Slinging in the rain?

[AngelDog]

What a wonderful feeling...

I know the easiest way to protect a baby in a sling from the rain is with an umbrella - I have one of those clear plastic ones (I call them the Queen Mother type). Are they any good for protecting a baby on your back?

What do you dress your baby in on a rainy day when carrying them in a sling? I'm thinking of getting a Connecta Solarweave, but IIRC, water goes straight through them, and I'm not sure the umbrella would be enough to keep DS dry if he were in a back carry.

And how do you manage in the rain if you have one DC in the sling and one in the pram/pushchair? How do you have enough hands for an umbrella as well? I only have one DS at the moment, but since his sleep has improved, I can't help thinking about life with two!

Thanks!

[CMOTdibbler]

A big umbrella keeps DS dry on my back, although he does fiddle with it if you aren't careful.

You can get babywearing ponchos and coats so that your rider is inside the coat and equally waterproof as you, which are neat, and helpful if you have two children

[AngelDog]

Thanks! Must investigate the poncho thing if I ever get to that stage. After a rough night last night, the possibility of ever wanting another DC is seeming more remote!

[MrsBadger]

I was actually just about to start a similar thread...

ds is 4m and still v happy in a front carry
I can zip my waterproof round him, but his head sticks out.
it's too hot to put him in a puddle suit in the sling
would it be utterly nuts to buy him a little souwester?

[Yeni]

I've got a little sou'wester for my DS! He has an all in one waterproof suit for the sling. When he was under 6 months we had a Wilkinet rain cover but it isn't really suitable for bigger babies. It does look very similar to the ordinary rucksack covers you can get in outdoor shops so I considered experimenting with one of those at one point.

[llandb]

Another Queen Mother umbrella user here (well, cheapie generic brand of same)

I also had one of these, also sold here (well, had one until I went and left it on the train). It's fab because it's nice and wide and keeps more rain off your lower half, without being under a shadow. But has all the drawbacks of any big golf umbrella, i.e. heavy and wide; nuisance on narrow tree- or people-lined paths.

If it's a little chilly then I keep the DD's legs from getting soaked with a MaM cover or thread the sling straps through the arms of a raincoat- not most glam look!

Have also heard of people tying the umbrella to themselves with the sling (at the chest, I guess) to make it hands-free - I'm too chicken to try!

Liking the little sou'wester idea

[AngelDog]

Oops, I only just saw these replies - thanks everyone. Great links, llandb.

Loving the sou'wester idea - it would work well with waterproofs and hopefully avoid that horrible rain down your neck/face that you get with a normal rainsuit. Plus I could persuade DH that DS could use it even when he wasn't in the sling, so it wouldn't be yet another extravagent baby-related expense.

I'm thinking of getting a Solarweave Connecta so getting it wet wouldn't be as much of a problem as it would be in my Close carrier.

How do people manage to tie an umbrella to themselves??? I'm enough of a danger to the public with one in my hand!

[BeehiveBaby]

Manchester SlingMeet is called this