It’s coming to that time of year again where you can’t go outside in just a top and trousers (with the addition of a waterproof jacket of course?!). The weather is cooling down and we need to start thinking about keeping little people warm, but allowing them freedom of movement when we’re out on our adventures.
As a family we’re always spending time outdoors, no matter what season it is we’ll be outside most days (with clear exceptions for blizzards, gales and torrential rain…). The key to spending lots of time outdoors in autumn and winter is to layer up. Smaller children should also have one more layer on than you do, particularly if they are going to spend time still (such as in a buggy or sling).
These are my top tips for dressing small children for the outdoors in autumn and winter:
* Dress in layers, typically in cold weather A will wear a long sleeved vest top, long sleeved top, jumper, leggings, trousers and then a snowsuit on top with hat, gloves and scarf. Of course if it’s not quite winter, we will omit the snowsuit, gloves (mittens on a string for smaller ones who take them off…), hat (balaclava’s are fantastic or kids who keep taking hats off) and scarf and have one layer on the legs and a jacket instead. O at 4 years old will be very similar, except he doesn’t wear vests.
* Be aware of your children’s own body temperature. O tends to get cold easily and will insist on wearing a jumper in summer when others are just in tops or t-shirts! Whereas A gets hot very easily and I have to make sure his layers are easily taken off, so when he is running about we can take a layer or two off.
* For toilet training children, consider the snowsuits that are two parts, so you can easily take the trousers off if they need to go outside.
* For the feet I definitely recommend a pair of fleece lined snow boots for winter, not only are they MUCH better at keeping feet warmer than wellies, but they tend to have quite good grips too.
* Little ones who go up in carriers and wraps can get chilly legs if their trousers ride up in the carrier. Leggings are great to keep little ankles warm and no annoying draughts when they are being carried, plus you can put on another pair of trousers or snowsuit on top easily.
* Make sure you choose outdoor clothing that is easy for the child to move in. One of O’s first snowsuits was nice, but he couldn’t move about in it well, so it wasn’t practical. Try it on and check that they can climb onto the sofa/chair (so they can still climb steps and things at the park) and run around without falling over, if they can’t then get a different size or make.
* For winter hats I really recommend buying one with earflaps or at least the hat comes over the ears, I know how painful it can be when ears are cold! Don’t forget to get your child to try on hats/gloves and scarfs as the sizing in some shops are shockingly bad!!
What are your top tips for kid’s autumn/winter outdoor clothing?
J x
Claire says
Great tips and advice, it’s so important to remember that our children get cold quickly especially if sat in a buggy or back pack! I have a similar post scheduled for next week, I’ll link to this one when it goes live for people to get some more tips!
Mackenzie Glanville says
what a great idea for a post, it can be so hard getting it right when it comes to dressing the kids for the weather, layers are great for cooler weather. We are in Spring in Australia so we have hot days and cool days and it is sometimes hard to know what to wear even for myself. #whatevertheweather
Kaye says
Great tips. Layers especially, I never know what to put A in so at least if he has a few layers I know I can just strip one or two off if he’s getting hot! #whatevertheweather
Sarah says
My 7 year old daughter really feels the cold, so we got her some ski trousers from eBay and she used to wear them n the school run sometimes, she is a child who needs gloves, a scarf, a hat and ear muffs!! My eldest doesn’t seem to need so many layers as she gets hot and itchy. Leggings are great for an extra layer of warmth. I love the colourful ones!! Sarah #WhateverTheWeather
Elizabeth says
Thanks for the great tips. I always carry a pair of babylegs leggings in my purse. I usually use them, as you mentioned, to cover legs when in the carrier, but I have also used them as gloves for the kids or on their arms as an extra layer when need be. #WhateverTheWeather
Let kids be kids says
Good tips. There is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. As my children are getting older now, it is becoming more difficult to persuade them to put coats and layers etc on. They say they’re not cold. I have come to terms with letting them decide now and if they get cold they will hopefully learn for next time, well that’s the theory anyway 😉
Sarah @afieldsomewhere says
So glad I am past the days of dressing toddlers! My worst part of winter was getting them all ready to go out. Used to take so long I was almost passing out by the time we actually made it out the door!
