Winter clothing!

[WindyCityMom]

I know how important warmth is to most of us on the Waldorf board.

I'm trying to figure out what I need for our kids for the fall/winter. I have a baby, who will be 1 in December, and a toddler, who will be 3 in December. We live in colllld Chicago

I'm trying to get a list of things for my kids to wear and be warm.

I want to include woolen undergarments as well, but I'm not sure how those work (especially for my toddler).

My toddler wears dresses 3/4 seasons of the year, and I'd like for her to be able to wear dresses in the winter, though I don't know if that's feasible. Is it? For some reason I don't think wool tights will be warm enough.

So far, here's what I have down on my list:

For baby (will turn 1 in December)
-5 solid cotton lap tees, sizeed 12-18mos
-wool longies (currently own 3 pairs, will need a few more I am sure)
-wool sweater (or 2 or more depending on how fast I can knit them up)
-a few pairs of cotton pants
-hat, mittens, knit by me
-wool socks, cotton socks
-warm shoes for when she is walking
-wool hood (the kind that Nova sells)
-woolsilk pilot cap
-some knitted socks for hanging out around the house

For toddler (will turn 3 in December)
-hat and mittens, I'll knit these
-boots (looking for ones with rubber outer and sheepskin inner.. anyone know?)
-wool socks, cotton socks
-felted wool slippers for around the house

Baby is crying, so I need to tend to her... but I am lost as far as woolen undergarments, and outerwear (coats) go.

What about clothing for my toddler? What do you all dress your ~3yo toddler girls in in the cold?

Thanks! Feel free to share your winter clothing list also.

[counterGOPI]

Quick response b/c I am exhausted and I will post more later

For dresses in the winter my girls (who I like to keep in dresses all the time, as well) wear their dresses with a wool sleeveless top and a wool long sleeve top underneath and then for their bottom half they were leggings instead of tights and wool long johns under the leggings, with toasty warm wool socks

[lyrebird]

It’s winter for us now. One of the things I find most important for my 1 y/o is those singlets that do up under the crotch (are they the lap tees you’re talking about?). So important for when you’re carrying them and their tops ride up. Another important one for me is woollen vests – keeps my 4 y/o warm when the jumpers come off at school. And beanies with ear flaps!
Have you seen this site: http://www.selana.com/1/en/ I don’t think you can order online, but they are based in Switzerland I think, at least that’s where my mum buys me stuff. Check out the dresses right down the bottom – with leggings and I guess you’d wear woolly socks.
When I was a girl (5) I wore quite a long woollen coat in winter with a hood, though I wore a beanie. It was really warm and quite cute – looked a bit like a dress. Probably my favourite coat of all time and I remember it really well. Here in Australia dresses or skirts with trousers worn underneath is actually trendy, so the girls look quite pretty. Don’t know about in your location, but if not you could start a trend!
One of the things I remember is hating my beanie – because the wool itched. Make sure it’s non-itchy (children can be really sensitive) or use something else. Get them used to being happy to wear warm hats or they won’t be keen on putting them on at school.

My 4 y/o wears ugg boots - very warm. And my 1 y/o wears these: http://www.bobux.com.au/category/product?objectId=3978

I would love to find a natural alternative to the fleecy over all suit for the baby.

[melamama]

Originally Posted by lyrebird

I would love to find a natural alternative to the fleecy over all suit for the baby.

Last year I kept my baby in this woolen suit. It is extremely thick, the arms fold over the hands and I always felt like she was warm enough. I got it on clearance, but knowing now how much I used it, it was definitely worth the regular retail price.

As for the toddler in dresses, my dd would wear her merino woolies under her wool tights. This was good enough for us because when it gets really cold here I put them in snow suits (which mostly block the wind and keep the warmth in).

Our standard wear (non negotiable) for when it starts to get cool (for ages 1, 4, 7 & 10) is merino woolies under everything, wool socks, wool sweater, handknit wool hat, then all the rest.

A great machine washable item that you can sometimes find at Sierra Trading Post or some of the other outdoor sellers are Icebreaker hoodies. I found a bunch 2 years ago, and my kids still wear them and they've been passed down to the next age and they'll be able to wear them this winter. I use them like a sweater, not next to the skin.

Another great tip is to get adult wool sweaters and felt them in the washing machine. Then you can cut off the sleeves and cut up the front, add buttons if you want and you have an extremely warm layer. One W. Kindergarten did this at the beginning of the year (maybe at a parent eve.) each parent made one for their child, so they'd always have a warm layer handy at school. You could also needle felt designs on the vest, or embroider.

[lyrebird]

ouch, that suit is pricey - lucky you got it reduced! Looks nice.

[WindyCityMom]

Thanks for all of the tips! I really like the baby suit, but it is so pricey! I'm too broke for that but it is inspiration to possibly sew my own from a thick wool sweater.

