The sun is settling in, summer is arriving, and with it the entirely legitimate question:
"But if it's hot, will I still be able to carry my baby?"
The answer is YES, but with some common sense practices, which we will take the time to detail below.
1 – Carrying and thermoregulation
We all generally know that when it's cold, having your baby in close contact helps them warm up. We also know that skin-to-skin greatly helps the newborn regulate, especially in the first weeks of life.
What is less known is that in hot weather, close contact also helps the toddler regulate, and thus suffer less from the heat!
Whether it's 30, 40, or 50 degrees, your body is always at 37°C. Luckily, that’s the temperature babychou also needs to maintain internally! Close contact allows them to have a reference point to rely on, and will greatly help them spend less energy to regulate their internal temperature.
Also, in a completely counterintuitive way, when it is very hot, it’s better to keep the baby on you than in a stroller, which is entirely made of synthetic padding. The temperature inside the stroller is often higher than the outside air, and additionally it does not help with thermoregulation and is therefore much more difficult for your little one's body to manage. A quick safety note: if your baby is in a bassinet during summer, using a swaddle to protect from the sun recreates an oven and should therefore be avoided!
Tested and approved: even for the carrier who might think they will get too hot, after the first 10 slightly uncomfortable minutes, regulation then sets in and… ultimately it balances out!
Did you know?In case of fever, skin-to-skin contact and carrying can help lower your child's temperature in addition to what the doctor has recommended (only if you yourself do not have 40°!)
2 – Choice of material
Articles in the media have recently highlighted the danger of carrying wraps during heatwaves. These articles are incorrect: they do not differentiate between the various types of carrying systems available on the market and only discuss the most sold wraps in traditional stores, namely knitted wraps!
Using a knitted wrap, especially one containing elastane (synthetic = heats up), will be indeed discouraged in hot weather: these wraps require 3 layers
Material around the baby to ensure the safety of the installation, and you will indeed end up cooking a little past the 20-25 degrees mark!We also advise against systems that include padding on the seat, as is the case with some popular brands.
Carrying scarves and woven slings are, on the other hand, entirely usable without presenting a risk of overheating for your little one:
- The fabric is always a bit less dense than a knit and is more breathable
- Being more supportive, one layer of material is sufficient to secure the installation
In pre-made baby carrier ranges, we will especially appreciate those made with scarves fabrics that are more breathable than canvas ones.
Asian baby carriers (Mei Tai) are also appreciated for their less enveloping aspect.
In woven ranges, you will generally find cotton, which is a very pleasant natural material to wear in summer. You can potentially gain additional freshness by choosing blends of materials that include, for example, Seacell, which is a seaweed viscose that provides fluidity and a sensation of freshness to the scarf (note, it’s not air conditioning either!).
3 – Baby clothing
Baby clothing in hot weather is generally very minimal: a small cotton bodysuit, or even just a diaper
, and that's it!It is always recommended to keep a layer of fabric between your little one and yourself, ideally made of natural material (cotton, linen, hemp, etc.) : direct skin-to-skin contact makes you sweat and isn't the most pleasant.
Bonus: don't hesitate to use a burp cloth at the neckline to avoid the "schloupsss" effect that can be quite unbearable when baby lifts their head and gets stuck by the sweat from your chest!
Once outside, we gear up a bit more! Hat and sunglasses are mandatory, preferred over bibs and other sunshades that can be useful but hinder the child's head and offer less protection (plus increased risk of suffocation if too covering).
The detail we always forget: beware of reflections from certain surfaces that can cause sunburn on the soles of the feet! You can choose to put on a pair of thin socks, use a bit of baby-friendly sunscreen, or simply cover the legs of your baby with a thin burp cloth.
4 – Choose the right time
Common sense but it's always good to remind: avoid peak sun at 2 pm! Opt for walks in the morning or evening, preferably in the shade.
Note: don't panic if you have to spend 3 minutes in the sun to cross the street!
If it's really too hot and you have no urgent reasons, stay calm at home.
5 – Cool down during carrying
Nothing very exotic here: it is recommended to take very regular breaks to hydrate your little one (reminder: for breastfeeding babies, water is not only unnecessary but potentially harmful: breast milk at the start of weaning has a composition close to rehydration solutions, and hydrates much better).
You can help them better tolerate the heat by using a spray bottle (on the legs and arms, avoid the head!), by passing a cool washcloth, or by lightly humidifying their hat. Regularly check that everything is okay for your little one; if they turn very red, especially remove them from the carrier and offer them a drink.
Avoid: putting an ice pack on your baby's back (yes, we've seen it before)...
In short, as you understand, carrying your baby in summer is not only not a problem if the clothing and carrier system are well adapted, but it can also help them better manage the heat!
Now all that's left is to enjoy!
