Q for those with babies in hot climates

[jln]

DS1 was born in the PNW in Feb.  DS2 will be born in May in Houston.  So I'm trying to prepare for the items I'm going to need to manage a new baby in the heat.  I know it doesn't get super hot yet in May, but being from the PNW I'll probably be miserable in the heat in May. 

I have an Ergo, but I'm thinking of getting an Ergo sport because the fabric is lighter weight.  I also have a Moby, but I'm thinking of getting a Happy Baby wrap because the fabric seems lighter weight.  Any other suggestions of things I need to think about or purchase?

[Deleted]

Babywearing in heat is going to be ugly hot no matter what you've got. I wouldn't buy new carriers because of it, really. At least not the differences you're talking about - very minor. Maybe a ring sling instead of a stretchy wrap?

[longtimenopost]

I liked the K'Tan breeze for the TX summer heat.

[noodleskooze]

We bought a car right around the time DS was born (July) in Houston. The dumbest thing I've ever done was getting a car with no rear vents. So, either have those or get a Noggle. We also got a black infant car seat...I might get a lighter color if I could do it over again. Honestly, we spent a lot of time indoors--the only time I really worried about the heat was in the car.

[oliviapope]

It is super hot and humid in the summer here. I have had three summer babies in the heat. If you already have those things, don't buy different ones because of fabric. The fabric does not make that much of a difference in this type of heat to justify an extra expense.

I would focus on shade/stroller covers for bugs/maybe a stroller fan, UV clothing and hats if you will be outside a lot. Tents or umbrellas as well. However, if you hate the heat you will probably not be outside all day long. Just plan your day to include outside time in the mornings and evenings. Older child can play outside while baby is napping, etc. I had a late May baby and the first summer was so easy-he just slept all the time and was mostly indoors or I put a sheet over the top of the pack n play under an umbrella with a backyard breeze.

[h]

I had an August baby and two April babies in Austin. I found a light weight ring sling to be best for baby wearing in hot Texas summers.

[speckledfrog]

Stroller fan

Extra sun visor to lay across the back seat (if you have a sedan). Are your car windows tinted? If not, you may want to look into getting/making a car seat cooler. My old car did not have tinted windows and it took a long time for it to get cooled down back there. I really liked my cooler and bought an extra set of ice packs so I always had one available. My new car has tinted windows and it has made a huge difference.

[turtlegirl]

DS2 was a summer baby and it regularly gets over the triple digits where I live. The type of carrier didn't seem to matter that much. But I did keep a small baby wash cloth or prefold cloth diaper handy. If I was wearing a semi-low cut nursing tank and he fells asleep on my chest in the carrier then both of us would wind up super sweaty and gross. I would shove a layer of fabric in there just so his sweaty little head wasn't dripping on my chest, lol.

[MNH2013]

We use regular carriers but we avoid the hea during those times. It does get hot in May though, just not our extreme temps.

One thing I do love is we have a silver aluminum foil looking car seat cover that keeps her seat cool. I was worried about the metal parts andwasn't sure it would work down here but her seat is cool when I get in from a day atwork with no shade on my car.

[jln]

I have an Odyssey with tan interior, tinted windows and rear AC. So I think the car should be fine. I did find some carseat covers that deflect the heat so I'll use those, along with a sun visor for the windshield.

I imagine we'll be inside most of the time, but 70 is hot to me, so even inside I'm sure I'll be warm.

[chickadee77]

A little different climate (I'm in SWFL), but a lot of times our AC couldn't keep up with the heat during the day (L was born in June), so the first few months she pretty much lived in just a diaper when she was awake, and a lightweight swaddle (we loved the Woombie rather than the ones with tons of wrapping). So most of our newborn clothier never got worn.

[jln]

Jan 29, 2015 15:50:14 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

Jan 29, 2015 15:43:31 GMT -5 jln said:

I have an Odyssey with tan interior, tinted windows and rear AC. So I think the car should be fine. I did find some carseat covers that deflect the heat so I'll use those, along with a sun visor for the windshield.

I imagine we'll be inside most of the time, but 70 is hot to me, so even inside I'm sure I'll be warm.

Depending on when you move, you may slowly acclimate.  I mean, I've always been weird, but 70 is cold to me and I've been known to set my A/C to 76-80 and leave it there (ie, it's not just to conserve when I'm out of the house).  In NYC I was getting used to having actual winter, but now that it's been a while I'm back to thinking 50 degrees is FREEZING.

I really hope so.  Otherwise I'm going to be a miserable person.  We move in 1 month, so I'll have some time before it starts to get really warm.  But here it's 60 today and it's perfect short-sleeve shirt weather.  

[DarcyLongfellow]

I've had two summer babies in Florida. Honestly, I just don't really take them out in the heat. In general, most people here just don't go outside a lot in the summer unless they're swimming or at the beach. We find indoor places for playdates until fall when it cools off :-)

The summer DD2 was born, DD1 played outside when the baby napped or with DH after work or on weekends. The baby and I stayed inside most of the time.

As for clothes, I'm far more worried about sun exposure than heat for a tiny baby. I actually dress tiny babies in long sleeve onesies and those pants with feet when we're outside. The clothes are cotton so they really aren't that hot, but they keep all the sun off (and her hands and feet are covered by the sun shade on the stroller).

[amaristella]

Jan 29, 2015 15:16:59 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Babywearing in heat is going to be ugly hot no matter what you've got. I wouldn't buy new carriers because of it, really. At least not the differences you're talking about - very minor. Maybe a ring sling instead of a stretchy wrap?

^ That, pretty much. Prepare to sweat. I'm sorry but it's the truth. We live in Hawaii currently although we are moving very soon. I bought an infant Kinderpack with Koolknit and it was really nice. The hood part was great for helping to keep the sun off of him but also breathable. The first time I put him in a front carry in a linen/cotton woven wrap it felt like it was 200 degrees in my house.

You don't need a lot of "stuff" but just focus on lightweight cotton everything. Side snap shirts, onesies, simple cotton PJs (I am assuming that any place you move into will have AC running at night to help you sleep) Aden and Anais swaddle blankets are nice to drape over a stroller and such. If you can, find some sun hats and bonnets. They are damn difficult to find that will fit a baby younger than 6 months but you might get lucky on Etsy or somesuch. The beauty of hot weather is you don't really need much stuff, it's more a lack of things that will help. We hardly even ever put socks on the kid unless we were indoors and really had the AC turned down.

My kid is 14 months and I'm only just now going out and trying to buy shorts for him at my husband's insistence. All he has ever worn in public are shirt with cloth diaper or one piece clothing. Now that he's doing the whole walking thing it's time for things like shorts and shoes.