Bundled Together: Thermal Assessment of Babywearing Using Infant and Adult Manikins in a Cold Environment

Babywearing establishes a dyadic system where comfort is achieved through heat exchange between the adult and infant, yet few studies have examined this interaction. Therefore, this exploratory research investigates the heat interaction that occurs during babywearing. A babywearing protocol was developed for use with an adult and infant thermal manikin in tandem for testing in standard and cold-weather environments. Heat flux data were analyzed for differences between adult-infant interaction zones. Results indicate that the babywearing apparatus impacted the thermal neutrality for both participants, with the infant manikin experiencing a greater reduction in heat flux for areas of contact. Notably, the infant manikin displayed a relatively uniform distribution of heat across zones, indicating that the dyad creates a more thermally stable environment for the infant. The findings help inform manufacturers and caregivers on how babywearing systems can influence the users’ thermal comfort.