The Best Winter Gear for Babies, Kids & Parents (From a Pediatric PT & Mom of 3)
As a pediatric physical therapist and mom living in an area that gets a decent amount of snow and cold days, I know first hand not only how much fun snow can be (when you have the right gear), but also how challenging it can be to keep kids occupied and having fun in the winter.
From colder temperatures, shorter days with more indoor time than normal, to bundled up babies just trying to stay warm, the challenges of winter time are real, but winter truly is an opportunity for different kinds of play and connection - and movement, balance, strength, sensory play & just getting those wiggles out still matter in winter, maybe even more than in other seasons!
So, after nearly 8 winters having babies, toddlers & now big kids of my own, I figured it was time to round up all our favorites into a Navigating Winter With Kids 101 resource- because truly, winter CAN and SHOULD still be a season of fun, play & memory making!
Our Family’s Favorite Winter Gear (Tried, True & Kid-Approved)
What kids actually need to stay warm (without limiting movement!)
Here’s the thing…winter can be long, our kids still need to move, and we all need to stay warm. But it’s not about buying more stuff, it’s about buying the right stuff you’ll actually use - things focused on warmth, fun, movement, and always while keeping mobility in mind when considering items. So, let’s get into it!
Outdoor Gear Essentials
Snow Boots for Toddlers & Bigger Kids
When it comes to snow boots, it’s still just as important to consider the characteristics of shoes that support our children’s foot development. Our overall goal is warmth without bulk & stiffness, but what are the other important characteristics to consider?
IMPORTANT SNOW BOOT FEATURES INCLUDE:
Wide, foot shaped toe boxes that allow their toes to spread out, grip & move with as little restriction as possible
Flexible soles that bend, allowing the natural walking pattern of striking with your heel and pushing off with toes > hitting with the entire foot flat. (If you’ve ever worn rigid ski or snowboarding boots, you probably know exactly what I mean by this! Locking the ankle into place for stability is so important in ski boots, but it’s *not* something we want or need in regular snow boots!)
Adjustability through the ankle and at the top to get a good fit and keep the snow out
Grips on the bottom for traction & reducing slips & falls
When it comes to determining sizing for snow boots, I usually aim for no more than a half size above their regular shoe size. This allows for thicker, warmer socks to be worn while still ensuring proper fit for balance and walking in the snow.
You can find a round up of my favorite snow boots for toddlers & bigger kids here.
Snow Boots for Babies & First Walkers
For babies & first/newer walkers, we are still aiming for the same features above, but because they’re often not playing in really deep snow yet, snow boots that hit a bit lower on their calf and have more flexible fabric are awesome! These are some of my favorite snow boots for pre-walkers and/or newer walkers:
You can these boots and even more options all on my shoe guide here.
Winter Jackets & Snowsuits
While it’s important to consider your location and the typical temperatures/weather you encounter in the winter, these have been our absolute favorites for warmth, function & quality. Ultimately, the goal of this gear is warmth and freedom of movement without turning them into Randy from A Christmas Story (iykyk, lol!).
I absolutely love this fleece for underneath the kid’s jackets and/or snow suits, and the best part is that it’s thin enough to safely wear in a car seat. Safety tip: Thick, bulky jackets should NOT be worn while in carseats, as it does not allow appropriate fit of the straps to be achieved. These Columbia fleeces have solved the dilemma of cold carseats for us completely!
OROLAY WINTER COAT (For moms & kids)
If you’ve followed me on socials for any length of time, you probably already know how obsessed I am with this jacket for myself and for the kids (I mean, matching jackets?! Yes please!!). It is genuinely SO incredibly warm and has so much adjustability you can easily wear it during pregnancy, postpartum and even for baby wearing! It is absolutely 11/10 and if you trust me on one thing, let it be grabbing this jacket for yourself and your kids!
OLD NAVY PUFFER JACKET
While the jacket above is definitely my top pick, we’ve also had success with Old Navy Puffer Jackets on cold, snowy days. If you’re not an Amazon shopper or looking for a different price point (you can definitely snag these on some good sales too!), this is a great option!
I personally prefer overall style bibs/snowsuits for the kids and myself, and these ones have been great! They’re super warm, have a lot of adjustability at the shoulders for fit and an inner lining to help keep snow out of boots. And at a relatively low price point to begin with, they’ve also withheld being passed down through 3 kids now and are still in great shape. You can’t beat that!
Again, I personally prefer overall style bibs, and these Carharts have been awesome for warmth on seriously snowy days. For my fellow tall friends, grab them in men’s sizing (and tall length) for a perfect fit!
Gloves, Hats, Socks & Cold-Weather Accessories That Stay On…If it won’t stay on, it won’t get worn!
When it comes to outdoor gear, I know it can take a lot of time getting everything on (and off) kids, but letting them help practice putting gear on is such a great opportunity for practicing fine motor skills, functional skills, and gaining independence. If you can take the time to slow down & let them help, I promise it’s worth it!
Hear me out and know I am not being dramatic when I say….gloves will make or break your winter. After buying pair after pair of less expensive ones that either did nothing in terms of warmth or were shredded and falling apart after just a few snow storms, I decided to look into other options.
Specifically, I had always heard amazing things from fellow snow loving friends about a glove brand, Hestra, and after looking into them myself I decided to go for it. Are they more expensive than other options? Absolutely. But are they absolutely worth every single penny? Also absolutely yes.
