If you’ve got a summer baby, you might also need summer nursing cover. We’ve rounded up the best nursing covers for summer and done the research for you!
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Hello, Summer Baby
I get it, okay? Being pregnant in those hot days of summer is tough. And then, you have the baby! Great news! But now you’ve got a newborn to take care of in those hot, hot days of summer.
Taking care of a baby is hard. You need to learn to comfortably breastfeed (sometimes on the go!), pump, and safely store breastmilk, ensure your baby is eating enough, and recover from birth. That’s a tough job in the best of times, but you’ll also do it while wearing the same pajamas or postpartum leggings for days on end, while forgetting to shower, while adjusting to life as a new mom.
And it’s all made slightly more challenging in the sweltering heat of summer (although TBH, getting your baby into a footmuff can be a challenge in winter, too).
If you’ve got a summer baby, you might also need some hot weather accessories like a summer nursing cover, sunshade for your stroller, and a stroller fan. I’m talking something that gives you the privacy you need as you figure this whole mom thing out. And it also keeps you and your baby cool and shaded from the sun.
My daughter was born mid-July. At the time, we lived in Central Europe, where daytime temperatures were in the mid 90s F on the regular. At first, I stayed home in front of the fan a lot (and also pumped the AC a lot). But as our baby got a bit older, I got a bit bolder. I wanted to get out, hit up the family-friendly beer gardens for a nice glass of homemade lemonade. I wanted to enjoy the city, sweltering as it was.
And so I had to get used to breastfeeding in public. Because I was still figuring things out, I wanted something to cover up a bit beyond what my nursing bra and nursing tank offered, protect my wee one from the sun beating down, and also provide a bit of privacy for her when she was in the car seat, stroller, shopping buggy, etc.
Enter: a good nursing cover.
Disclosure: Itzy Ritzy recently reached out to me to ask if I wanted to try any of their products, and I asked them to send me a Mom Boss nursing cover to try out. All opinions remain my own.
Types of Nursing Covers Good for Summer
Nursing covers come in a range of styles, fabrics, and prints, but the key to finding the best cover for hot weather is to consider the fabric and design.
You want something that’s lightweight, but not see through. You want something that provides 360 degree coverage, but lets you see your baby – and doesn’t cause either of you to overheat. And if you’re anything like me, you want a nursing cover that fits your style, so you actually want to use it, instead of just keeping it hidden in your baby bag.
Loop Style / MultiUse
The loop style or multi-use breastfeeding cover does quadruple duty, providing coverage for your car seat, buggy, and a shopping buggy, and also sometimes as an infinity scarf.
Why buy 4 things when you can buy 1 thing that does quadruple duty, right?
These covers are basically super stretchy wide loops or “pillars” of fabric, and typically made of a lightweight synthetic fabric.
You can see me wearing this style of cover below (this is the Itzy Ritzy Mom Boss).
It’s narrower at the top where your head and shoulders go, and wider at the bottom to give your body and your baby’s some room.
This style is super popular, and they come in plenty of different fabric prints and colors, making them a nice accessory.
Beyond serving as a breastfeeding cover, you can use it on buggies, car seats, shopping carts, and high chairs, and can also just throw it on the grass as a make shift blanket or place to change a diaper.
That makes these wrap style covers one of the best nursing covers for parents who want something multifunctional that will last a few years.
I will caution you, a lot of these covers are made of synthetic fabrics which may or may not breathe well in the heat (depending on the particular fabric blend used). I’ve chosen covers for this list that get great reviews for being a good solution in the heat, but if you choose a different one, I recommend you search the reviews for words like “heat, hot” etc.
Apron Style
A nursing apron is the most traditional style of breastfeeding cover. Basically it’s a big, long rectangle of fabric, with a way to attach it around your neck like an apron. Often, there is wire sewn into the top part, creating a rigid bit so you can easily see your baby, without the fabric collapsing down. And there’s no waist tie, like in a kitchen apron, making it roomy and easy to adjust as needed.
Apron style covers are big and comfy, and many of them offer good coverage when pumping too. If you’re out in the sun, the apron style will give your baby some comfortable protection from the sun and onlookers. And because the sides are open, it doesn’t get super hot underneath, either.
As a con, because the sides are open you may find nursing aprons don’t offer you enough coverage, depending on your personal modesty levels.
Yes, I’m talking sideboob.
Infinity Scarf Breastfeeding Covers
I love scarfs, and wear them a lot. But whether an infinity scarf will work for you in the heat really depends on how hot it gets where you live.
When our daughter was born, we were regularly dealing with daytime temperatures of 95 F. There was no way I was going to put a scarf around my neck for a walk on days like that. But, it cooled off fairly well in the evenings, and I was happy to use my breastfeeding scarf then, to hit up a patio or a restaurant terrace.
To me, the beauty of the scarf style nursing cover is that it doubles as an accessory you can wear. When you have a hangry, screaming baby, there’s no digging through the baby bag or under the stroller in search of a nursing cover, because it’s already around your neck. If it’s too hot to wear the scarf and you have it stashed in your diaper bag, then it’s really not that much more convenient than the wrap around style or apron type of cover.
Worth noting, this style could also work really well if you have to go back to work in an air-conditioned space or office, and need a pumping cover.
Downside: can’t see your baby as well, and it’s not going to provide enough coverage for a double pump.
Poncho Nursing Cover
Personally, I’m a big fan of the poncho style. You wear it like a shirt over your nursing clothes to give you an added layer of protection and privacy. The key for this style is looking for something that’s super lightweight and also not see through!
