(Note: I was given a Little Goat Sun Baby Carrier Cover to try free of charge. This review is based on my personal experience with that product and all opinions are my own. Please see our complete affiliate disclosure here for more information! Thank you for supporting The Pumping Mommy!)
If you haven’t stepped into the world of babywearing, you are really missing out on something special.
Not only does babywearing benefit your baby in many ways (including helping with breastfeeding), but it is super practical.
As a busy mom of three kids, having my hands free while holding my baby close opens up a realm of possible things I could get done (or be doing).
I missed the boat on babywearing my first. He was my one and only and I really didn’t need to do much besides hold him.
With my third baby, however, I am wearing her constantly.
I own quite a few baby carriers and wraps and often wear her on the go when we are shopping, at the park, at sports for her older brother, on walks, etc.
With Summer basically here, protecting her from the sun while in her carrier has always been a challenge. Even with a hat on, her little legs and arms are exposed to the sun.
Often I have wrapped a light or muslin blanket around her but she can still burn because the fabric is not a sun/UV protected. I also run very hot and so does my baby, so a thicker blanket is just not happening.
And while we do wear sunscreen, covering is the best for both her and I because we are so fair skinned.
So I was pleasantly surprised to receive a Little Goat cover to try since it is a UPF-50 rated cover.
Best Baby Carrier Cover for the Summer
What are Little Goat Sun Baby Carrier Covers?
Little Goat was started by Trisha, a Canadian mom of two, who needed a solution to protecting her baby while out in the snow.
She decided to create her own cover which resulted in her first product, the 3 Season Baby Carrier Cover.
After getting a lot of comments and questions on where she got the cover, she decided to try her hand at starting her own business and next created teething pads for baby carriers and ultimately the Sun Baby Carrier Cover.
The Sun Baby Carrier Covers are extremely easy to use and can be secured to any baby carrier or stroller with a few snaps and works in any carrying position (forward facing, back facing, backpack, and side carrying).
They are made of a cotton/spandex blend and are extremely soft.
I was afraid it would be too hot to wear during a warm day and was surprised that it actually was extremely lightweight.
The covers have clasps that snap around th
e straps of any baby carrier or stroller to cover your baby’s arms and legs and protect them from the sun.
(Related: Read what Double stroller is best for a Toddler/Newborn and any other combo!)
The carrier actually bows out toward the bottom to allow more leg room and for your baby to kick and move while staying in place over them.
It is also elastic at the bottom to create a little pocket which keeps it fitted to baby’s feet rather than just draping over them.
The fabric is UPF 50-rated which stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor and is similar to the SPF rating system used for sunscreens. This means that the Little Goat Sun Baby Carrier Cover blocks 98% of UV rays.
A rating of 50 on the UPF scale is the highest rating. Anything over 50 would be listed as 50+ so it is quite impressive how much of the UV rays this cover blocks.
My Adventures with Little Goat
I was so excited to receive my Little Goat cover since the weather is getting warmer here and with two active boys to chase after this Summer, staying inside is not an option.
My third baby got my fair skin and because she is only 6-months old, I hate to expose her to the sun for long periods of time.
She also has sensitive skin, so although we do apply sunscreen it causes some irritation if we use a lot.
I was sent the Sun Cover in gray but there is also blue and pink to choose from.
It was a little bigger than I was expecting which is great because I will be able to use it even when my baby is a toddler. But it’s not so big that it feels like it is in the way.
I first put my Sun Baby Carrier Cover to the test at a popular outdoor mall by me. It was in the mid 80’s and not a cloud in the sky so the sun was quite intense.
I was using my Ergo Baby Carrier that day. The Little Goat cover was super easy to snap on.
My baby’s feet and legs fit perfectly under the cover without any skin sticking out despite being in the froggy-legged position in my Ergo Baby carrier.
I mentioned above that the cover is very soft. It is also very lightweight. We walked around for a good hour going from store to store and I never felt like the cover added any extra heat. Both my baby and I sweat even in cold weather when babywearing so I was concerned this might send us over the edge on a hot day. But I was glad to see that wasn’t the case.
Both my baby and I sweat even in cold weather when babywearing so I was concerned this might send us over the edge on a hot day. But I was glad to see that wasn’t the case.
But I was glad to see that wasn’t the case.
Because the bottom of the cover is elastic and encloses baby’s feet, the cover stays in place.
I was most curious about this feature and how it would work because having to reposition it would have been irritating and defeat the purpose of using a cover.
I am happy to report that I didn’t have to reposition at all. It stayed covering my baby’s legs and arms the entire time without issue.
(Related: Looking for a versatile baby carrier that allows you different carry options? Read about one of my Favorites here!)
Using the Little Goat Sun Baby Carrier Cover on a Stroller
As our shopping trip continued, I put my baby back in her Chicco Ketfit car seat as I had my stroller with me and my three-year-old. He had fallen asleep after lunch.
Even with the amazing shade provided by the stroller’s sun shades, his legs were still in the sun.
Since my baby was nicely covered in her seat, I decided to try my Little Goat cover on my son. The cover attached easily to the stroller and covered his little legs completely. I was using my
I was using my City Select double that day but I can see how this cover would fit perfectly on any stroller.
My son did get a little warm under the cover and I think that has a lot to do with the lack of air circulation with the particular seat he was in. It is very enclosed.
But it wasn’t bad and honestly, it was a hot day, to begin with.
Little Goat Teething Pads
In addition to the Little Goat Sun Baby Carrier Cover, I was also given a pair of teething pads to try. I am in LOVE with these teething pads. I get compliments on them whenever I wear them.
The pattern I picked was the Pink Wildflowers. They are so beautiful. I love, love the color and fabric. They are amazingly soft, very easy to put on, and very well made.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I like them.
My baby is always trying to chew on the straps on her baby carrier and these have been extremely helpful in keeping the carrier clean.
They consist of a 3-layered design made from organic cotton, bamboo, and a waterproof lining to keep your carrier straps nice and dry.
I have washed them twice now and they are just as soft (I do air dry mine but per the directions, they are dryer friendly).
There is also a little ribbon where you can attach a toy but I haven’t used that as of yet. Right now, my baby is happy just looking around. But I can see how that would be helpful.
Other Little Goat Offerings
Little Goat also offers a cover made for rain and cold weather called the 3-Season Baby Carrier Cover.
It is made of water-resistant microfiber and has a removable lining to add a layer of warmth if needed. Definitely a great cover for hiking and any other outdoor activities in the cooler months.
Bottomline
After spending some time using this cover, it has become a staple baby product in my house. I keep it in the car so that I don’t forget it but it folds great and would just as easily fit in my diaper bag.
I spend a lot of time outside so having a product that I can rely on to protect my baby’s delicate skin is awesome.
It comes at a very reasonable price when you consider the fabric.
If you have ever looked into buying UPF clothing for children, this is not too far off base with that and in some cases, much cheaper. This is not just some piece of cheap cotton fabric.
This cover offers the highest rated UV protection. It will grow with your baby and can be used in a variety of ways (biking, carriers, strollers, backpacking, car seats, etc).
Well worth the price in my opinion.
To learn more about Little Goat Sun Baby Carriers, click here!
Find out where you can buy Little Goat, here!
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