How many sets of woolen undergarments do you recommend? We're pretty broke here and they sure are pricey.

[zoebird]

my guy is two, and for us, this winter has not been cold. i think it dropped below freezing a few nights, but other than that, it's been in the upper 30s (F) at the lowest, and in the mid 50s most days, and so for us, that is fall/spring weather, and we didn't use his woolies at all.

i did put him in layers, and used his lined pants or jeans, but he's such a "hot box" (like his dad) that he would be sweating and i'd have to take a layer off!

but, when we lived in PA, and we had snowstorms (and we went out and played in them), he was in woolies, then a layer of cotton undergarments (which were his spring/fall under layer, and then his outer layer (overalls and flannel or long sleeved cotton shirt), and then his rain gear (so he wouldn't get wet in the snow). and of course, his hats.

now he pretty much wears two laters (cotton under layer and his outer later of overalls and a shirt) with his rain gear, and if he feels *really* cold, he'll wear his hat. but usually, he just wears his rain gear.

so that's us.

[zoebird]

we only have one set of woolies. but, we ECed and would rarely have accidents. If you are prone to blow-outs, then i would get at least two, possibly three depending on how fast things can line dry in your house in winter.

[honeybunmom]

For your toddler, I'd suggest checking out Batik Bum on Hyenacart. She makes some skirted longies out of recycled sweaters. Which you could probably do yourself. Also, my daughter developed a sensitivity to wool around age 2. I bought one pair of silk underwear from Land's End last year. They had a 40% off sale early in the season and I surely should have bought more. A pair of those under tights would work well, I'd think. Long skirts actually allow the legs to share the heat, kind of like mittens v. gloves. I also got a recycled wool onesie from BB last year for my son to use this year.

The Children's Year has a pattern in it for making a wool sleep sack. I'm going to use this to make one for my son out of a felted sweater.

For my daughter, honestly, I keep her in fleece lined jeans mostly. Since the children are outside every day for at least an hour at school, dresses are not very practical when the teachers have to help everyone into their snow gear.

[WindyCityMom]

Thanks!

I'm going to bold all questions because I like to blab alot

Those Batik Bum things look adorable! I can sew, (though I hand sew) so I will probably head to the thrift store tomorrow I do have some things from Batik Bum (sweater that my toddler adores) so I might go ahead and order a few things... I'm having a 3 day garage sale this weekend so I'm saving up to get woolies, etc.

I really wish I could afford a sewing machine and wish I could figure out how to use one. My grandmother taught me how to hand-sew when I was 4ish (yay for handwork in my otherwise mainstreamish family!). She had an antique sewing machine that was awesome and worked wonderfully (she'd always make me my halloween costume) but when she died I was 15 and when asked if I wanted to keep the machine said no. Oh how naive I was...

Anywho.

So, I do want to do dresses for my 2yo. Or long skirts, at least. I'm still a bit confused at how it works... it's woolies, then tights (wool, right?), then the skirt/dress. Is that warm enough? I just don't know if that would be enough to break the wind. Oh, and I'm talking about on a day-to-day basis, like for visiting people's houses, going to the store, going to the museum... etc

For outdoor playtime (in the snow, which she can't wait for!), I might felt up some snow pants (homemade from a thick recycled wool sweater, assuming I find one!) and lanolize them. Otherwise I think I'll have to buy the synthetic kind that are waterproof. And under them I'd have her wear woolies and thick cotton pants. If they're the wool ones I'm hoping to make, I'll probably add more layers underneath.



Which woolies would you recommend for a 2yo girl? Where should I get them? And which would you recommend for a soon to be 1yo? She'll be 10 months at the end of October, and 16 months at the end of April (those are the coldest months that i'd expect for her to be wearing woolies). So something to fit a 10-16 month old. If she grows like my toddler did, she'll be wearing the 12-18 month-ish size in everything.


Additionally.. I'm still wondering what to do about baby and outerwear. Without doing synthetics, I'd like something that isn't very bulky which would work under car seat straps (because of the no-coat rule). Maybe if we dress her warm with wooly layers, and warm up the car ahead of time, we could just take the top (bulky) layer off when we get in the car. Hmm...

Also, how many sets per child? Could I get away with two each? And wool socks- how many pairs each? Sorry for the ridiculous amount of questions. My husband wears shorts occasionally in the wintertime so he's no help

[counterGOPI]

Ruskovilla by far is the thickest and warmest. I bought a couple other brands and found them to be too thin.

We don't really do tights at all, just leggings under the dress with woolies under the leggings.

HTH!

Originally Posted by WindyCityMom

Thanks!

