Babywearing
Babywearing in winter
How to carry your baby in winter without overheating or getting cold. Layers, a babywearing coat or insert, hats and feet, checking temperature, and a clear face.
2 min read
Babywearing coats, hoodies and inserts
Babywearing clothes have an extension at the front (or back) for your baby in the wrap or carrier, and an opening for their head. So one coat keeps you both warm. Many models also work during pregnancy as a coat over the bump.
What counts as “babywearing” clothing
| Item | How it works | When it is worth it |
|---|---|---|
| Babywearing coat (2-in-1, 3-in-1) | a coat with interchangeable inserts: for the bump in pregnancy, for the baby at the front, sometimes at the back too | if you carry a lot in the cold months and want one coat for everything |
| Softshell babywearing jacket | a lighter windproof jacket with an insert | spring, autumn, a mild winter with another layer underneath |
| Warm babywearing hoodie | a hoodie with an extension at the front and an opening for the head | at home, for short outings, under a coat |
| Insert for your own coat | a zip-in panel that you fasten into your own coat | if you have a zip-up coat you want to keep wearing |
| Babywearing cover | a separate cover over the sling or carrier, attached to the carrier or to you | universal, and good for several wearers |
What to look for when choosing
- The head opening must be big and stretchy enough that nothing presses on the neck or face. The head should be outside, the face clear.
- The height of the opening should match how high you carry your baby. Under the T.I.C.K.S. rule, the head should be close enough to kiss.1
- The collar and hood of your coat must not fall over your baby’s head.
- The width of the insert must take your baby and the sling or carrier without squashing them against you.
- Zips: with inserts for your own coat, check the zip type and length; sometimes adapters are needed.
- Length at the back and front, so your lower back isn’t exposed when the coat rides up over the baby at the front.
Pregnancy, babywearing, breastfeeding
Many babywearing coats and hoodies have three modes: without an insert as an ordinary coat, with a bump insert in pregnancy, and with a baby insert after the birth. Some hoodies also have breastfeeding openings. If your pregnancy runs through one winter and you will be carrying the next, this is the item of clothing you will get the most use out of. We write about nursing hoodies in a separate article.
Warmth and layers
Under a babywearing coat your baby is close to you, warmed by your body and the sling or carrier. So there is no need to dress them in a snowsuit. Check the temperature on the tummy, back or the back of the neck, not on the hands and feet.2 If they are sweaty, take a layer off them. Details in the article Babywearing in winter.
Safety
Babywearing clothing is not a carrier. The wrap or carrier must hold your baby; the coat only covers. Once the coat is zipped up, always run through T.I.C.K.S.:1
- Tight The wrap or carrier should hold your baby snugly against you. Loose fabric lets the baby slump lower, which can make breathing harder for them and puts strain on your back.
- In view at all times You can see your baby’s face just by glancing down. The fabric must not close over them so that you have to push it aside. In a cradle position the face should point upwards, not into your body.
- Close enough to kiss Your baby’s head is as close to your chin as is comfortable. By tipping your head forward you can kiss the top of their head or forehead.
- Keep chin off the chest Your baby must never be curled so that their chin is pressed onto their chest, as this restricts breathing. There should always be at least a finger’s width of space under the chin.
- Supported back In an upright position the back is supported in its natural shape, with tummy and chest snuggled against you. A check: press your palm gently on their back. The baby should not straighten up or move closer to you.
Buy one or not?
| You carry... | Solution |
|---|---|
| now and then, briefly | a babywearing cover or your partner’s larger coat |
| often, all winter | a babywearing coat or an insert for your own coat |
| in autumn and spring | a softshell jacket with an insert or a babywearing hoodie |
| several people of different builds | a separate babywearing cover that fits everyone |
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to buy a babywearing coat?
No. You can also carry with your partner’s larger coat, with a babywearing cover over the carrier, or with an insert in your own coat. A babywearing coat is comfortable if you carry often and for long periods during the cold months.
Can a babywearing coat be used for back carries too?
Some models allow it and have an insert at the back as well. With a back carry you can’t see your baby, so it is even more important that neither the collar nor the hood can cover their face.
Where this comes from
The numbers in the text refer to these sources. The links go to the publishers’ own pages; we simply cite them.
- UK Sling Consortium (via babyslingsafety.co.uk):The T.I.C.K.S. Rule for Safe Babywearing
- The Lullaby Trust:Temperature (factsheet)Check temperature on the tummy, back or back of the neck.
We last checked these sources on 13 October 2026.
Further along the path
Clothes
Winter maternity clothes
How to dress for winter in pregnancy. A maternity coat or an insert for your own coat, lined leggings, layers, and what you will still use when carrying your baby.
2 min read
Clothes
Nursing hoodies
How to choose a hoodie for breastfeeding. A zip-up hoodie, a double-layer one or one with side zips, fabrics, and the difference between a nursing hoodie and a babywearing hoodie.
2 min read