I can not even tell you how warm they are and there are just so many thoughtful features in their gloves that truly set them apart from every other brand I’ve ever tried. They have so many different styles to choose from - from leather to waterproof mittens, wool mittens, regular 5 finger gloves, 3 finger gloves (these are so dang cool and what I got for myself!), work gloves, heated gloves & so much more - there is truly something for everyone and every winter adventure you can imagine! Some of the features that have stood out to me the most beyond warmth are things like wristlet attachments so they don’t fall into the snow if you have to pop them off quickly, they’re SO easy to get on & off (even the kids don’t need my glove hack with them!), wrist adjustments to make sure the gloves stay ON and the snow stays OUT, and even styles with a zipper for younger kiddos to get them on and fitting perfectly!
Beyond those thought out details, Hestra is also just an incredible, family owned company- and I know for many of us, myself included, putting your hard earned money into a company whose values you can truly stand behind, matters now more than ever. Hestra prides themselves on sustainability and is committed to sustainable development from start to finish, from their design & development, to their materials, suppliers & production- and it has been an honor to get to know them since falling in love with their products!
I absolutely love a good Carhartt beanie. They are super warm, have so many cute colors, and have held up great with daily use during the winter AND being passed down through siblings!
I don’t love a full beanie and I definitely don’t love my ears being cold, so ear warmers are pretty much my go to for outdoor play in the snow with the kids. These have been my go to for years and they are SO warm!
Neck warmers are an absolute must for serious snow play because is there anything worse than getting a neck/chest full of freezing cold snow?! These have been 10/10 for us and I honestly wish I’d gotten them sooner!
You can find the full round up of cold weather accessories and essentials here.
WARM WINTER MOM FIT
I don’t know about you, but I have a very specific outfit I wear under my snow bibs and jacket, and if you need warmth in every layer (and from head to toe), this is a round up of my faves (from leggings to sweatshirts, warm socks, hand warmers & more!).
Check out the full warm winter mom fit here.
If you are a lululemon fan, I really love these leggings too!
Winter Play Gear That Gets Kids Outside & Important Features To Consider
Whether your kids are in the ‘take an hour to get everyone geared up and they play for 5 minute stage’ (IYKYK) OR in the ‘we’re ready to play outside for hours!’ stage, any time spent outside (even just short bursts) is so great for energy and sensory regulation. Here are some of our favorite outdoor items that my kids have been loving this winter!
SLEDS
There are lots of different types of sleds, from ‘classic’ to steerable, ride-on, tubes & ones with added support for their backs - but how do you know which is best? In general, sleds with back support are my first pick, especially for younger children who may need a bit more support through their trunk to stay upright and balanced. These are some of my favorite sleds with back support for both babies & toddlers and older children. We also have and really love this sled for sleigh riding, and this tube is a new addition for us this year but so far, I’m really happy with the thickness of the rubber and the outer ‘jacket’ on it for when my husband pulls the kids behind a four-wheeler!
*Safety disclaimer: if you are sledding, helmets should be on! These helmets have been great for my kids. These helmets have been great for my kids, but regardless of what you choose, the ideal characteristics for helmets include; MIPs technology, adjustable fit, and lightweight overall construction.
One thing my kids love to help us with is shoveling, and we will take all the help we can get, lol! These snow shovels have held up great over 3 winters now and are just the right size for them to really be able to use and help!
Outdoor Winter Games That Sneak in Big Movement
One of my favorite things about outside time in winter is how sneakily powerful it can be for sensory and energy regulation!
Sledding is amazing for developing core strength and postural control, which carries over into so many everyday activities - from running to walking, athletics & beyond. And hiking back up the hill to repeat x100? Absolutely amazing for strength, endurance, and so much more!
Building Snowmen is so great for not only working on functional movements like lifting, squatting, pushing, and pulling - it’s also amazing for motor planning, problem solving skills & working as a team.
Animal Walks In the Snow are honestly SO fun to even join in with them - try penguin waddles, polar bear crawls, or snowy rolly-pollys for lots of rolling fun!
Even things like nature walks with winter scavenger hunts, collecting sticks, finding crunchy leaves buried & more can be such fun additions to outside winter play.
Indoor Activities for Snow Days That Sneak in Big Movement…when it’s just too dang cold to go outside!
As much as getting outside in the winter is amazing, sometimes it is just not a possibility, so here are some of my favorite indoor games to get kids moving and get their energy out!
Obstacle Courses - grab your couch cushions, pillows, and painters tape and make an obstacle course! When I’m building a course, I focus on having something for them to crawl under, something for them to climb over, and something that includes either jumping, hopping, or skipping between obstacles.
Indoor Sled Pulls - there is nothing better for sensory and energy regulation than activities that bring in heavy work and vestibular input. For this one, just lay a blanket down and have them sit on it. You can either pull them (great sensory input for them!), OR have them pull you or a sibling (AMAZING for sensory regulation and heavy, regulating work!)
Balloon Volleyball - Balloons can be a really helpful way to teach catching & hand eye coordination, because not only does it move slower, which allows more time for processing and motor planning, it also doesn’t hurt if you miss! And who doesn’t love a good game of ‘keepy uppy’!
‘Snowball’ Toss - Soft balls or socks folded together and a target are all you need for this one (you can make a target on the wall with painter’s tape, or even just use something like a laundry basket or box as the target!). Keep score or just keep it light and fun taking turns to see who can hit the target!
Your Turn!!
What are some of your favorite winter activities to do with your kiddos?!
My winter goal this year; trying one new game/idea. Because truly, movement can be playful, simple, joyful and filled with memory making - even in the winter!
Ultimately, know that you don’t need pinterest level ideas & set ups to have a ton of fun inside in the winter and get those sillies out. And remember, rest and cozy days are totally ok too…you got this!
