Angeline's Top Tips - keeping cool
Phew it has got hot again and at Sleepy Nico we get asked a lot about babywearing in high temperatures and what's best. I usually signpost to great resources like the Sheffield Sling Surgery (www.sheffieldslingsurgery.co.uk), where GP Rosie Knowles suggests ways of safely carrying your baby in the heat.
When I carried my daughters I followed the same guidelines as I do now that they are bigger and running around (or away).
- I always try and stay out of the sun at the hottest times – we tend to play early and late in the day and it was the same whilst using a carrier.
- We wear lighter clothes, a hat and apply sunscreen. We have a lot of hats and I keep spare in my bag, the children are used to having to wear one and are good at remembering to keep them on now. Your sling or carrier is like a layer of clothing, it used to make us giggle carrying the baby around naked in the sling on hot days.
- Drink lots and stay hydrated – both you and baby.
Some of us manage the heat better than others, my older daughter is not a fan and prefers to sit inside when it's too hot out. We did a lot of this when she was small too, preferring early evening visits to the playground and a run around outside just after breakfast. Enjoy the sunshine and take care of your little ones, less is more when it comes to the heat.