Babywearing tends to attract a lot of stromments (comments from strangers, yeah.) Normally lovely ones like “She looks so snug!” and “What a little cutie!” – which is fair enough because, my, this Juno bear does rock a sling like no other. All her rolls squidge in together so she looks like a stack of fluffy marshmallows with lips and eyes. However, the babywearing stromments have gone through the roof in this heat! One dastardly dude actually exclaimed “What the actual &*!@?!” at me today which I didn’t find especially polite so I bopped him one with my brolly (see below.) I find I am explaining why I am babywearing to unfamiliars on a daily basis. Getting straight on to how it aids breastfeeding as well as nurturing vital neurological pathways soon sends ’em packing. Ha!
But, let’s be honest, it does get sticky, eh? Here are some ways to stay cool- I’d love to hear your own!
Buy a Brolly
This is the absolute number one tip of the millennium. Never leave the house without it. You have instant shade wherever you go for both you and babe. I did leave the house without mine yesterday as we dashed off to the seaside to introduce Juno to her two marvelous great-granddads. In order to go for a paddle I borrowed my granddad’s umbrella that hadn’t seen the light of day for years and we wandered around this gloriously bright sunny beach dripping cobwebs and spiders amongst the buckets and spades.
Get naked
Juno hasn’t worn clothes for about two weeks now. In fact, she is so synonymous with naked babies that when a friend’s kid saw another nudey newborn she exclaimed “She’s dressed like Juno!” Of course, their skin is incredibly sensitive so I make sure even her feet are tucked into the wrap.
Choose your own clothes carefully
It’s such a pain we have to wear clothes, eh? Although I’d love to be just wearing my denim shorts and a tee shirt I find that having the belt and zip area alongside the belt of my wrap is all a bit aggravating and sweaty. I am choosing loose skirts and vest tops in cotton as it is the most breathable fabric out there.
Just add water
In a bottle, or one of those frozen ice pack things. Someone suggested this on the Lulastic Facebook page last night and it is so genius! It just goes between you and the baby, keeping your core temperature down. You can also run your wrists under the cold tap, or put your cool bottle of water on your temples, to have an impact on your whole body.
Go down to the woods today
We have spent a lot of this week just sitting in buckets of water in the garden, venturing outside only once the afternoon cools, but one brilliantly chilled place we go is our little local woodland. Woods are the perfect spot for babies, kids and babywearing mamas as not only are they perfectly shaded but the roots and foliage all seem to absorb the suns energy out of the atmosphere. (See how I said “seems” – I have no idea how this works, I just know woods are like another planet in a heatwave. It’s the atmosphere and energy being absorbed and that, okay?)
Think about owning a summer wrap
There are lots of options out there depending on how much money you have. There are soft structure carries with specifically breathable panels. I have a really simple Calin Bleu gauze wrap which, although not as comfortable as my Didymos is so much cooler. Go for light colours too.
Those are the ways I keep me and my little marshmallow from melting, do you have any extras? Would love to hear them.
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I bought a Calin Bleu wrap last week, it’s fab, so lightweight. The umbrella is a fab tip, I’m going to a wedding on Saturday so will definitely take one x
Ooh, thanks for sharing info about that sling company! I love my bobawrap but it makes us sweaty betties. I was wondering about lightweight alternatives x
That’s so funny – agree the heat is possibly making the gen pop a bit cross and testy. Was baby wearing at a local protest last weekend and had not one but t-h-r-e-e ladies point out the following “Your baby’s head is HANGING OUT and their cheek is SQUASHED”, “Please put your baby in a pram, it will get sun burnt” and my fave (cue ever so frantic voice that has gone up several octaves) “You MUST unwrap your baby before climbing over that fence. Quickly, do it now before it falls out, I will hold them.”
It is a bit sad that some people think it’s a bad thing though.
You are so right about rocking a brolly for the shade, also weirdly found that if there is some lightweight fabric between the baba’s chest and yours, it is cooler (soaks up the sweat perhaps?)
Failing that, permanently having a new Rubicon passionfruit lolly in the mouth does wonders (for me, not the 13 week old. I may endanger them in the wrap but tooth decay is another matter entirely.)
Beauty photograph!
Great tips, I’m all for the watery shady ones – wet your vest top all down the back so that you are cool, but she isn’t going to freeze; wet a muslin to use as a shade and dabber for wherever feels hot – your neck, her head, cleeeeeeavage!; pour a little water on your feet, instant refresher; use a spray bottle to spritz you both……. Ah!
the brolly is a good idea which could have totally avoided a meltdown last year.
ah well we live and learn.
I used to go for the far less glamorous option of pouring a bottle of cold water over my head, my son didn’t seem to mind being dripped on a bit.
Thank you for these tips! I am due baby #2 in the absolute peak of summer in Australia! I don’t know if I’m going to be able to leave the house!
WAHEEY Congratulations! Fabulous news 🙂