International Elf Service says
Great post with great advice. You’re absolutely right that different children have different temperatures. I have two hotties and one chilly child! I find the hardest thing is to dress the chilly one up enough and yet him still be able to move at the end!
Elizabeth (Wander Mum) says
Great advice! We usually go to the Alps in winter so lots of warm clothing is required! The fleece lined snow boots sound like a winner. I’m hoping my daughter will actually wear her gloves this year! Last winter she’d keep taking them off and then getting upset because her hands were cold! #whatevertheweather
Sarah says
Really useful tips – I have one who layers, and wears a vest most of the year (as does her dad) The other walks around with hardly anything on #whatevertheweather !
Christine says
Great tips but wait until your kids reach 12+. They don’t possibly need a jacket to walk to school in (“no-one wears a jacket”) and if one is forced on them they definitely won’t do if up 🙂 Oh to go back to when they were little again! #whatevertheweather
Claire at Tin Box Traveller says
Kids in snowsuits – adorable! I’ve just been looking at some snow boots for Tin Box Tot and you’ve persuaded me to buy them. She loves being outside and you are right that wellies just aren’t warm enough. She’s already asking for hats and scarves but none of the ones from last year fit her. We need to go shopping! #Whatevertheweather
jeremy@thirstydaddy says
I find the hardest part of dressing her now is the 30 degree swing between drop off and pick up. Gotta love bi-polar weather
Morna piper says
I’m lucky to have girls- tights are amazing! My girls are always in tights – they never ride up and are easy to pull a pair of trousers or snow suit over- even boys should wear tights! We got fab winter boots form Lidl last year- they are still going strong 10 months later! #whatevertheweather
Cheryl @ ReimerandRuby says
Great tips here! Need to start buying winter boots soon for my kids… at the moment, my little girl loves her wellies but that’s definitely not warm enough for winter. Thanks for sharing! #WhateverTheWeather
Lauren (The Helpful Hiker) says
Great post, I’m very excited about it getting colder, love getting all wrapped up! Need to get baby some new warm clothes too so we can keep walking all year #whatevertheweather
Julie Downes says
Thanks for such great tips. I like the idea of a balaclava instead of a hat for my littlest one as he was always taking his hat off last winter and mittens on string too. My daughter is already a nightmare at having coats and cardigans on when we go out, but she is normally hot. #whatevertheweather
Melody says
These are super great tips. I needed this, I am on my third winter here and still pretty newbie for colder days. Thank you for sharing. xx
Lisa (Travel Loving Family) says
Great tips! I love the leggings! Where are they from? I need to buy some for my two! I agree re ear flaps. great way to keep little ones warm and cosy
Joanna @mumbalance says
Really good and detailed tips 🙂 There is a Swedish saying: there’s no bad weather, only bad clothes. You clearly believe it to be the case!
Rebekah says
This is SO helpful! We live in sunny Florida and live mostly in shorts tank tops and bathing suits. Though it does get cold here we don’t really have a lot of winter clothes. In November we are planning to go up North for Thanksgiving and I realized I need to get us all warmer clothing! I will definitely take your tips into account when I go shopping!!
