There are two major concerns that I often see moms express about getting their kids outside daily: their baby or toddler’s nap schedule falls right in the middle of prime outdoor time, and the weather is just not cooperative. With three kids, these things often tempt me to keep my kids inside instead of letting them run free. But baby-wearing is a great solution to these problems! Baby can nap while older siblings are playing outside, and with the Ergobaby Cool Air Mesh Carrier (affiliate link) it’s possible to wear my little guy, even on a hot day.
Last year, when baby #3 was just a little newborn guy, I had the opportunity to write about the Ergobaby Omni 360 on Less in the Nest. As the hot summer weather made its way to our Colorado home, I was really excited to work with Ergobaby again to review their Cool Air Mesh carrier. Thanks to my sponsor, Ergobaby, for supplying the free product to help me write this post today! This post also contains affiliate links.
Getting Outside With Ergobaby Cool Air Mesh
As much as we love the other baby carriers that we’ve used over the years, (we really, really love our Omni 360!) it was difficult to use them in the summer months. Just a few minutes pressed together in a snuggle hold made for an overheated mama and a pink-cheeked, toasty babe. The Ergoaby Cool Air Mesh has less coverage than our Ergobaby Omni 360, and much of the front panel is made of mesh, letting air pass through. So far, we’ve used the Cool Air Mesh for getting outside almost everyday. These are some of its great uses.
Exploring With Older Kids
As many of you know, I’ve been leading outdoor classes this year. Baby wearing is the best way for me to take care of my littlest guy while also orchestrating nature exploring for 12 other children! My little guy tends to run on the warm side, getting flushed with his skin hot to the touch very easily. So during the summer’s classes, I often just held the baby so neither of us got too hot. This was hard because I couldn’t get out the supplies we needed for our tinkering, and I needed an extra set of hands. We’ve been using the Ergobaby Cool Air Mesh carrier for a couple of weeks now, and the difference is huge! He is more comfortable in it, because he doesn’t get overheated, which means I’m able to focus on the other kids in my class, and on my own children, longer. He has the best view of all that’s happening in the class, and loves being safe next to me.
Outdoor Naps
Some people say that their babies will sleep comfortably outside during nap time. None of my three children has ever done this! They have, however, slept in baby carriers because they are just so comfortable and content that they can’t resist it when sleep washes over them. A nap on the go is perfect for our outdoor classes, since they usually fall right over his first nap time!
Hikes
Besides my outdoor classes, we’ve used the Ergobaby Cool Air Mesh for hikes, too. I know that some people try to bring strollers on hikes, but a carrier is so much more practical! Nate took a midday hike/walk with Littlest Guy during the heat of the day. Nate could tell the difference with this cooler carrier.
Local Events
The very first time we used our new mesh carrier was at a parade on a stifling August morning. Normally, it would have been too hot to baby wear in that situation, but I grabbed our new carrier and headed out the door. When I put our little guy in it, he was obviously super comfortable. He broke out into a big grin almost immediately. Sweet little guy! It took me awhile to get the settings just right. That probably has to do with the fact that Nate prefers this cooler carrier over the other one, so we are constantly adjusting between my settings and his!
Toddler Wearing
The weight limit for this carrier is 45 pounds, which means we have a very long time to use it! If our current toddler still wanted to be in a carrier, we could put him in it because he is barely 30 pounds. I imagine that our littlest guy will want to be in the Ergobaby carrier for a longer period of time, based on his snuggly personality 🙂
Cool Air Mesh Features
The Ergobaby Cool Air Mesh has many of the great features that I love about our Omni 360: I can wear the baby facing me, facing out, on my back (more about that later!) and on my hip. The adjustable Velcro on the inside is extremely durable, and adjusts to my baby’s size (after our latest doctor’s appointment, I realized that he’s on the biggest option!) The straps are super comfortable and it’s easy to adjust them so my husband and I can take turns wearing the baby.
Like the Omni 360, there’s no need for a newborn insert with the Cool Air Mesh carrier. We are past that stage now, but I remember using the insert with my first Ergobaby carrier, and it definitely made it a little warmer to carry my baby!
Back Carry
My favorite way to use this carrier, especially outside, is with the back carry. It doesn’t put stress on my back at all, and I have a little more mobility than when I wear him on my front (although, sometimes when he just needs a good cuddle, he’d rather be worn in the front!)
Every time I wear him on my back, people ask me how I got him there by myself. It’s not as tricky as it looks, but it does take some practice! First, I put the carrier on my hip. Then I grab the baby, put him on my hip, and lean forward. With my arm around him, I scoot him over to my back and put my arm through the strap. Then I grab the other strap, buckle the top buckle, and adjust him a little if he needs it. I practiced over the bed before trying over hard surfaces. Now that the muscle memory has kicked in, it’s super easy. Ergobaby has a video to demonstrate this!
If you are committed to getting your big and little kids outdoors, even in warm weather, this carrier will be so helpful! Use the code jo8KbuYBBM for 10% off of one item at Ergobaby.com. This code expires December 31, 2019.
