6 Amazing Products for Babywearing Through a Canadian Winter

If you’re expecting a baby this fall or winter, you might be wondering which gear to stock up on. Do you need a teeny-tiny puffy snowsuit for your infant? A giant down-filled stroller bag? Many parents find that strollers are no fun on snowy sidewalks and opt for babywearing their infants instead.

The cozy newborn snuggles are another major benefit of having a winter baby.) Here are ten awesome products to make your winter outings a little bit warmer, and a whole lot easier.

Babywearing coat

This maternity coat and babywearing solution is an all-in-one. Turn the insert upside down and it will fit over your growing bump. Flip it around, so the wider end is at the top, and it’s an insert that accommodates an infant in a baby carrier.

(Always make sure your baby is “visible and kissable”—which means wearing them fairly high on your chest, even inside a winter coat.) You can also wear the coat without the insert, as a regular winter jacket. They are pricey at about $110, but the resale value in neighbourhood buy-and-sell groups might make it worth it.

Kombi Comfiest Neck Warmer

If you’ve got a babywearing coat on, and enough room to look down at your safe and snug snoozing infant, your neck will probably be exposed to the elements.

On a chilly or windy day, bundle up with a neck warmer or turtleneck. (Scarves are too bulky and might obscure air flow and access to your baby.) It might not be the most stylish look you’ve ever sported, but we recommend a close-fitting fleece neck warmer instead.

Maternity & Babywearing Coat Insert

If you prefer to attach a babywearing insert to the winter coat you already own, this clever bump and baby adapter will serve you well.

The first step is figuring out what kind of zipper is on your existing coat, and whether you’ll need an additional zipper adapter  to make the two zippers compatible.

Columbia Infant Foxy Baby Sherpa Bunting

If you’re wearing your baby inside your own winter coat, a snowsuit is probably too warm. Plus, snowsuit and jacket fabrics can be kind of slippery for carriers. You might opt for layering with a fleece one-piece instead.

Choose from four colour options and sizes 0 through 24 months.

Herschel Supply Co. Nova Backpack in Sprout

Many shoulder-strap diaper bags will slip off your shoulders if you’re babywearing; opt for a lightweight backpack-style diaper bag instead.

Herschel’s comes with its own matching change pad, and in a rainbow of colours and prints. Herschel Supply Co. Nova Backpack in Sprout, $140, herschel.ca.

Merrell Approach Sage Pull-on Polar Waterproof Boots

Our last tip: put on your boots or shoes first, before loading the baby in! (It can be hard to bend down once you’ve got baby on board.)

It’s much easier to babywear with slip-on shoes, or sturdy boots that are easy (ish) to put on with one hand. Skip the laces this winter and go with something comfy and durable like Merrell's pull-on boots.