Dressing Children for Cold and Wet Weather

FAMILY · GLOBAL

Dressing Children for Cold and Wet Weather

The layer system, waterproof ratings, sizing and keeping them warm

Children get cold faster than adults because they have more surface area relative to their body mass, and they rarely say anything until they are miserable. The layering system is what prevents it.

Three layers, each with one job

A base layer against the skin to move moisture away. A middle layer to trap warm air. An outer shell to block wind and rain.

Cotton has no place in any of them. It holds moisture and stops insulating when damp, which is exactly what happens to a child playing outside.

Waterproof ratings

Look for a stated hydrostatic head in millimetres and taped seams. Around 5,000 is adequate for everyday school use; 10,000 and above suits sustained play in wet snow.

Breathability matters as much as waterproofing, since a child who cannot vent heat ends up wet from the inside.

Extremities

Hands, feet and head account for a large share of comfort. Mittens are warmer than gloves for young children because the fingers share heat. Wool socks rather than cotton, and boots with room to wiggle toes.

Boots that are too tight restrict circulation and make feet colder, which is a common mistake when sizing over thick socks.

Sizing

Outerwear should allow layers underneath without being so large that cold air circulates. Adjustable cuffs, hems and straps let one size last longer.

Check hoods have a safe fastening rather than a drawstring at the neck, which is an entanglement hazard.

Checking whether they are warm

Feel the back of the neck or the chest rather than the hands and feet, which are normally cooler. Cold and pale skin, shivering or unusual quietness means going inside.

Buying to last

Children outgrow outdoor gear before they wear it out, which makes second-hand excellent value and resale worth doing. Check zips, seams and any taped seams inside before buying anything second-hand.

Adjustable cuffs and hems and a longer back stretch a single size across two seasons.

Caring for waterproofs

Wash with a technical cleaner rather than detergent, skip fabric softener entirely, and reproof when water stops beading rather than replacing the garment.

Snow and wet play

Waterproof mittens rather than gloves, and a neck tube rather than a scarf, since a tube cannot catch on anything, and a spare complete set of clothes in the bag.

Change children out of wet clothes promptly, since staying wet is what turns cold weather into a real problem.

Car seats

Never fasten a child into a car seat wearing a thick coat, since the harness cannot be tightened correctly and the padding compresses in a crash.

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