Best Baby Carrier For Hot Weather

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If you’re in a hurry and just want to find out what the best baby carrier for hot weather is, I’d recommend the BABYBJORN Baby Carrier One.

If you’ve ever tried walking around in the hot summer heat with your little one in a baby carrier, you know just how uncomfortable it can be. While you’re always going to be a little warmer when you’re wearing a baby carrier, there are some that are much better than others at keeping you and your little one cool.

In this article, I am breaking down the best baby carriers for hot weather, and in the end, I’ll choose the winner.

Here are the baby carriers I will be reviewing:

Things To Consider When Buying A Baby Carrier For Hot Weather

Baby carriers might appear to be fairly straightforward, but there are actually a lot of things to think through when you’re buying one.

Are You Getting A Baby Carrier For The Summer Or All Year Round?

If your reading this post, you are clearly interested in getting a baby carrier for hot weather. The question is, do you need one that is also good when it’s cold out? Depending on where you live, it might be hot in the summer but cool in the winter. Or, perhaps it’s hot all year round.

Some baby carriers have a built in mesh area or open areas that are great for airflow. Others have zippers that can open to expose mesh areas when it’s hot out, but stay closed to keep your little one warm on cooler days.

Ventilation And Fabric

There are a couple of things that have a really big impact on how good your baby carrier will be in the heat. The first one is ventilation. If a baby carrier has lots of open spaces or mesh, then it will allow for far better air flow. This will help keep you and your baby cool.

The second major factor is the fabric. Light materials like cotton are breathable which will make a really big difference on hot days.

Carrying Positions

This is something to look at for all baby carriers. When it comes to staying cool though some parents feel better with their little one facing out or riding in back.

Is It Easy To Put On?

A lot of baby carriers are fairly difficult to put on by yourself, since they have clips in the back that need to be buckled. If you’re planning on using a baby carrier when you and your better half go on hikes together, maybe you will always have someone to assist you. But, if you’re planning to use it a lot when you’re on your own, make sure you get one that’s easy to put on.

Does It Have Pockets?

This is kind of a bonus feature. If you wear dresses or clothing that doesn’t have pockets, it’s really nice if your baby carrier does.

My Top Baby Carrier Reviews For Hot Weather

I have reviewed my top 5 baby carriers for summer below. Of all of the baby carriers on the market, I think these are the best ones for beating the heat. I have included both structured carriers and wraps below, and also picked my favorite.

Ergobaby 360 Baby Carrier All Carry Positions With Cool Air Mesh

This is a well designed baby carrier with cool air mesh to help you beat the heat.

It’s lightweight and has padded shoulder straps. So, you will be comfortable carrying your little one everywhere you go. Your child can ride along facing in or facing out.

The straps are adjustable, so it works for all different body types. This is a great carrier for moms and dads alike.

The carrier is suitable for children ages 4 – 36 months on its own. If you purchase an insert, it will accommodate newborns as well.

When it’s hot out, it’s often sunny as well. This carrier has a hood that can be used to protect your little one from the sun. When you’re not using the hood, just tuck it away.

Keeping it clean is easy, since it’s machine washable. That’s an important feature since these tend to get dirty over time.

On the down side, this one is a little hard to put on by yourself, since there is a clip in the back.

It also doesn’t come with any pockets. That’s not the end of the world or anything. But, it seems like this would have been a nice, easy thing to add.

Pros

  • Padded shoulder straps
  • Lightweight mesh to keep you cool
  • Machine washable
  • Adjustable to fit different body types
  • Hood for sun protection

Cons

  • Must purchase infant insert to use with newborns
  • No pockets
  • Hard to clip on without assistance

Boba 4G Carrier

This is an affordably priced carrier with a lot of great features. It’s good in hot weather as well, though not quite as good as some of the others in this post. While it’s a light weight cotton material, it doesn’t have any mesh or provide as much airflow as others.

This carrier is great for babies and toddlers alike, since it comes with an infant insert. Children can ride in front or in back. However, they always need to face in since there is no outward facing carry option.

A removable hood will protect your little one from the hot summer sun. It also has removable foot straps for extra comfort.

There are multiple pockets, and one of them has a zipper. This adds an element of convenience, since it gives you a nice place for keys or other small items.

It can be a little hard to put this one on alone, since there is a buckle in the back. That’s not to say it’s impossible. It’s just easier if you have assistance.