Probably the best coverage of the bunch, and there’s no chance your baby is going to pull it down. As they get older, however, they might flip it up.
Muslin Receiving Blanket
For minimalist mamas who don’t want to start out with a dedicated nursing cover, throwing a muslin blanket over your shoulder is not a terrible solution. I’ve done this many a times in a pinch, and it works okay. However, I usually had to have my husband or a friend seated next to me, being constantly vigilant about ensuring it didn’t fall off my shoulder! If possible, the more dedicated types of nursing covers are much easier to manage, but this will do if it’s all you have.
Best Nursing Covers for Summer Reviews
Best All-in-One
Great as a nursing cover, this 4-in-1 design also works as an infant car seat cover, shopping cart cover, and infinity scarf for mom. Available in a huge array of colors and designs, the fabric is either polyester or spandex, depending on the design you choose. Machine washable fabric and is CPSIA certified safe.
This is a great example of a multi-use / wrap style coverage. It works as a nursing cover, car seat cover (for infant style car seats), shopping buggy cover, and also an infinity scarf.
It’s got super soft fabric (either polyester or spandex, depending on which design you go for), and is breathable and stretchy, without being see through. It’s also breathable – critical for summer babies!
I will say, while I can wear this as an infinity scarf, it requires a bit of styling since the fabric print is one-sided. I just tuck mine a bit to ensure the white, non-printed side of the fabric isn’t visible.
Best 100% Cotton Multi-use
Most 4-in-1 breastfeeding covers use synthetic fabric. If you'd prefer cotton, this option from Itzy Ritzy works as a nursing cover, blanket, swaddle, and burb cloth...and it's 100% cotton!
If you want a nursing cover that does double, tripe, or even quadruple duty, but you don’t want a modal, polyester, or other synthetic fabric, this is a great bet.
Made from 100% cotton, this cover works for discrete nursing, as well as a blanket for home or the park, as a burp cloth, and even to swaddle your baby.
Currently available in one color only – the natural and very aesthetic “mud cloth” pattern, which is gorgeous!
Machine washable and tumble dry safe.
Best Poncho Style
Light-weight, comfortable and super-versatile, this nursing poncho looks like a loose, flowy top. Made from eco-friendlier Lenzing Modal fabric (made from wood pulp cellulose), it's machine washable and tumble dry safe.
This super soft, loose and flowy nursing cover is made out of Lenzing Modal fabric, which is a synthetic derived from wood cellulose.
It’s a great option of you like loose, flowy tops anyway, as it doesn’t look like a nursing cover, and is perfect for throwing over a nursing tank on a hot summer day.
It is one-size-fits-all and comes in four different colors: the sage green and pink are fairly feminine looking, whereas the black stripe and grey stripe are a bit more modern.
Washing machine and tumble dry friendly.
Best Nursing Scarf
Doubling as a stylish accessory, this scarf is large enough to drape around mom and baby while breastfeeding and is made of super-soft and natural cotton muslin.
Measuring 70 inches by 26 inches when unfolded, it is more than enough to provide extra privacy while nursing in public, but is best suited for moms that aren’t worried about complete coverage since it takes some maneuvering to position.
Despite its size, it can easily be worn as a regular scarf when wrapped up and comes in four different stylish patterns like the colorful indigo design or whimsical white birds on a grey background.
This scarf is machine-washable and comes in one-size-fits-all.
Best Apron Style
Made with 100% cotton fabric to keep both mom and baby cool and comfortable, this apron provides full coverage and is one-size fits all. It uses Bebe Au Lait's Rig flex neckline to hold the fabric away from your body while remaining discrete. This ensures you can see baby and allow for ample airflow while nursing.
Providing plenty of coverage, you won’t have to worry about any embarrassing peek-a-boo moments while feeding in public, and the “Rig flex” rigid neck line will stay propped open so that you can maintain a clear view of your little one while they’re feeding.
It measures 36″ wide by 30″ long and is one-size-fits-all, plus it comes in a few cute, feminine patterns to choose from.
It also comes with storage pockets to keep burp cloths and other essentials. Made of 100% muslin cotton, this one offers lots of breathability for hot summer days.
A Few More Things To Consider When Choosing a Nursing Cover for Summer
- Fabric: Look for something that’s lightweight, but not see through. Muslin should work well in a lot of situations, a light jersey knit, or even a linen style. Many nursing covers are a bit stretchy, which means there’s some sort of synthetic fabric blended in. Before hitting the buy button, check reviews to see how it breathes in the heat.
- Privacy: This one’s up to you. In my experience, the poncho and the wrap style covers give the most coverage. I love that both are multifunctional (the poncho doubling as a wardrobe item long after your breastfeeding days are over).
- Your Baby: You can do a ton of research and choose the best option for you, and your baby may hate it. Some babies are just not down with having their faces covered while feeding. In this case, the apron type of nursing cover will probably work best. As your baby gets older and has better motor skills control, they may let you know what they don’t like. Expect fabric to pulled down or flipped up! Fun for your baby, who’s learning about cause and effect, but a shock for mom. Be prepared to experiment!
- Pumping Considerations: For a double pump, a poncho is the only thing that will provide full coverage.
Final Thoughts on Finding the Best Nursing Covers for Summer
Each of the 4 types of nursing covers offers a solution for hot days. The key is considering your own climate, and how much coverage you personally want from a modesty perspective.
I hope this article helps you in your search for the perfect nursing cover. If you know a new mama and found this article helpful, please share this article with her!