Katja - globetotting says
I love those rainbow-striped leggings!! My kids hardly ever feel the cold – or so they say! But that’s probably because we live in a fairly mild climate. They’ll get a shock when we head back to the UK for Christmas! 🙂
Jenny Eaves says
Ha ha! You’ll be buying loads of jumpers when you’re over here then! It’s already freezing and it’s October! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Hope you can get away without buying too much for the trip! Although warm clothing is so cute on the littlies. 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Definitely! Must be prepared, we don’t have a second car, so when my husband is working we have to get everywhere by foot, so deinitely need to be prepared. 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thank you! They were on Zullily, but made by Doodlepants. 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
You’ll soon get used to it! Layers are definitely key, it’s just that the weather can change so quickly in winter! 🙂 x
Mum in Brum says
Great tips. Layers is definitely a must – I was pretty rubbish at this rule last year and was always totally unprepared for a change in temperature – I’m definitely more clued up this year! The snow suits really are great. I really need to look at getting some fleece lined snow boots. Hopefully Taylor won’t take them off as she tends to do with all her other shoes/socks! 🙂
Jenny Eaves says
There are some lovely snow boots on Zulilly at the moment, I just bought a pair for O! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Yes, I think we may end out getting a balaclava again for A, he was awful with hats last year, even when it snowed it came off! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Layers are great fun, and especially cute on kids! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Check out Zulily UK, they have some discounted and cute winter boots. Just bought some turquoise ones for O. 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
I like tights too, might buy some for O to go under his trousers in the winter. I don’t like the Lidl’s boots this year, too much like wellies than snow boots (we do a lot of walking and it gets icy up here and snowy most years), but O’s ones from Primark lasted ages! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
That’s not easy! 🙂
Jenny Eaves says
I know, snowsuits are so cute! Just bought O some new snowboots from Zulily, lots of cheapish ones that look good! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Ha ha! But at least they’re of the age to understand that it’s their own responsibility to decided what clothes they need?? Oh well, kids love to cause us problems! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Ha ha! Sounds similar to us! O was wearing a fleece jumper in summer, when A was in a t-shirt! ?? 🙂 x
theloveofacaptain says
Great tips Jenny. funnily enough we bought Jack a super cute hat from Gap at the weekend with ear covers! Need to get some boots now! #whatevertheweather
Annie B says
Thanks for this post; we’re off out tomorrow to get coats, gloves and hats for winter! My 4yo knows his mind so wish me luck!
Sabrina (The Mummy Stylist) says
Thank you for these tips, they are really useful! It’s so important to keep them comfy, and the hats with ear flaps is one I hadn’t considered but now it makes sense – it keeps the ears warm! Definitely will get some! Sabrina xx #whatevertheweather
Lauren says
Great tips, it’s always hard knowing if I’ve got it right. Finn hates (and I mean hates!) being too warm so I tend to err on the cool side. Poor boy, I’m sure I overdo it sometimes! I have bought him a warm coat and a padded bodywarmer for walking though so that should see us through #Whatevertheweather
Jenny Eaves says
It’s definitely hard with smaller kids, they don’t always understand what we want and where we are going and we don’t always understand how they can be so hot/cold! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Hats with ear flaps are great, cold ears can be so painful! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Good luck, hope you find what you want! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
That’s great Lisa, Gap tends to have good quality clothes, he’ll hopefully feel very cosy in it. 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Oh yes, A was exactly the same, that’s why I like his on the string so he can’t lose them all! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Ha ha! Yes it takes a lot of layers to get the chilly one out the house, that are then shed when running around the park! 🙂 x
Rachel says
Great tips. I love ear flap hats too….they’re a life saver. My boy always moans his ears are cold! #justanotherlinky xx
Helena says
As a new mum I’ve been considering this and wonder just when the right time for a snow suit is. Thanks for the advice. #TheList
Mudpie Fridays says
Great tips 🙂 where do you get your leggins for O as now Monkey is 3.5 I really struggle to find them (he also needs to be 100% cotton due to his skin!). Thank you for hosting #whateevertheweather x
Chloe says
I am so glad you’ve written this!!!
We’re going snowsuit shopping this week and I didn’t even think about maybe getting a separate top and bottom and to try it on Evie first.
Last year we just got a random one but she wasn’t walking about or climbing so it was literally to just go in the pram in.
