Hot weather and little baby

[Eralc]

Hi all,

I have a three week old baby, (my second DS), and discovered sling using late on with my first, so am keen to have a go from an earlier age this time. I have a stretchy wrap sling, and a beco for when he gets a bit bigger.

My problem is that we live in Australia, and I'm really stressing out about what to dress him in whilst he is out in the sling, and also how to protect him from the sun, which is pretty brutal out here.

What should he be wearing? Today it was 30 degrees out and sunny. I get very hot wearing the sling, so I guess he must do too. I would put him in just a vest, but then I am very aware that his arms, face and legs wouldn't be protected from the sun (and I would rather avoid putting suncream on him until he is a bit older, plus the advice here seems to be very much to keep them out of the sun completely until they are older) Half of his head is protected in the sling, but his face is sticking out.

If anyone has any good ideas I would really appreciate them. I struggled with carrying DS1 because I hadn't built up my strength from him being tiny, so I was really keen to go for it from the start with DS2, but the weather is stopping me at the moment!

Hello
This is quite an old post so I guess you've probably found your own way!
But I know how you feel as I've had the same dilemma from the start... I always dressed my baby in just a bodysuit (short or no sleeves). Then I had a large muslin cloth that I draped over his head and tucked around his arms and legs. It wasn't ideal and I didn't like it, but the sun here is so strong I had no choice. Like you, I wanted to avoid suncream, and he was too young to wear a hat. Most just made him hotter. I often kept both arms and legs tucked in, too.

Yes, it's hot for Mum and baby too, but I found his stroller made him hotter...there was always a wet patch where he was lying. No air circulation, and I had to keep the stroller covered against the sun, too. I couldn't see him and feel him breathing, as I could in the sling, which was stressful.

As he got older I put him in light trousers and socks, and sometimes light long-sleeved shirts. He has never wanted to keep a hat on until recently (15 months), and started to fight the head covering (understandably), so there was an interim period of carrying an umbrella/parasol. I live in Asia and that's what many people do, baby or not...can't believe I didn't think of it before!

Hope that helps and I hope the sling is working out well for you. I use a Didymos and still love it. Although these days if he's awake, he's running!

Yes I was going to say parasol too.