78]

same question...I'm in Buffalo and it's heading towards cold soon! Subbing!

[Adasmommy]

I live in Florida, so not technically qualified to answer but I know there are a lot of babywearing jackets/coats/ponchos available. I believe www.childrensneeds.com has several.

When I have been somewhere cold while wrapping my daughter, I used a big sweater or coat (thrift store) and put it around both of us. When she's in the front, the zipper/buttons come up around us up to the back of her head. When she's in the back, I leave the head hole loose so her head and my head are both sticking out of it like some kind of alien. Obviously, a high back carry would facilitate this! Then I zip/button up the front as much as need be.

I could also put a coat on dd after she was wrapped up, if her arms were sticking out (older baby). It doesn't fasten up the front, obviously, because her front was pressed against me. But the sleeves go on, the hood goes on, and the coat covers up the back of her which is not pressed against her warm mama. You can do this on the back too, but it is trickier and helpful to have a second person to put the coat on! A child's poncho was easiest, because I could put it on her, then put the wrap around her under the poncho and wrap up and the poncho was already on her, over the wrap.

But it's not great to try to put a wrap on over your coat, so I think the best is finding something you can put on the both of you. And I suspect it's colder where you are than where I've been, so I hope some others chime in. Good luck!

[NorthernPixie]

I live in Ontario. It gets very, very cold here so here's what I do.

Last winter, I moved home to Ontario from Florida and realized after my first walk outside that wearing dd in a front carry with my winter coat open was not going to work. She was a year old, heavy, and we both were freezing. So I spent the $200 and got the Suse Kindercoat deluxe, which is awesome and I'm so glad I did it. I got multiple comments every time we ventured out, which was often. I was out at the dog park in -25C weather (really really cold in Fahrenheit) and we were both toasty warm. She wore her fleece bodysuit and a warm hat and we were all set.

I also made my sister a peekaru-style fleece vest, which worked for front carries. I've heard they're tough to use for a back carry, and it's only one layer of fleece, so good for spring and fall but winter, not so much.

This year, I happened across this absolutely wonderful, genius cheapo version of a back carrying winter coat. I did it last weekend, also for my sister who now needs something for a back carry. I bought a coat at Value Village for $10, used fleece scraps I had, and it rocks. I tried it on with my kiddo and her feet stick out the bottom of the coat I picked, but otherwise, it is brilliant. Next time (and I'm sure I'm going to get friends asking) I'd just use a slightly longer coat. So if you sew, or know someone who does, this is the easiest route to go. Avoid anything with a zip-in fleece, and if you use down or anything with stuffing, sew a double line around where you're going to cut and then cut in between the two lines of sewing...to avoid all the stuffing falling out.

[sahm2two]

Northern Pixie - that coat is FABULOUS!

Now I so wish I could sew....

[pixiepunk]

i have a Suse's Deluxe Kinder Coat. it is freakin' fantastic! it has a waterproof shell, a zip-in fleece that can be worn on its own or together with the shell for super cold days. it's also got hoods (lined and unlined for cold or rain) that snap on and off. it's got a close-able hole on the back for back carries, and extra panels that zip on and off for front carries *and* hip carries. it is seriously cool, i love!

before i had that, i just wore a close-fitting fleece pull-over for myself, and a fleece jacket, hat, babylegs under pants for the baby. and if it got really cold i put my babywearing poncho over it. those are a nice, cheaper option, and super easy to get off and on which is nice when you're running in and out of stores and things.

i've never had one, but there's a mama over on TBW who makes Monkey Pockets - they are covers made of fleece for your carrier. so they cover the baby. nice low-cost option for keeping the baby warm.

now is a good time to check out the FSOT over at TBW. lots of mamas selling vest, jackets, ponchos, etc. now that the weather is starting to turn cooler. great time to pick up something gently used

[JamieCatheryn]

I'm only in Kentucky, so we have 20-35*F most of the time in the winter. But here's what I did. Baby and I in warm, thin clothes, like sweaters and pants, baby in a front carry, and my cloak around both of us. Only because I already owned a cloak. Works really well: so warm, not too bulky, adjustable if we overheated or went inside.