I also never know about layers. Evie gets really cold hands and feet but the reat of her gets so hot way too easily. We haven’t had her in vests since March! 😮
Cornwall’s always a lot warmer than everywhere else in the country but we had to wear proper coats out yesterday for the first time so you’ve just reminded me, we must get some vests.
I know they’re supposed to wear vests most the year but Evie literally burns up everywhere and sweats with a vest on, yet her feet are always cold. So strange!
These are such great tips. xxx
P.s. I love those monster trousers!
Becky (PinksCharming) says
Great advice and lovely pictures! One of my kids is a real hot bod (takes after her dad!) and always wants to take off her coat, and the other feels the cold like me. So it’s all about the layers for us! Becky x #Whatevertheweather
mark says
Good article, it never really gets that cold here in Australia but good information for us since we are planning on hitting Europe in winter of 2016
cheers mark
Ruth says
I find hat sizing in shops particularly bad. My 3 year old has been in an age 4-8 hat since he was 1! He also gets very hot and is happy in a t-shirt when everyone else needs a jumper. My baby is completely the opposite a and I keep having to remind myself to put him more layers on! I’ve just had to buy him loads of new jumpers as we were so lacking in hand-me-down warmer clothes!
You Baby Me Mummy says
Great tips. Baby hates gloves and spent last winter with blue hands, but I found these cute little gloves in Sainsburys with animals on the fingers and she loves wearing them! Result! Thanks for linking up to #TheList x
Jenny Eaves says
Oh yes, it’s nice in summer when we can just leave with no layers! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Oh well, will have to remember that when the boys get older! Best way to learn is by making their own mistakes! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
That’s a great idea! I might have to start carrying them around for the same reason too., 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Yes, we will be getting O ski trousers for chilly days too, he really gets upset if it’s a little cold! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Yes, layers are good for stripping off when hot, just carry a large bag to carry them all home in! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Ooh, it’s so hard in spring and autumn, decisions of what to wear can be difficult! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Thank you Claire! Will have a read of your post too! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Great idea! Find gloves they love! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Glad it’s not just me without the correct hand me down clothes, lost some of O’s clothes from the younger ages and had to buy some more layers. 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
I think I would miss the cold, hope you have fun in the cold winter next year! 🙂
Jenny Eaves says
It’s so interesting to hear how other families have different temperature kids like us! You definitely have to know how many layers they need! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Hope you got the vests and snow suit? I tend to leave vests on A, but we haven’t had it quite so warm up here, when we were on holiday it was just shorts and t-shirts for them both, much, much cooler! Thank you! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
I will probably get tights for O now, but there are leggings in the girls section that aren’t too girly sometimes, they should fit. Also check out here: http://www.polarnopyret.co.uk/2-6years/child-trousers-leggings-shorts 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Aww, it’s hard with cold ears! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Hope it helps! 🙂 x
Su {Ethan & Evelyn} says
These are great tips. I did not know that snowsuit has two parts. I will need to look that up. Evelyn is having a cold at the moment. I think it is because she is in her buggy a lot, (beside teething too). But I do try to have a walk here and there – in the park, etc. Thanks for the tips again and for hosting. 🙂
#WhateverTheWeather
A Cornish Mum says
Great tips! I’m so jealous of all the snow you get up there, in Cornwall we can go for years without a decent snowfall!
Thanks for linking up to #Picknmix
Stevie x x
Something Crunchy Mummy says
Great tips! We can’t live without the boys all in one rain suits in the winter as we spend so much time outside. Thanks for linking up to #justanotherlinky xx
Jenny Eaves says
Thank you, hope it helps! Some snowsuits are all-in-one, but you can buy two part ones too with the dungarees below, helpful for potty training kids! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Really! We get at least what is shown in that pic, but that was only for a couple of days, we normally get more than that, but last year was as rubbish year, only got the sledges out once! 🙂 x
Jenny Eaves says
Yup, we need to have the all-in-one snowsuits (it gets very chilly), which we’ll wear all winter long! 🙂 x