I'm going to bold all questions because I like to blab alot

Those Batik Bum things look adorable! I can sew, (though I hand sew) so I will probably head to the thrift store tomorrow I do have some things from Batik Bum (sweater that my toddler adores) so I might go ahead and order a few things... I'm having a 3 day garage sale this weekend so I'm saving up to get woolies, etc.

I really wish I could afford a sewing machine and wish I could figure out how to use one. My grandmother taught me how to hand-sew when I was 4ish (yay for handwork in my otherwise mainstreamish family!). She had an antique sewing machine that was awesome and worked wonderfully (she'd always make me my halloween costume) but when she died I was 15 and when asked if I wanted to keep the machine said no. Oh how naive I was...

Anywho.

So, I do want to do dresses for my 2yo. Or long skirts, at least. I'm still a bit confused at how it works... it's woolies, then tights (wool, right?), then the skirt/dress. Is that warm enough? I just don't know if that would be enough to break the wind. Oh, and I'm talking about on a day-to-day basis, like for visiting people's houses, going to the store, going to the museum... etc

For outdoor playtime (in the snow, which she can't wait for!), I might felt up some snow pants (homemade from a thick recycled wool sweater, assuming I find one!) and lanolize them. Otherwise I think I'll have to buy the synthetic kind that are waterproof. And under them I'd have her wear woolies and thick cotton pants. If they're the wool ones I'm hoping to make, I'll probably add more layers underneath.



Which woolies would you recommend for a 2yo girl? Where should I get them? And which would you recommend for a soon to be 1yo? She'll be 10 months at the end of October, and 16 months at the end of April (those are the coldest months that i'd expect for her to be wearing woolies). So something to fit a 10-16 month old. If she grows like my toddler did, she'll be wearing the 12-18 month-ish size in everything.


Additionally.. I'm still wondering what to do about baby and outerwear. Without doing synthetics, I'd like something that isn't very bulky which would work under car seat straps (because of the no-coat rule). Maybe if we dress her warm with wooly layers, and warm up the car ahead of time, we could just take the top (bulky) layer off when we get in the car. Hmm...

Also, how many sets per child? Could I get away with two each? And wool socks- how many pairs each? Sorry for the ridiculous amount of questions. My husband wears shorts occasionally in the wintertime so he's no help

[ldsmom06]

I also recommend Ruskovilla longies to wear under dresses and leggings. I am not sure if its waldorf but I buy hanna andersson play dresses with matching leggings then under the leggings I use the wool longies. My 2.5 yr old dd will only wear dresses and I am ISO of other brands but last year she had hanna and lands end dresses and leggings. Also I had some wool pilot caps she wore too. I get my woolens from palumba.com also soft star shoes have great boots(and shoes)! I just wish wool wasn't so expensive.

[WindyCityMom]

Thanks! I'm going to check out a consignment store tomorrow, wish me luck. I hope I find some Hanna stuff.

[zoebird]

i also have the ruskovilla, which were total overkill for the NZ winter. but, had we been further south, it would have been a good idea. we're like san fran here.

[mommabeehilly]

We use the silk/wool combo woolies...'cause we live in the south.

[honeybunmom]

If you have at least 2 pair of woolens and socks you can alternate. Three would be ideal, IMO in case it takes more than 1 day for them to dry when washed. As others have said, basically, your woolen and/or silk under garment is worn closest to the skin, then the outer clothing on top.

We have a pair of Ruskovilla, too. My daughter hates them. All that to say, don't go hog wild unless you find them at the thrift shop! Fortunately, I asked my mom to gift them to her for Christmas last year.

As for keeping the baby warm, I knit a hood for my son out of alpaca and he wore a cashmere sweater in the car. I also knit him a pair of double thick alpaca mittens. Worsted weight for the outer and dk weight for the inner. We wrapped him in a wool blanket for carrying him to and from the car.

If you haven't already, keep your eye on craigslist or freecycle for a sewing machine. The Chicago freecycle goes ridiculously fast, IMO, though.

[Carhootel]

I would recommend scouring etsy for some wool outerwear - I just got ds this for this winter

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/30682173

[WindyCityMom]

honeybunmom, I hear ya on freecycle

I do have a wool sweatshirt type thing (similar to what carhootel posted) from Batik bum. I'm hoping to make another one based off of what I already have.

I didn't get to the consignment store yet, I'm actually at my garage sale as I type this. They say they're now accepting fall and winter consignments so I'm hoping I het something good, lol

[tallulahma]

we do hannah anderson and gymboree dresses with leggings. when we visit places colder- i put wool longies over tights.

i used to get all the clothes at a resale shop- or from a friend with a daughter exactly 1 year older... dressing children gets so expensive

[WindyCityMom]

I'm going to the thrift store today Hoping I find buried treasure.

Check out my thread in the sewing section... I'm hoping to make one of those bunting suits from wool

Here it is
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...9#post15759879