Winter is quickly approaching and as a mom of 3 in Minnesota, I know a thing or 2 about proper winter gear for kids. Getting prepped for winter means getting ready for cold and wet weather conditions. Not only do we winter moms need to prep the proper outdoor attire, our kids need to bring all of these items to school for recess!
It can feel really overwhelming to prep our kids for winter at times, but over the years I’ve narrowed down the options to some of my favorites. These are items and brands I have bought over and over for my three kids!
Here are some of my tried and true items we can’t live without!
Winter Gear for Kids
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1. Winter Gloves and Winter Mittens
Gloves and mittens are an absolute necessity. I highly recommend only using mittens for younger kids – trying to wrangle little fingers into gloves is not worth the time and frustration. I highly recommend purchasing mittens or gloves with bright colors or a fun print. This will help your kids keep track of their own gear.
This company is a Minnesota company that you can buy on Amazon. Win, win!
2. Snow Pants
Snow pants not only keep your kids dry, but they keep them warm! We have had winters with not much snow but freezing cold temps, and snow pants are a necessity.
My kids still love the bib style to prevent snow from getting down their pants. Another perk to the bib style is your kids can unzip their jackets if they get warm and there is still some good coverage from the cold. There is also an additional layer close to the torso which keeps kids warmer!
Choosing a bib style also means you don’t have to try to figure out waist sizes for kids. This makes it easier to pass down snow pants to younger siblings!
3. Fleece Cowl
Cowls are far easier than scarves – and take up less room in drawers and baskets! My kids have worn cowls for years. These fleece ones are cozy, warm, and not bulky at all. These cowls have a slight stretch and super breathable which means your child won’t start sweating.
The size small fits my kids (ages 6, 8 and 9). These particular cowls are made in Canada so you know that they can stand to the test to cold weather! Theses come in a TON of colors and styles that will fit every preference!
4. Hats
Obviously your child needs a hat to wear during the winter! It may seem obvious, but let your child pick out a hat that they like. This will help prevent arguments of “do I have to wear a hat?” – they will enjoy the one that they chose!
We are pretty bag fans of the Carhart hats. They are warm, fight tightly (without being too tight), and the cuff adds some flexibility with how your child likes to wear their hat. These are made in the USA, come in several different colors, and hold up amazingly.
You can get a feminine hat that still has a ton of warmth! We love these CC and Alepo hats. The pom poms on the top are SO cute and fun. Both of these hats are fully lined for comfort and warmth. If you are looking for a knit style hat be sure to get one that is lined- the wind will blow right through an unlined one.
5. Winter Boots
Kamik boots | Sorel boots | Columbia boots
Boots are another must have for kids in the winter. The best boots will keep your child’s feet warm and dry AND will be easy to put on and take off. There are a variety of great boots on the market – I recommend choosing the ones that your child can most easily take on and off by themselves. Ideally they should also be able to pull their snowpants down over their boots by themselves (especially in later elementary age school).
My favorite brands of snow boots for kids are Kamik, Sorel, and Columbia. All of these boots are are rated to -25 degrees or colder. The Columbia and Kamik have a cinch tie at the top of the boots to help keep snow out. All three brands have excellent, grippy soles which help prevent slipping on snow and ice.
6. Snow Bag
My kids have to bring their boots and snowpants to and from school each day and we’ve found that this bag is the best for getting it to and from school without losing anything thanks to the zippered top! These bags are big enough to shove everything inside – my kids only need to keep track of one bag instead of each individual item on the bus!
7. For Babies & Toddlers – Patagonia Winter Jacket
I used these winter coats for my kids when they were younger. They’re super warm but compress down well in car seats. While it’s still recommended to remove jackets when putting them in car seats, I would often leave these on when we were driving short distances (such as preschool drop off which was under a mile and on neighborhood roads).
These are a bit more expensive but I was able to get 3 years out of these jackets (3 kids used them) AND I was able to sell them and get a big chunk of change back.
The other perk of Patagonia jackets is they have a lifetime warranty. Twice my boys have gotten big rips in the jacket and I was able to send them back to Patagonia and get the repaired for free! All it cost was the shipping cost to get it to them.
8. Orolay Jackets
I am a huge fan of Orolay jackets for winter here in Minnesota. These jackets are incredibly warm due to being filled with duck down. The material is also windproof and water resistant. I also love that they aren’t very tight in the torso – my daughter can wear a thick sweater or hoodie underneath this coat with zero issues.
This jacket comes in ten colors and is machine washable. There are a ton of pockets which any kid loves!
9. Fabric Labels
These fabric labels have been a life saver for winter gear! These labels are made to stick to any smooth surfaces including fabric (and water bottles, school supplies and more). These awesome labels do not require any iron and are designed to withstand multiple washing machine and dryer cycles.
I use these labels on my kids winter coats, snowpants, winter gear bags, and even on the inside of their winter boots. Their names are easy to read and if items happen to get lost at school there is a greater chance of them making their way back to my kids!
These are all the essentials that I make sure I have for my kids for winter. I definitely recommend trying to purchase items on sale when you can. Know that kids will probably lose at least one pair of mittens and one hat over the course of the winter! If possible try to purchase extra of those. Don’t forget to make sure you have the winter gear YOU need! Your kids will love it when you head outside to play with them. Remember, they are only little once!