Wearing in winter

When it is slowly getting colder, the question arises again more often what should be considered when wearing in winter and whether then should be worn at all. The second question I can answer you right here: Of course you can carry your babies or toddlers also and especially in winter!

The German Red Cross even wrote about this on their website some time ago:

The most important advice for parents is: Always carry babies on your body! [...] In the stroller or a baby car seat it can quickly come to hypothermia. That's why it's better to tie the very small ones, for example, with a cloth in front of the belly and close your own coat over it. Body heat is the best protection.

In this article, you can read about what you should keep in mind. I have used the questions from the article " Wearing in summer " schematically.

What is the best to wear?

In winter, it doesn't really matter whether you carry with a sling or a baby carrier and also with which tying method you use. Of course, ergonomic and anatomical aspects should be taken into account, but that is always the case. Multi-layer tying methods with the sling are correspondingly warmer, which should be considered when dressing the child and your own clothes, but more about that later.

If you would like to learn more about the materials of slings, I recommend you read my article Small material science - slings.

Wool is often recommended for slings in winter because it is cozy and temperature regulating. However, the material of the sling plays only a minor role. Otherwise, especially small babies should be carried in a carrying jacket or with their own jacket with a jacket extension such as Kumja or alternatively a carrying cover.

What do I wear for my child?

Basically, the onion look is best suited for winter for babies (and also for us). Simply because several thin layers of clothing keep us warm better than one thick layer. Clothes made of a wool-silk mixture are particularly comfortable as underwear, i.e. as a bodysuit, but these are relatively expensive and not quite as easy to care for. On top of this comes a layer of normal clothing such as a romper or a sweater and pants. Cuffs like babylegs can also be perfect to warm the area that is not in the carrier or sling.

You can read more about wool-silk clothing in my article Everything you need to know about wool-silk clothing.

Feet and head need to be additionally warmed by socks and hats. Wool whale boots are also very suitable here. Otherwise, the carrying aid, or the sling, is another warming layer. If the child is not carried in a carrying jacket, a jacket extension or a carrying cover, it must be dressed accordingly thicker. Of course, this also applies to larger children who may want to walk in between.

When and where is the best time to wear?

This question is less relevant when wearing in winter. In general, however, is rather opposite to wearing in the summer. Especially early in the morning and in the evening it is usually much colder, so possibly a walk during the day would be better.

What else should I be aware of?

Special care should be taken when there is black ice. It's best to avoid slippery paths as much as possible. Otherwise, spikes or something similar might help to prevent slipping. However, this is often not necessary, especially in the city.

Otherwise, as always, pay attention to the baby's signs and also whether the child is possibly too cold. Some babies freeze earlier than others. The best place to check the temperature is between the shoulder blades. The skin there should be comfortably warm, but not wet with sweat. If you can't get there to feel, you can check the temperature on the back of the neck instead. This is not as accurate, but still gives an impression. If you see shivering or bluish lips, you are freezing and should be in a warm place.

In addition, of course, the child's airways must remain clear so that he or she gets enough air. CO2 nests through scarves or the like should be avoided. Better suited are turtlenecks or special mother-child scarves.

And despite the cold temperatures and even if it costs us some effort, it is important to go outside. The fresh, cold air makes us awake and strengthens the circulation. So wrap up warm and get outside!

I explained even more about babywearing in the winter in my podcast episode Wearing in Winter recently.

The cover image comes from pixabay.com.