[Image of a white man smiling in the falling snow while wearing a child on his front. Both of them are wearing hats. The child has on pink and black winter boots. The child has a green blanket over the carrier tucked into the blue winter coat that the man has on. The neighbor across the street has on twinkling lights on the shrubbery.

There’s a chill in the air. The leaves are swirling. Many trees already have bare branches. Snow is in the forecast. Bring on the hot beverages and warm socks! What about babywearing? How do I wear my baby/toddler/child in the cold??? Below are some general recommendations as well as some personal tips from your dear wearers in the state of Minnesota!

[Infographic titled Winter Wearing: A Lesson in Layers" next to a logo of four shape caregivers of different shades of brown wearing four types of carriers next to text Babywearing International. The title has a navy blue background. In the white background below the header has text sandwiched between a down blue arrow and an up red arrow: When the temperature outside decreases, clothing layers on baby's extremities increase. Below that text are orange images of a long-sleeve to, pants, mittens, hat, and coat. Below the clothing is the following text: Multiple thin layers of long sleeves, pants, socks, mittens, and a hat will keep baby's extremities warm. Watch for over-heating and remove a layer of clothing if baby gets too hot. Ensure baby has minimal skin exposed, but keep the face clear. In extra-cold weather, dress baby in overlapping thin layers and wear a larger coat that covers you and bay. Remember, your body heat and the carrier will keep baby warm as well!]

Cold Weather Wearing Tip from Amanda:

  • Use the gear/clothing you have! Slip a child size coat over carrier straps or over your toddler’s arms and wear over the outside of the carrier to reduce uncomfortable bulk and fuss. Layer adult size wool socks to cover baby’s legs and feet in a carrier/wrap.

[image taken selfie style from the side of a white blonde woman wearing a gray coat and a white baby on her front. The baby is wearing a purple coat over the outside world of the carrier with its carrier threaded through the coat sleeves. ]

Cold Weather Wearing Tip from Anna:

  • If you have a soft-structured carrier that allows the shoulder straps to unbuckle from the sides of the panel, you can thread the shoulder straps through the arm holes of a vest or jacket so there is an extra layer over the child.

[Image: a white mother wearing a white-presenting child on her front. The child is wearing a red and white striped hat and is covered with a navy vest. The mother is wearing a jacket and a cold weather headband. They are outside.]

Cold Weather Wearing Tip from Emily:

  • We LOVE our babywearing carrier hoodie (Bebamour Universal Hoodie All Season Carrier Cover For Baby Carrier)! It worked when she was little and still works now at over three feet tall! We all run hot so a fleece jacket for both of us and then this carrier cover is the winner all winter

[image of a brunette female woman in a white fleece jacket wearing a brunette female toddler on her front in a soft structured grey carrier. A purple carrier cover with a hood covers most of the toddler up. Suck pad covers that are white and multi colored leaves are attached to the SSC. Both females are outside and looking at the camera]

Cold Weather Wearing Tip from Jamie:

  • Winter babywearing doesn’t have to require special gear. An over-sized coat may be just as effective as a babywearing coat or sweater when closed around baby in a front carry/carrier. A blanket tucked around a carrier may be just as effective as a baby carrier cover, of course making sure that the blanket(s) don’t interfere with baby’s breathing. I often left a glove or mitten off my hand as my indicator to know when it was too cold for my baby: if my hand was uncomfortable in the cold, then it was time to take baby in. It’s not a perfect rule, but it kept me aware that baby couldn’t necessarily tell me s/he was too cold.

Cold Weather Wearing Tips from Kirsten:

  • (1st photo) This coat is 3 times bigger than I normally wear. I cut a slit in the back and lined it with fleece.
  • (2nd photo) This is an oversized men’s work coat that I was able to keep both of us warm in. Since it is longer I don’t have to worry as much about feet hanging out or drafts coming up.

(image of a white woman with a white girl on her back, the woman has a black hooded coat on with a hole for the girls bag to come through. There is a horse photo bombing in the background)

Image is a bathroom mirror selfie with a white woman and 9mo girl on her front sharing a black coat. The woman is smiling, the baby has a brown striped hat on and is not smiling.

Cold Weather Wearing Tips from Leigh:

  • Sometimes we get everyone dressed separately then put baby in the carrier. This works well when you will be outside for a while and when baby will be up and down.
  • This snowsuit is on the big side and has turn over hand and foot cuffs to keep babies hands and feet tucked in and warm.

(Back of a brown haired white man in a brown jacket with a toddler in a puffy white snow suit on his back in a bicycle pattern Tula buckle carrier. They are standing in a kitchen.).

Cold Weather Wearing Tip from Lian:

  • Doesn’t work for super cold days, but when you just need a few layers, a babywearing sweatshirt works (even on 99 percentile 3.5 year olds).

[image of an East Asian woman with glasses in a gray and red babywearing sweatshirt. A mixed-race boy's head pokes out of the sweatshirt in front of her face. She is holding onto a black railing and a pond and fall scenery is in the background.]

Cold Weather Wearing Tips from Stephanie:

  • If wrapping over a coat, be aware of bulk and slippery coats – passes can be trickier to keep in place.
  • Because of extra layers, if you’re using a woven wrap or ring sling over a coat you may find the need for additional length. If using a soft-structured carrier or meh dai, straps may need to be loosened.
  • When babies/toddlers are worn, their pants ride up. Pants a size up or leg warmers help to avoid bare skin in the chilly wind.
  • Wary of the carrier getting wet or dirty in snow or mud? Carries that can be pre-tied at home under or over a coat, are a great option or carriers that don’t have long ends (i.e. soft structured buckle carriers and ring slings).

[Three image collage of a smiling tan skin bespectacled Asian woman with short dark brown hair. She's wearing a toddler on her back who is in a green floral fleece with the hood up over a cotton crocheted hat. They're using a purple whale patterned woven wrap carrier. The woman has on a navy wool peacoat and cream-colored scarf around her neck. Image on the left is of the back showing the one layer across toddler's back and purple argyle leg warmers over toddler's legs. Image on the top right is of the woman turned to smile at the toddler's smiling face over woman's shoulders; the wrap is tied Tibetan across the woman's chest. The bottom right image is of the side view with toddler's eyes almost shut from their lovely walk outside.]

[Image of a smiling tan skin bespectacled Asian woman with dark brown hair wearing her smiling toddler on hip using a red and orange ring sling. They're both in Mama-made hats and wearing down coats. Behind them is a red brick wall.]

 

We hope these tips carry you into colder weather with all the warm fuzzy feelings! Share your tips and photos with us in our closed Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/bwitwincities/) and tag us on Instagram @bwitc!

(Image of a white brunette woman carrying a 5 month old blonde baby boy in a blue Ergo. They are both covered by a gray Boba sweatshirt with a cutout for the baby's head.)

 

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If you have any questions about babywearing, we encourage you to contact us and/or come learn in person at one of our meetings! Check out our Instagram @BabywearingTwinCities and our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Babywearingtwincities/).

Images have image descriptions in the alternative text accessible to those who use screen readers.

Published by Stephanie

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