Baby wearing and extreme heat

[JulesP]

A question for all of you who live someplace hot

Here in the UK we are currently in the grip of a heatwave and I'm due with Shrimp any time now. Eight and a half months pregnant in 30+C heat and high humidity is certainly an experience if you're not used to it!

I'm planning on wearing baby in a sling quite a bit of the time, but given the temperatures I'm concerned about overheating both baby and myself. If it helps to know about the sling, I have a home-made ring sling made from lightweight cotton.

SmallMonster was born in the spring, and so for the first couple of months I carried him around no problem and by 3 months (when it started getting hot) he was not content to be held all the time and much preferred lying on a towel on the lawn or reclining in a bouncy chair with mummy entertaining him - until he decided he was hungry, which was often

So, what can you tell me about wearing baby when its hot?

[4evermom]

I had to carry ds anyway, so a sling just made it easier on the arms. But, I've heard of mesh material used for slings (and worn into the shower, even). If your sling is a thin cotton, I'd think it would be fine. I remember seeing a video about how the mom who kangaroo wears the baby (skin to skin against chest) makes more body heat in response to the baby being cool, to help the baby regulate it's temperature. So maybe you'll make less body heat in response to holding a hot baby.

[Sharlla]

I've been wearing my son daily in our 95 degree weather just fine. I either do a hip carry in a pouch or back carry in a MT.

[rootzdawta]

I actually went out today with the stroller and my carrier because I was thinking the carrier would be too hot for ds. I tried putting him in the stroller which is shaded and he stayed for a while but eventually he wanted to be carried. So I carried him and he didn't get irritated or mad and fell asleep. I just felt bad that he didn't have a really good shade (he always takes of his hat). Anyway, I carry ds in the traditional African way on my back using a relatively light piece of patterned cotton fabric. This is the way babes are carried back home and it is ALWAYS hot so I think from now the way to go is to put ds in little to no clothes except for a diaper.

[dantesmama]

JulesP, I feel your pain!!! I was in my third trimester last summer and I was so miserable in the heat. Hang in there!

Anyway, I don't have any problems wearing DS when it's hot out. Like you, I assumed it would get uncomfortable, but it really doesn't. I just dress lightly and let DS go without pants or shorts. I think the mesh sling one of the pp's mentioned is called a solarveil, but I wouldn't bother getting one unless you discover whatever sling you have is too hot, which isn't likely.

[4evermom]

Originally Posted by rootzdawta

I actually went out today with the stroller and my carrier because I was thinking the carrier would be too hot for ds. I tried putting him in the stroller which is shaded and he stayed for a while but eventually he wanted to be carried. So I carried him and he didn't get irritated or mad and fell asleep. I just felt bad that he didn't have a really good shade (he always takes of his hat).

How about a parasol? I'm always seeing sensible older folks wielding umbrellas for shade on a sunny day.

[Monkeyfeet]

Kangaroo Korner has a solerveil mesh sling as well as a cotton one:
http://www.kangarookorner.com/k_shop...olarveil.shtml

[Tonia80]

My son is 14 months old and still wanst to held alot so I carry him often in a sling of lightweight cotton either on my hip or mostly on my back. He is usually either nakkie or just in a cloth dipe and it works just fine for us. You have to think of countries liek Africa wheer babywearing is teh norm and temps are usually pretty high all day....

[USAmma]

I live in Arizona and it gets very, very hot. During those times with my babies, I would either put them in a frame pack to get some air between us, or I would use the stroller. My dd got heat rash once while in my sling.