Best Baby Carriers for Summer: Babywearing at the Beach, Pool or Waterpark
The summer sun is finally peeking through the clouds, so let's talk summer babywearing! Particularly, babywearing at the pool, beach and waterpark!
These places are great for babywearing, so you can splash around with your little one and tend to your older children while keeping your baby close.
No baby carriers are approved for use in a swimming pool -- for safety, these carriers are officially recommended for wading in water that is no more than knee-deep.
If you choose to use your own judgement and wear your baby all the way into the pool, I won't judge! Just exercise caution and avoid water that is too deep for you to stand in. The general rule for babywearing is that if you can do it with your baby in your arms, you can do it with your baby in a carrier.
Several brands make baby carriers that are intended for water use.
These carriers do not absorb water, so they can get drenched without weighing you down, they dry fast and they're made from synthetic fibres that resist breaking down when exposed to chlorine. Many are also made from fabrics that will protect your and your little one from the sun.
Mesh Slings
Ring slings made from athletic mesh are a great option for afternoons spent splashing in the sun. The mesh is thin and light, which makes it easy to scrunch up small and stow in your pool bag and it doesn't absorb any water, so it isn't heavy when wet.
Slings work well because you can just keep in on your body and pop baby in and out as needed throughout the day. They're also easy to breastfeed in and inexpensive mesh ring slings are easy to find.
Sleeping Baby Productions, Sewfunky and Beachfront Baby all produce mesh ring slings.
Buckle Meh Dais
Integra Baby's Solar carrier and Beachfront Baby's new buckle meh dai are both easy to use and amazing if you plan to wear your baby in and out of the water all day long.
The Integra Solar fastens entirely with buckles and the Beachfront Baby fastens with a buckle at the waist and straps that tie around your shoulders.
Both are made of thin but strong synthetic materials, so like a mesh sling, they won't absorb any water. Unlike a sling, they distribute baby's weight to both of your shoulders, making them more comfortable for longer wear.
Because of how thin and breathable they are, these carriers are awesome for any outdoor summer activities, because they'll keep you a little cooler than standard carriers.
Water Wraps
Beachfront Baby produces two different stretchy water wraps; one is made of thin mesh, the other is made of sturdier, sweat wicking repreve. Both work well in and out of water, but I imagine the Everyday Wrap made from repreve is more supportive for wearing on dry land. (These two wraps are the only carrier-style in this overview that I haven't tried.)
Huggaloops has their own version of a water wrap, but theirs is a pre-tied stretchy wrap. Their Everywhere Carrier is made from a stretchy athletic material, so it's cuddly, supportive, minimally-absorbent and also a great choice for wet or dry use. For more info on Huggaloops, check out my previous review.
All the carriers I've mentioned are quick drying and can withstand exposure to chlorine and saltwater.
All of these carriers are great choices for fun in the sun, all summer long! They work well on dry land and perform great when wet, so water-play days don't have to mean being caught without a carrier. If you still aren't sure which water carrier will best meet your needs, get in touch to book a private consult and I'll guide you through choosing the right one, then teach you how to use it properly.