Cold weather clothes for 18-21 mo -- what do I need?

[oolongtea]

Do I need snowpants? Snow boots? We live in a city and most of our walking is sidewalks, but if it snows I'll take DS to play in it... but I'm not sure if I should spend $45 on snow pants from Gap/LL Bean and another $50 on snow boots. What if it doesn't snow much? Or if it does, but he doesn't like it? Or if he refuses to wear a hat so I can't let him play in it? At this age, are they really into snow?

It seems like toddler clothes are either full-on snow/ski wear or just jeans and fleece and non-waterproof shoes. I am unsure if I should get specialty snow stuff or not. But if I should, I feel I should get it soon because if I wait til Jan, it'll be summer clothes in the stores.

[Auraji]

I try to buy the most I can in thrift stores, consigment stores, goodwill, salvation army, etc. I also love ebay, something like a snow suit or snow boots, you can find in great condition.

My DD is 18M and I'm trying to figure out the hat, mittens situation, because she hates keeping them on. Last year I remember I got her snowsuit at TCP on sale, because it was already December. It was $16. I think and very cute. She used it like 5 times. We got a way lot of snow last year, I think if we get a lot of snow this year she'll use it more since she's more active, but of course I don't know if she'll like the snow. I haven't purchased one yet, I did get her a fleece bunting suit that I like a lot on Ebay and I'll wait until it is actually winter to get the snowsuit.

[bender]

The Target out here (CA) had toddler ski bibs for $12 or so. I picked up one, but am unsure if I should return it and just stick with a fleece snow suit I got last season? We'll probably only be in the snow 1 or 2 weekends, but I want my son to feel comfy and dry when playing in the snow. Does anyone know if the fleece suits stay dry with sledding and snow play?

[Tjej]

I just got a waterproof suit that can then be used in snow or in rain. For cold weather you put it on over layers of warm clothes.

MEC sells "newt suits", Mountainbaby (where I got mine) calls them something else - brand name "Tuffo", ebay for the UK has quite a few on there as "rain suit" or something similar.

I am sooo happy with my purchase. It doesn't solve your boot question, but I really like it and expect it to be very versatile.

Tjej

ETA: I second the thrift store idea. I also got a great pair of snowpants/overalls for $5 for if/when it is super cold).

As far as the fleece, I find fleece repels water well (although if it is windy it can be cold).

[Peony]

Fleece suits would only stay dry if the kid was on a sled and only not actually playing in the snow. Maybe for very short periods in very dry snow.

I have an 18m old right now, I buy good snowsuits for my older kids because they spend more time outside, but not for him. What I do is buy a cheap pair of snow pants, either thrift store or target cheap. Snow boots are a must for me because toddlers adore stomping around in the slush, or at least all of mine always have. I buy another cheap pair of these as well, and then I put on a pair of mittens. I now have a waterproof set for DS but for the girls I never did, I did have big jackets they wore so i would put fleece gloves on them (only set I had in that size)and then pull the sleeves far down so only the finger tips of the gloves were peeking out, fasten the wrist like that and send them off. At that age my kids just mostly like to stomp around and poke their hands in the snow so it worked. Once they get older then I start investing in good gear. Wait to put the hat on until the toddler has gloves on and then they can't get it off again easily.

[mckittre]

Well, my 20 month old has no choice but to be in the snow from now until May, so I'm in kind of a different situation.

There is something very handy about a snowsuit as a single-piece garment. I find it much easier to pop him straight from indoor clothes into the snowsuit (with hood) than to struggle with snow pants, a coat, and a hat. Mine is hand-me-down, and I would certainly look for used.

Last winter as a crawler, he wanted nothing to do with the snow. This winter we've had snow for less than a week, and he's already getting fairly comfortable with it, though he wants to come inside after maybe 30 min in snow. He likes wading through it, shoveling snow into his dump truck, and throwing handfuls around (though his thin gloves are a bit minimal for that).

