Among many gifts, Ellie gave me a big red scarf when David was born. It's soft, over five feet long and wide enough to hold a baby's tushy. It drapes well. It scrunches up into backpacks and the back of the stroller. It never seems to get in the way. Here's how I use it:

I wrap it around my neck and keep cozy in January rains.

When I've not brought a hat because I think it looks nice out, but really it's not, I wrap it around my neck and head. I may not look fashionable, but I'm calm because I'm comfortable.

When David is in the front pack, it's cold and windy and his hat is just thin cotton, I wrap it around my neck and then tuck it around his. I can keep walking and not worry.

When David is in the front pack, the wind picks up, and I've only got one blanket tucked around him, I insulate him with it.

When I leave the house at 4:00 on a lovely spring day and it is warm enough not to bother with David's big red coat but now it's 5:00 and cooling, I tuck it around him.

I drape it over my shoulder, knot it under his tushy, and carry him in it all around Green Lake.

When the sun is too bright, I turn it into a sunshade for him.

When Rose decides she needs to pee at the park and there is no potty so we squat in the bushes but she gets pee all over her pants and underpants and refuses to pull up the wet clothes and the back pack with the spare clothes is all the way across the park, I wrap it around her waist like a sarong. Then it becomes her privacy screen. Then it becomes the dry place to stand on as she finishes changing.