Pros

  • Removable hood and foot straps
  • Includes an infant insert
  • Great for babies and toddlers
  • Carry children on front or back
  • Affordably priced
  • Multiple pockets

Cons

  • Not as good in hot weather as some of the others
  • No outward facing carry option
  • Hard to put on alone

LILLEbaby COMPLETE All Seasons

This is a great carrier for hot weather. It’s actually good for cold weather as well, since it has as 3D mesh air panel that can be zipped up and down. This is a nice feature, since it lets you cool things off in the summer, and keeps your little one warm the rest of the time.

Versatility is one of the first things that comes to mind with this carrier. It has six carrying positions. You can wear your little one on your front, hip, or back, and have the option to have baby face in, out, or in a fetal position.

The seat is adjustable, and can be widened or narrowed. This means newborns and toddlers will both be comfortable. There is also an adjustable hood to protect your little one from the sun.

There is a large zippered pocket. So, you have plenty of space for your keys and other small items.

It’s machine washable, so maintenance is a breeze.

The biggest issue with this one is that it can be difficult put on without assistance, since there is a buckle in back that needs to be snapped. Some parents also feel that the straps are too long, and sometimes dangle. But, this is a more minor issue.

Pros

  • Six different carrying positions
  • Mesh panel can be zipped up and down
  • Machine washable
  • Great for newborns and toddlers
  • Adjustable hood
  • Large zippered storage pocket

Cons

  • Can be difficult to put on without assistance
  • Straps are long and sometimes dangle

Baby K’tan Breeze Baby Carrier

If you like wrap style carriers, this could be the one for you. Actually, this is a wrap carrier with a bit of a twist. Its innovative design means that you can slip it on like a T-shirt. This is a big plus since a lot of wrap carriers are a little tricky to figure out at first.

This is a surprisingly versatile carrier with five different carrying positions. Your little one can face inward or outward, but can’t be carried on your back.

This carriers is suitable for newborns and toddlers, and there is no need to purchase a special insert.

The carrier comes with a carry bag that is able to convert into a sash. Better yet, the sash has a built in pocket to hold your small items.

Perhaps the best thing about this carrier is that it’s affordably priced. With all of the things that you spend money on when you have a baby, it’s nice to save a few dollars when you can.

The biggest issue with this one is that it comes in six different sizes, so you need to be sure to pick the right one. That also means that if you and your spouse are different sizes, you won’t be able to take turns wearing it.

I would also say that while this one is good in hot weather, it’s not quite as good as some of the others in this post. The material is a light weight cotton, but it doesn’t have any mesh areas for airflow.

Pros

  • Slips on easily like a T-shirt
  • Affordably priced
  • Five different carrying positions
  • Good for newborns and toddlers
  • Machine washable

Cons

  • Need to pick the right size
  • Not as good in hot weather as some others

BABYBJORN Baby Carrier One

I saved the best for last. Of all of the choices on the market, I think this is the best baby carrier for hot weather.

With a lightweight, open design, this one allows plenty of airflow to keep your little one cool.

The straps are adjustable, so it is suitable for newborns and toddlers. It also fits different size parents quite well. The straps are padded, so your shoulders will be comfortable. This isn’t such a big issue when you’re carrying a newborn around since they are so light. But, if you have a two year old, your shoulders will thank you.

Your little one can ride in four different carrying positions: newborn, front facing in, front facing out, and back. Have these options is great, since your child’s preferences will change as they grow.

Unlike a lot of carriers out there, this one is actually easy to put on by yourself. You simply clip it in the front after putting your little one in.

It’s machine washable, so it’s easy to keep clean.

If there’s one issues with this one, it’s that the fabric is a little rough compared to some others. A lot of parents really like the idea of putting their newborn into something soft and smooth, so it would be nice if the fabric was a little softer.

Pros

  • Lightweight with plenty of airflow
  • Fairly easy to put on without assistance
  • Suitable for newborns and toddlers
  • Four carrying positions
  • Padded shoulder straps
  • Machine washable

Cons

  • Fabric is a little rough compared to others

Final Thoughts

I feel good recommending any of the choices above, but I think the BABYBJORN Baby Carrier One is the best baby carrier for hot weather. The fact that it’s easy to put on without assistance, and that it naturally provides good airflow are the things that put it over the top.

Cristin is a co-founder of Smart Parent Advice, and the loving mother of two wonderful children. In her free time, she can often be found in a yoga studio or catching up on her favorite shows.