Hooray! Summer is almost here! We often get asked how best to dress for babywearing summer heat so here are our top tips for keeping cool and confident while wearing your baby in warm weather.

1. Dress for the Weather

No matter the season, layers are key! Your carrier or baby wrap acts as one layer of clothing, so it’s important to keep both you and baby lightly dressed when using your carrier. Although of course this being Britain we recommend an extra layer or two in your change bag just in case the weather changes! Fabrics made of natural fibers such as bamboo or cotton are the fastest drying and are breathable, so can help keep baby cool. And don’t forget sunshades and a sunhat! If baby doesn’t like to wear their sunhat, wearing one with a wide brim yourself can help keep baby shaded too, and all Ergobaby carriers (except for Aerloom) come with an integrated sunhood (folded into an open or zippered pocket on the outside of the main carrier panel). This can be attached to one side or both sides on the shoulder straps, to allow flexibility.

2. Pick the Right Carrier

Our most breathable carrier is our Omni Breeze:

Maximum air flow meets maximum comfort with our Omni Breeze baby carrier. Designed to be the most breathable carrier on the market, Lightweight SoftFlex™ Mesh provides superior air flow, so both parent and baby stay cool and dry all day, while padded shoulder straps and lumbar support ensure maximum comfort.

Over 90% of the carrier is made from SoftFlex™ Mesh that allows quick and easy air flow and means that the Omni Breeze gives both baby and wearer maximum breathability whilst maintaining a low profile, streamlined look, and a soft, comfortable feel.

Like all carriers in the Omni range, the Omni Breeze is suitable from birth to toddlerhood (7lbs-45lbs / 3.2kg-20kg) and offers all four carry positions (front inward facing, front outward facing, hip carry and back carry), making it the only carrier parents will ever need.

Our Cool Air Mesh fabric – available in our Adapt, All Position 360 and Omni 360 carriers:

Breathable. Lightweight. Easy. Our mesh fabric is soft & durable so you and baby stay cool and comfortable all day. You can compare these three models to help you pick which might be right for you HERE.

For smaller babies try an Aura Baby Wrap:

Our Aura Baby Wraps are made of 100% viscose, from eucalyptus & acacia, not only making it a lightweight and breathable, but also super soft on baby’s delicate skin. It’s ideal for newborns but can be used for babies up to 25lbs.

3. Protect Baby

In the words of Baz Luhrmann… wear sunscreen. Both you and baby! Ideally at least SPF30. If you’re really caught out then draping a muslin over exposed arms and legs can help shield them from the sun, but suncream should still be used as it’s still possible to burn through the thin fabric. And be sure to take regular breaks in the shade to help you both keep cool, particularly between 11am and 3pm.

4. Keep Hydrated! (And don’t forget about yourself!)

It’s important that both you and baby are drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. If you breastfeed, breastmilk will keep your baby hydrated. You may find that baby wants to nurse more often. Bottle-fed babies can be given cooled boiled water throughout the day alongside their usual feeds. Make sure you are looking after yourself too, by taking a (reusable!) bottle of water to keep up with the extra demands on your body.

5. Switch it up!

When it’s hot outside, wearing baby on your chest can feel like wearing a hot water bottle, so you might find that a different carry position is more comfortable for you both. If baby is old enough and your carrier supports it, try a hip or back carry in your Ergobaby carrier.

On the whole, wearing a baby carrier is definitely achievable in summer so go and enjoy!

(Originally posted at ergobaby.co.uk/blog)