Water wraps are comfortable, cool, and dry quickly. They are perfect for babywearing in the pool or at the beach as well as for babywearing on hot days. A water wrap is a great tool to keep your baby close and happy while also taking care of older kids. It can also help a baby adapt to being in the water because baby has the comfort of being close to a caregiver while exploring the water.
There are two carries that work very well with a water wrap. Water wraps are stretchy and are best used for triple layer front carries so that baby is very well supported. This post will help you learn the two carries that you can do with your water wrap.
Pocket Wrap Cross Carry
Pocket Wrap Cross Carry is a carry that can be fully pre-tied before putting baby in. Then it is easy to pop the baby in and out of the wrap as needed. The secret to this carry is to pre-tie very snugly before you put the baby in. This video shows how to do the carry focuses on how to make sure the wrap is tight enough. To use this carry, I typically pre-tie the carry right over my bathing suit and toss a cover-up dress on top. Then when I get to the pool, I take off my cover-up and pop baby into the wrap.
Front Wrap Cross Carry
Front Wrap Cross Carry is another great carry that works well with a water wrap. It is partially pre-tied and then wrapped around baby. This carry is a bit more easily adjusted than Pocket Wrap Cross Carry and is fairly easy to nurse in. If you feed your baby in a water wrap, you should adjust them back to the original snug position when you are done. This video shows how to do Front Wrap Cross Carry and how to nurse in a water wrap.
Other Tips:
- Your carrier should be used only for wading in the pool or at the beach, not for swimming.
- Your baby’s face should be visible to you at all times. This is important not only so that you can monitor baby’s airway, but also so that you can monitor your baby’s response to the water.
- You can use your water wrap as a stretchy wrap. It works just as well as a stretchy wrap when dry and has the added bonus of also working well in the water and drying quickly.
- Pay attention to your baby’s temperature. It’s a little harder for baby to regulate their temperature when wet. Feel your baby’s head and chest to be sure that baby isn’t getting too cold or too hot in the wrap.
Further Reading:
How to Use a Stretchy Wrap
Babywearing Safety
Reblogged and edited with permission from Patuxent Babywearing.
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