Babywearing in winter??

[ChristieB]

I'm pregnant with my 2nd, due in early March. My first is now 5 yo. He was born in May, so I used a sling with him. I honestly don't remember what did during the winter. I think that when we would take walks we would bundle him up and take the stoller (it's a stroller that is kind of "all terrain", and he was a big baby, and out here in the woods, it's hard for me to keep my balance while carrying a big baby). Or dh would put him in a backpack. Just so I don't get flamed, I carried him in a sling all over (except on walks in the woods) until he was a little older than 2.

This baby will be a newborn in cold weather, and that's foreign to me. How do I carry her outside while ds is outside playing? Do I try to fit her in a sling under my winter coat (it's fairly large, and this might work, but it makes me nervous closing her in like that)? Or do I bundle her up and put her in the sling over my coat? Or just bundle her and carry her in my arms?

Any BTDT info is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Christie

[FreeThinkinMama]

How sad that you have to defend your use of a stroller to avoid being flamed I for one don't think using a stroller makes someone a bad parent, no matter what their reason is.

Anyway, my first dd was born in the spring as well and I'm due this winter and have been considering the same thing. I've read that a lot of people just make a sling or pouch out of fleece so I was thinking about trying my hand at that. Otherwise I'll probably just bundle baby up good in warm clothing, maybe even swaddling before putting him in the sling

HTH!

[witchbaby]

we would plop the babe in a sling, put a hat on him/her (both my kids were born in december), tuck a fleece blanket on top, then pull on a big coat and pull it around the front. my husband had more success with this method (his coat was gigantic), i would just get the blanket in really snug. seemed to keep the little one warm!

[fireshifter]

Originally Posted by ChristieB

This baby will be a newborn in cold weather, and that's foreign to me. How do I carry her outside while ds is outside playing? Do I try to fit her in a sling under my winter coat (it's fairly large, and this might work, but it makes me nervous closing her in like that)? Or do I bundle her up and put her in the sling over my coat? Or just bundle her and carry her in my arms?

DS was born in February in Nebraska. My mom had made a ring sling for me out of fleece and I LOVED it for DS. I just wore my big maternity coat over it for the first few months zipped up with the top of DS's head visible just barely (with a hat on). He slept like that for hours when I was out giving horseback riding lessons in a cold cold barn. If you think about it, there's those carseat covers that cover up the DC completely so really putting them in your coat ain't much different AND they get to snuggle with mommy.

Jen

[papayapetunia]

My babe is only warm in a sling. I'm making a fleece one (you can get a Kozy Karrier) and if it's really cold, I put a blanket over her. We are outside all the time because we catch public transit.

[melissabel]

No reason to justify using a stroller, I truly don't want people to feel like babywearing is an all or nothing. Spending some time in a stroller is no different than spending time in a car seat when driving. The concern is when its overused.

As for winterbabywearing, my dd was born in Feb. and I much preferred wearing her under my coat. I preferred to share our body heat. I used a maternity coat and just left it a little unzipped at the top so I could look down at her and to give her some air. She was nestled in there that it just made me cold but i just used a scarf. I didn't put her in an bunting, but I used either a fleece pouch (my favorite is Mom ana Me creations Pea in a Pod Pouch www.momandmepouch.com which is adjustable and made of hemp fleece) or I used a fleece coverup like the ones from Kiddopotamous. (maya wrap also carries one called MAM and so does Catbird Baby).

LOts of pouch makers make fleece nonadjustable pouches but I only know of the Mom and Me and Kangaroo Korner for adjustable.

Also I didn't use this until my dd was older but I would try a fleece wrap. That way the baby would be upright so not so far down in the coat and I find wraps a bit more secure so you can be more hands free to run after your 5 y.o
I got mine from www.gypsymama.com

Good Luck. Winter Babywearing is possible! This is my 3rd winter and I walk everywhere

[Chronic Chrissy]

I made us a fleece wrap. I can adjust it to cover her more if it's cold or the uncover her if we get warm under our coat. I also find that it hold your babe closer to you requiring less room in the coat, as well as offering enough support and allowing them to have better ventilation/peek out once interested. My DD is 10.5 lbs and she loves it. I bought a fur trimmed seude coat secondhand for 20$ and DD can peek around the fur on the front while it snugles her, or when on my back the fur keeps the back of her head warm, with a hat of course. Also if it is really cold I can tuck a blanket around both of us easy, and there is no fabric between us. Anyways I hope this helps.

[ChristieB]

Originally Posted by FreeThinkinMama

How sad that you have to defend your use of a stroller to avoid being flamed I for one don't think using a stroller makes someone a bad parent, no matter what their reason is.

and

No reason to justify using a stroller, I truly don't want people to feel like babywearing is an all or nothing. Spending some time in a stroller is no different than spending time in a car seat when driving. The concern is when its overused.

Thank you both. I'm sorry if I made anyone feel bad. That wasn't my intention. This is my first time posting here in babywearing, and I didn't know what to expect. I've seen others flamed elsewhere on the board, and I just didn't think my pregnant emotions could take it.

Thank you everyone for the great ideas. I won't worry so much about her being under my coat. I'm pretty sure it's big enough. I made through my entire pregnancy wearing that coat last time (and my belly was definitely bigger than a baby), and I started this pregnancy a little smaller than last time (so hopefully that means that I'll be smaller after she's born than I was last time). I'll get a good fleece blanket or two and a good hat (I'd been debating that one, now I know). And I'll have to think about the fleece sling/pouch. My cousin makes slings, so I'm having her make me another one with some fabric I've dyed. Maybe I'll need to have her make me a fleece one, too. I'll feel a little silly with 4 slings, but I know there are others who also have several. Besides, I'm sure I'll be wearing this one more the my first, since I'll need to be taking care of ds, and playing with him, and teaching him, and not just holding and playing with the baby (which I spent most of my time doing last time).

For those who have made a fleece sling, if I do have my cousin make one, what type of fleece should we use?? And where would I find it?

Thanks again everyone!

Christie

[New Mexico Beach]

Nothing wrong with a stroller! I'm a HUGE babywearing advocate, but I use a stroller once in a while. It's just easier sometimes. My dh does say I'm anti-stroller, but it's not true, I swear.

For winter baby wearing I'd just bundle baby up and your body heat will be enough to keep him/her warm. If it's too cold out to stand it, I wouldn't go out. But I'm kind of a wimp sometimes.