What winter gear combo for a one year old in COLD climate?
Under.the.Rose
member
I'm kind of feeling like we're going to end up with a bunch of different pieces of winter gear to mix and match because of all the issues with not being able to wear a snowsuit/winter coat in a car seat, etc.
Any advice so I'm not overbuying but also getting what DS needs before it's sold out??
Here's what I'm thinking I might have to get, but I'd love to find a way to par down since this is gonna cost a bundle!
1) One piece bunting style snowsuit -- Pantagonia Puffball seems to be the only one thin enough to use in a car seat and most of the winter it's way too cold to be taking him out of a snowsuit before putting him in the car seat... not to mention how difficult that would be with a squirmy toddler! I know that we gotta have a full snowsuit for playing in the snow, plus on quick car trips when the car doesn't have time to warm up.
2) Winter coat or fleece jacket that's easy to remove before putting DS in his carseat (for longer trips when he'd be too hot wearing a full snowsuit in the car, but still needs to be warm).
3) One piece fleece suit for those in between days when I know he will be out with us but not playing in the snow and I don't want him to be over-heating in a full snow suit.
4) Boots -- pretty set on the Stonz Wear booties because he's not quite walking yet and they seem like the only ones that are soft, flexible and would actually stay on his feet.
5) Hat/mitts
6) Footie jammies to wear underneath so there's no openings for cold to get to his skin and no riding up when layering.
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living my baby you'll be.
- Robert Munsch
Re: What winter gear combo for a one year old in COLD climate?
Yea it gets mighty cold here... so I might be over thinking this... haha Hence my post!
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living my baby you'll be.
- Robert Munsch
DD will wear a onesie, long sleeve shirt or sweater, pants, socks, boots, hat, and mitts.
If she's playing outside she'll wear a parka and snow pants. In the car means a thinner jacket and possibly a blanket.
I'm in Ontario too, and I really don't think I'll need much more than this, even with a squirmy, walking one year old, and car seat issues.
IMO, VA gets really cold too. Maybe thats because I've never been anywhere else in the winter time. Where are you at?
Maybe to cut down on costs you could dress LO warmly (long sleeves, pants, jacket, hat, etc) and wrap a blanket around to get back and forth to the car? I was thinking of doing this too, and probably will for most mornings. Its just too much to get a jacket on/off everytime we get out of the car- daycare is 10 mins away, so IMO its a waste of time. Blankets are cheaper and easier.
It gets pretty cold here and we don't park in a garage. Here is what we had last year (and this year).
1. Puffy jacket/snow pants for playing outside
2. Thin jacket for the car
3. Thick blanket for the car
4. Boots- the warm kind with fur at the ankles and plenty of room for thick socks
5. Warm hat and mittens (we had the thumbless kind last year, we'll get normal mittens this year)
We never put her in the car with her snow suit on and she was fine. We just tried to warm up the car for a little bit before we brought her out. If that wasn't possible, then we just tried to get her in her seat and under the blanket as fast as possible. She always wore her hat and mittens.
Maybe I'm too tired and not reading properly or thinking clearly, but I keep looking at this and it looks like over-kill to me. If you're getting a thin snow suit for the car (#1) why would you need a second coat or a fleece jacket to remove before putting him in the car seat (#2)? Then again if you are buying a coat or fleece (#2) then why do you need something for the in-between days (#3)?
London, Ontario -- we get a lot of cold and snow from off the Great Lakes :P
I agree that the blanket option is probably best for quick trips, etc. and just layering his clothes.
It was so much easier when he was a newborn last winter and we never had to take him out of his carseat when we were out!
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living my baby you'll be.
- Robert Munsch
Ottawa has it pretty rough in the winter, worse than London usually! Just wondering what made you opt for parka/snowpants vs a one piece?
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living my baby you'll be.
- Robert Munsch
Yea it's probably overkill, I agree. I just wasn't sure how to manage those times when he'd be way too hot in a snowsuit in the car... I guess either just layers and blankets or the one piece fleece would be the best way to go and just skip the jacket altogether.