[carmel23]

We don't get a lot of snow, but it is easier to just pop a toddler in a one piece with a zipper. We have fleece unisuits for when it is cold and dry, and we will use snow suits even if it is wet. But we play outside even when it is wet and cold... so it is easier just to put them in the suit- do our walk, and then come in and unzip the suit.

We had a puddle jumper suit that was great:

http://www.puddlejumpers.co.nz/Produ...e%20Splashsuit

And we also have rain pants/rain jacket for when it is wet but not too cold. It makes it way more pleasant to be outside if you can stay dry and warm.

[redvlagrl]

Last year we had a Gap jacket and snow pants plus a cheaper 1 piece suit. This eyar we just have the jacket and cheaper snow pants (they don`t get used as much).

[townelin]

Anybody use the mittens that come all the way up to kiddos elbows? There's some called L Bow. It seems like online is the only place to find them.

[just_lily]

I live in Canada, so I can't imagine not having a full snow suit.  Even if we aren't playing in the snow, the kids usually need snow pants for warmth if we are going for a walk. 

My DD has snow pants, snow jacket, hat, mitts and boots.  I've used scarves as well but they don't seem to add any warmth - her coat goes up to her chin. 

You really don't need to spend a fortune - unless you spend a LOT of time outside I can't see spending $100+ on winter gear for a toddler.  I think I paid about $15 for DD's boots, less than $10 for her hat and mitts together, and another pair of mitts for about $6.  I usually buy multiple hats and mitts because they are always going astray.  This year DD"s snow suit is a hand-me-down but I think I spent about $45 on her suit last year. 

I prefer a two-piece snowsuit so that we can use the jacket separately if we are going on a car trip or something.  But if you have a one-piece snowsuit and another jacket that would work too. 

As for boots, the most important thing for me is that they are easy to get on.  Nothing like trying to cram a kid's foot into a boot while they wiggle and scream to ruin your outing.  I prefer velcro over zippers, and make sure they open up really wide.

Anybody use the mittens that come all the way up to kiddos elbows? There's some called L Bow. It seems like online is the only place to find them.

I have a pair for DD that go nearly to her elbows, and have a zipper so you can unzip half of the hand part and get her thumb in it right.  We used the for the first time today (first real snowfall) and they were a bit of a pain to get on to be honest.  The first time I put them on after putting on her jacket and it was hard to get it adjusted.  The next time I put the mitts on first and then her coat and it was way easier.  She couldn't get them off herself afterwards, which made her mad but worked for me.  I just got them at Wal-Mart.

[redvlagrl]

I just bought DD's snow boots and we are very happy with them. They are Sorels and are v easy on and off. They cost $38 CAD, but my friend's MIL got some in the Us for $12 (same ones).

Mitts are definitely a drag for us. I love the look of those LBows ones - thanks townelin!

[Aubergine68]

Also Canadian here -- playing outside with toddlers when it is way below freezing.

One thing I have found that works pretty well and may give you more flexibility is a pair of rubbery waterproof rain pants one size too big, layered over fleece pants or jeans/leggings in the winter and then used in the spring for puddle jumping.  You may want to think ahead to spring puddles with the boots as well -- If you find a decent pair of warm boots that are truly waterproof, your tot could wear them in spring as rain boots, too.

Originally Posted by just_lily 

You really don't need to spend a fortune - unless you spend a LOT of time outside I can't see spending $100+ on winter gear for a toddler.  I think I paid about $15 for DD's boots, less than $10 for her hat and mitts together, and another pair of mitts for about $6.  I usually buy multiple hats and mitts because they are always going astray.  This year DD"s snow suit is a hand-me-down but I think I spent about $45 on her suit last year. 

Definitely put the money you save into multiple pairs of mitts -- I like to get each of my kids 3-4 pairs every year of the same kind, so we can substitute as they get lost.  I'm usually lucky if I have a full pair left in the spring.