It's winter, and it's cold. You've probably noticed. The instinct for many of us, especially when it comes to kids, is to stay indoors until temps creep back up into a comfortable range. But, getting out, even just for a little bit, is so good for the soul. You don't have to spend a bunch of money on the latest technical gear, either. Look around, see what clothing you already have, and put it together following the guidelines below.
Our challenge to spend time outdoors every day for a year has included these extra frigid days. In Minneapolis we've had a string of days with high temps hovering around 0F (air temp). Using this layering system, we've been out when temps were more like -10F, and returned home after an hour with a toasty toddler. Warm hands, feet, and face....
It's been fun to perfect our toddler layering system, and you can, too! Here's what you need to know:
Start with a Good Baselayer
I would say this is one of the most important layers, whether toddler or adult. A good baselayer will take you far. This is one place where we *did* spend money, and it was 100% worth it.
Here's the thing about baselayers. The material is important. Stick with wool if you can (or animal fibers, silk, or synthetic material). Try to avoid cotton. If your kid gets sweaty, the cotton baselayer will actually pull heat away from their body. Wool is definitely our favorite. We have wool baselayers for our little one, and the adults as well. Wool (or animal fiber in general) retains its insulating properties, even when wet, and wicks moisture. So.... if your toddler sweats a little, they won't lose body heat as a result. If you think of wool as something that's itchy and unpleasant, think again. Wool fabric these days is soft, comfortable, and itch-free.
There are a few companies now making wool baselayers for babies, toddlers, and kids. Our baselayers are from Ella's Wool and we've loved them. If you sew, you could also consider making your own. We'll be giving that a try soon ourselves!
Insulate with mid-layers
For these extra cold days, we've been throwing a pair of thick sweatpants on over Little O's baselayer. On top, our go-to mid-layer is a wool sweater. If it's *really* cold (below 5F), we add a thick, insulated hoodie as well. You probably have lots of good midlayer options in your kids' clothes drawer already. No need to get fancy and buy new stuff. Just find a few insulating layers and pile them on. You need less than you think. We've found that for temps -10F to 5F above, two good insulating layers on the top, one on the bottom (this is over the baselayer, remember), has been enough.
If you knit or know someone who does, go download this simple sweater pattern, find some wool yarn, and get knitting. You'll never want for a good insulating layer again.
Top it off with a good outer shell
The outer layer should block wind and moisture. We are lucky enough to have received a nice, one-piece snowsuit as a hand-me-down that does the job. If you don't have a good shell for your little, look around to see what you do have. We've used wind-pants and winter jacket together with good success. Just make sure air/cold isn't getting in around the waist.
Keep those fingers and toes warm
A good pair of mittens is really important as the temps hit the frigid mark, and can make the difference between a happy kid and a crying kid. We've had great success with mittens we made ourselves (you can find that pattern here). They're double-thickness wool and have kept fingers toasty as temps dipped below zero, even with snow involved.
Your criteria for mittens should be the same as for other layers. Insulating, and water/wind resistant. If your mittens aren't up to the challenge, layer them up with liners. You can be creative here. A pair of socks can make great liners. Grab that worn-out pair of smartwool socks and trace your little's hands onto them. A little bit of sewing by hand or machine, and you've refashioned them into tiny mitten liners.
For feet, start with wool socks if you can (these can be easily made from worn-out smartwool socks, too. Just be mindful of extra folds or seams that would be uncomfortable inside of a boot). That's been enough inside a pair of warm boots down to about 5F. for us. As temps have dipped below OF, we've added a second pair of thick socks on top of the wool. Make sure there's room in the toes; that little pocket of air helps keep toes toasty. We did spend money on boots this year, and bought toddler boots rated down to -40F. That's the one and only purchase we made specifically for winter layering, and it's been a good one (the rest of our stuff has been either hand-me-downs or hand-made).
Don't forget about that little noggin!
Start with a hat, of course. As temps get colder, add a hood if one available as part of your layering. A scarf keeps air from sneaking down jackets. If it's really cold or windy, wrap that scarf around cheeks to protect sensitive skin. Some folks will also add a skin barrier on little faces. We usually slather on some coconut oil. Vaseline does the trick, too.
On our coldest day this year, we also added Dad's ski goggles. They're too big to fit normally, but they *do* actually fit when there is a hat and two hoodies layered on. With goggles, no skin was showing at all, and Little O. loved that everything looked yellow. :)
Use these guidelines for adults, too!
Don't forget that you need to stay warm, too. If everyone is warm, everyone can have fun. And cold, grumbly adults aren't that much fun. ;) So layer up, and get outside!
If you're feeling a little hesitant about taking your kids out in the cold, start small. Try a layering system, go out for 30 minutes and see how it works. Adjust if necessary. Once you're feeling confident you'll be able to head out for longer!
Questions? Comments? Something to add? We're happy to discuss. Use the comments below.
Cheers, and happy wintering.