Knowing how to dress your baby for winter babywearing is a common concern for most parents. We called on award-winning baby brand Ergobaby’s to share their expert advice on winter babywearing.
Dressing baby for winter babywearing
Layers
Overheating is the number one thing to avoid when it comes to winter babywearing. It can both be unpleasant and hazardous for your baby. We recommend starting with a few light layers and then adding more if you feel your baby is too chilly.
There are a couple of things that count as layers:
- Your body – your warmth helps warm them up, so you count as a layer
- Your carrier – every carrier counts as an extra layer on your baby, so factor that in when dressing them
- Your coat – if you’re wearing a large or babywearing coat around both of you that counts as a layer too
Remember, if you go indoors at any point, you must remove layers to keep your baby (and you!) from overheating.
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Wear your carrier UNDER your coat, not OVER it
As with dressing baby, light layers are key for you too! If you find yourself getting hot and sweaty at any point while carrying your little one, you probably have too many layers on.
Putting your carrier over your winter coat might seem like a good idea, but not only will this prevent you and your baby from sharing warmth, but it can also affect the fit of your carrier, making it less secure.
Your coat will add another layer on top of your body heat and the carrier, so if you’re both dressed under a coat together, it’s likely that just wearing normal indoor clothes will keep your little one toasty. Keeping your little one close means you can more easily check their temperature and adjust their clothes as needed.
If you go indoors, you can easily take your coat off without taking the baby out of the carrier. If you want your coat to go around you and your baby, you can either size up, or you can buy specially designed babywearing coats. Seraphine have a beautiful range perfect for wrapping around you and your little one to keep you both cosy and warm.
Protect their extremities (and pack spares)
Baby’s extremities are going to feel coldest, so mittens, a warm hat and thick socks or booties are essential whilst out and about in cold weather. You can buy special babywearing booties and leggings, or anything warm and cosy will do the job! A pro tip… pack spares! These are some of the easiest things to lose out on a walk, so it’s always a good idea to prepare, just in case!
Our Omni baby carriers come with a handy pouch on the waistband which is the perfect size for your phone, keys, some money, and spare pair of mittens and socks!
Avoid snowsuits (please!)
However cute a baby in a snowsuit is, it’s important that your little one doesn’t wear one when they are in a carrier or wrap. There are several reasons for this. Not only could it cause them to overheat, (snowsuits are designed to keep baby warm if they are in the snow, not cuddled close to you in a cosy carrier), but the bulky fabric can also prevent your little one from sitting in an ergonomic, safe carry position. This is particularly important for young babies. If they are not safely positioned in their carrier or wrap, their airways may not be adequately supported.
Babies cannot regulate their own temperature so being close to you is an important safety factor. Thinner, fleecy onesies may be suitable for older babies if they allow the correct positioning for your baby. Make sure your baby is appropriately dressed underneath, in nothing too bulky, with no fabric covering baby’s face. Any item of clothing with attached ‘feet’ can pull up on baby’s legs when in the carrier so two-piece outfits as usually best.
Consider a weather cover
Specially designed to keep baby warm and dry, Ergobaby’s Weather Covers have been redesigned and can be used with baby facing inwards or outwards and are suitable for use with all Ergobaby baby carriers. Choose a waterproof Rain and Wind cover or a waterproof and fleece-lined All Weather cover, to keep your little one snug and dry.
The weather covers have a pocket to keep your hands warm too and pack down into a detachable pouch that can be attached to the carrier’s waistbelt for on-the-go ease and worry-free protection from the rain.
Shoes
This may be an obvious tip, but make sure you wear shoes with a decent grip or tread, so you don’t slip up when you’re out and about.
Follow the steps above, and all of Ergobaby carriers are suitable for winter babywearing. For new parents shopping for a baby carrier, we recommend the Ergobaby Omni Dream. Made with 100% SoftTouchTM Cotton, its brushed fabric offers unparalleled softness and with its streamlined design, you can use it birth through toddlerhood.
Perfect for adventures big or small, the Omni Dream’s customisable fit allows wearers and babies of all shapes and sizes to explore the world together in total comfort. Ergonomic for both parent and baby and fully adjustable, the Omni Dream has padded, crossable shoulder straps and a lumbar support waistbelt, making hours of carrying little ones feel effortless! The deep bucket seat combined with the head and neck support pillow, and chest tabs, keep your baby cuddled close and snug.
Like all carriers in the Omni range, the Omni Dream is suitable from birth (7lbs / 3.2kg) without the need for an infant insert, all the way through toddlerhood (up to 45lbs / 20kg). The Omni Dream offers all four carry positions (front inward facing, front-outward facing, hip carry and back carry), so it’s the only carrier parents will ever need.
From winter snuggles, summer strolls and everything in between. the Omni Dream will keep you and your baby comfy all year round.
The Omni Dream is available in Pearl Grey, Midnight Blue, Slate Blue and Onyx Black. RRP £174.90.
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