Maternity Jacket/Baby Wearing Question

Hello once again fabbers! My due date is five short weeks away and the weather is warming up, but still nippy. I am rotund and currently have only a down maternity jacket to wear outside. I hate to buy a spring jacket for such a short time, but sweating in down or shivering in a jacket that doesn't close is also not so great. I was considering whether I could justify an inexpensive spring maternity jacket with the thought that I can wear it over a baby carrier until it is right and properly summer. I am in Germany, so I can expect 50's - 60's for another 2 - 3 months. Does anyone have experience trying to wear a maternity jacket over a baby carrier? Do you think it would work? Or maybe I should suffer now and save my pennies for post-partum wear?

The whitish coat below is a pretty good deal, so I am kind of tempted to try it. Or do you find it unappealing? I also included some images of other relatively inexpensive jackets.

This post has 4 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

9 years ago

Sara L.

Veteran

I've never tried fitting a baby in a carrier under a jacket. I wore them over my coat and bundled them up. I like the idea of keeping the baby warmer inside your coat. The issue I see is that the maternity coat has extra space at the bottom of your torso but most baby carriers are higher - like in the bust area. The baby's head was close enough to kiss in the ones I had.

Robin

Active Member

I bought a maternity coat for my second kid, who was born mid winter. It was a "Mama Coat" by Japanese Weekend, a US maternity brand, that was designed with a zip in section designed to cover a baby in a front carrier. I loved it during pregnancy and for the remaining winter months after my daughter was born.

I don't think either trench (photos 1 and 3) will work over a baby carrier because of the belt and the double breasted closure. The baby carrier rides much higher on your chest than your pregnant belly, so the belt would be in the way and the extra flap at the neck would interfere with the carrier. I think the other two coats could work well, especially the darker one with two zippers. It looks like it's designed to let you take out the middle panel post-partum. Is that right?

Do you have any spring-y pashminas or large wraps? You could try doing that over an unzipped spring jacket for the next few weeks, too.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I like #3 best.

I've never done it but it might work with a ring sling as the baby would sit lower than in a carrier. I liked Robins idea of a wrap or maybe even a poncho if that's something you fancy...purchasing one would not be too expensive, they've been on sale at the dept stores here, and could have a longer life than a maternity jacket

Sarah

I agree with the others about the baby carrier maybe not working well with the maternity coats So I would hesitate to buy one now. Do you have a maternity sweatshirt or heavier sweater you can use as a light weight coat for now? I wore the baby carrier under my biggest coat (never purchased a maternity coat even though all three were winter babies) but could only zip up to the baby's butt. I needed more room higher up on chest. Baby would have on coat and I would sometimes tuck a blanket around her.

Joy

It is definitely coat weather here but I don't think DDIL is wearing a baby sling nearly as much as she planned. Depending on your lifestyle and transportation, you may find that using a baby carrier/car seat is much easier since the baby needs to be in a car seat anyway.
Late pregnancy she used one of her husband's coats for the extra room.

fuzzylogic

Hi Scarlet! Huge fan of 'baby wearing' here! Our winters are rather mild (-5 overnight~15C) so a long wrap cardi or substantial scarf was sufficient for us most of the time! Wraps/scarves can serve as extra warmth, modesty cloths and sometimes emergency cloths!

I have been in Munich this week and would opt for a coat for new bubs and baby-wearing mums. Brrrrrrrr. I hope you find something that works for you and bubs! All the best!

Scarlet

To the people who pointed out that a maternity coat still might be too tight on the upper torso with a carrier, I fear you are correct.

Robin, yes, I do have a nice woolly wrap that I could try. I should break it out. I checked out the “mama” coat and it looks like a much more thoughtful design than what I have rounded up here. Thanks for the tip.

Thanks for weighing in Angie You pick the sleekest look.

Joy, that’s a good point, but I live in a city and do a lot of errands on foot, so that’s why a baby carrier is really useful.

Fuzzy logic, thanks a lot!

In the mean time I went ahead and ordered the first coat just to try it, since it is more than half off. I will also try pairing existing spring coats with a wool wrap and see how I do. Thanks so much for your help and advice!

sarah

Scarlet, sounds like you made your selection, but I'm just chiming in to say congratulations on baby #2! How is big brother feeling about the whole thing? I do remember wearing my coat over a baby carrier, but it was the middle of winter in MN, and as I recall, it was a puffer coat that I partially zipped up. It might be easier to just wear a coat UNDER your baby carrier and put a blanket around the baby.

Thanks, Sarah, it's great to hear from you. I am not at all convinced that big brother gets what is headed his way. Due to growing up bilingual his language is a little delayed, which makes it harder to talk about, and he seems to think my big belly is there to serve as a lounging pillow for him

I did a similar thing with number one, who was a winter baby. I wore a big coat partially open and draped a wool wrap around the carrier inside the coat.

Jenava

I bought several swing coats while pregnant, and two man coats. They fit around him in the carrier while small, and now that he's older they cover his arms and legs/feet. Having him against me is very warm, so I always dress us both lighter than I normally would for the weather, except his feet which get cold (wool socks under fleece booties, and they are still chilly when we're done.)

Eta, this is one of the coats. My baby was born in November, fwiw.

Nordstrom

Trina Turk 'Scarlett' Plaid Coat

$685.00 $249.97

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

Category