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living my baby you'll be.
- Robert Munsch
I'm not in Ontario, but I am in northern AB so we get the cold as well. I see your son is just a year, but he will likely be walking soon and we found last year that once our daughter started walking the one piece was really really hard for her to get around in. Also, most one pieces come with booties and you can't fit boots underneath them so their feet get really really cold. I would really recommend a two piece snowpants and jacket, just make sure the snowpants are the overall type.
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She's walking, so there's no question for me. One piece is more awkward to get on a squirmy toddler IMO and they usually come with crappy little booties that don't actually keep feet warm. Snow pants will not be fun for me to get on her (I've tried already, just for fun) but c'est la vie. At least she'll be warm and able to move freely.
I'd start with some Icebreaker Merino for a base layer. And some socks too. Merino is going to help regulate his temperature so he won't get too hot in the car but will also stay warm while out in the cold. It's lovely and breathable too so he won't get sweaty.
https://www.icebreaker.com/Boys-%281-4%29/boys-1-4,en,sc.html
Then you could get something like this...
https://www.backcountry.com/the-north-face-lil-snuggler-down-bunting-infant-boys
...a goose down suit, goose down compresses really well so in theory you should be able to strap him into the car seat safely, though you should definitely test the theory before removing the tags!
But probably the better option would be these pants
https://www.backcountry.com/the-north-face-snowdrift-insulated-bib-pant-toddler-boys
and this jacket
https://www.backcountry.com/the-north-face-moondoggy-reversible-down-jacket-toddler-boys
That way, on the really cold days he can wear the pants and jacket together but on milder days he can just wear the jacket.
When you pop him in the car seat, open the jacket, put his arms through and each side of the jacket through. Then fasten the straps and make sure they're right against his body without the jacket in the way. Tighten them up nice and tight, then zip the jacket closed OVER the tightened straps.
- Patagonia Puffball snowsuit - we also have an extra snowsuit in each car in case of an emergency.
- North Face Denali Fleece
- North Face Perrito Coat
- Boots - he has Uggs, but we'll probably pick up a pair of Stonz also(he's not walking).
- Hats - too many to count - every animal/sports team under the sun.
- Mittens - we have one black fleece pair but I'm on the hunt for something warmer.
This.
I'm in Ottawa too and I've got DD a 2 piece snowsuit (3-way jacket and bib style snowpants from The Children's Place that I got at a local consignment shop) for playing outside, a medium weight fleece jacket with attached flip down mitts on it (Columbia) for the car, a fleece hat and mitts, plus I have tons of warm blankets to use in the car. I haven't picked up her boots yet but I'm thinking of the Stonz ones too with the Sherpa liners since they seem to be the best ones out there for infants/toddlers.
I have a garage so I'm not too worried about going from the house to the car in only the fleece jacket and a blanket.
Hey hopkins, where in Ottawa are you? I'm in the west.
Remember that once you're in the car, even if the snowsuit isnt too thick, it can be too HOT. And truthfully, I've seen the Puffball and even though it has "compressible" insulation, it is almost always too thick for the car seat. We used fleece only in the car seats and the kids are always comfortable, even when it's well below 0.
I'm in MN and temps are regularly in the negatives during the winter. For the car, I would buy a fleece suit. That's typically the thickest you can go. For to and from the car, have a jacket- you just pop it on and off for easy in and out of the seat. After they're buckled in, you can even put it on them backwards - over the straps- for extra warmth.
It sounds like a lot of work, but I do it every day in the winter with two kids and it only takes a few moments more than not doing it. Then they're warm enough in the seat without being hot, and they can be warm out of the car, too.
Then, if you want to or plan to play outside a lot, get the Patagonia Puffball for outdoor activities.
HTH!
I lived in Nepean for four years while I did my undergrad at CU. I moved back to my home town last year, which is half way between there and Toronto. We visit there often. I was just on campus this past weekend writing exams!