How to Dress Baby for Winter Activities
It’s fall in the Rocky Mountains, which means there may be many snowstorms and cold snaps coming our way soon. With that in mind, it is time to get your baby equipped for the long winter ahead! Here is what we recommend:
Base Layer: Synthetic/Merino Wool Thermal Sets
Avoid cotton base layers. Instead, opt for synthetic or wool materials as they move perspiration away from the skin, keeping the body warm in cold temperatures. Mountain Littles carries Aegi Baby Thermal Base Layer sets in a variety of beautiful colours at an affordable price. They are quick-drying and keep your baby’s body warmer by an average of 1.5°C. Plus, they are so soft to the touch! If your budget is a little higher, I highly recommend purchasing some Wee Woollies. Their base layer sets and zip sleepers are made from sustainably-sourced NZ merino wool and fashioned right here in Canada. Truly: nothing compares to the feel, comfort and effectiveness of merino!
Mid-Layer: Fleece Layer
A fleece bunting suit covers your baby from head-to-toe for extra warmth and coziness. We specifically enjoyed our Patagonia Infant Micro-D Fleece Bunting Suit and our MEC Ursus Bunting Suit. They both offered full-length zippers for quick diaper changes, and the fold-over cuffs provided coverage for baby’s hands.
Outer-Layer:
Down Suit:
Last, but definitely not least: a down bunting suit will provide maximum warmth. We all swooned over our Patagonia Infant Hi-Loft Down Sweater Bunting Suits, and had our babies twinning in different colours. They were thick, well-insulated and windproof, and had two full length zippers for easy on/off. They are purposefully designed to be longer than average, with fold-over mitt and foot cuffs, to help keep babies’ extremities protected whether crawling, standing or sitting. (Keep in mind: my large 16-month old still fits in his 6-12M suit).
Snow Suit:
Now that our babies are way more mobile than last winter, we have opted for snow suits to keep them warm and dry. We have tested our Patagonia Baby Snow Pile One-Piece on Indy in snowy Kananaskis Country recently, and I am extremely satisfied! It is fully waterproof, seam-sealed and insulated, so it is designed to stay warm even when wet. It also has elastic mitt and foot cuffs, with an additional elastic foot strap to prevent snow from entering down below.
Extras:
Toque
Mitts:
The STONZ Baby Mitts claim to be the “warmest mittens on the market”. They are extremely easy to put on, but more importantly: they stay on due to their adjustable toggles. Furthermore, they are waterproof and wind-resistant.
Footwear:
For non-walkers, the STONZ Winter Booties are the perfect footwear! They are soft, fleece-lined booties that have a wide berth to slip on easily over layers and/or socks, and an adjustable toggle to tighten them once on.
For walkers, I would recommend sturdier boots. Indy has a pair of SOREL Snow Commander Boots that have a good grip on icy surfaces, aside from being waterproof, fleece-lined and warm as can be!
The Facebook Marketplace offers a plethora of these items for a fraction of the retail price. In fact, I would suggest keeping your eyes on it year-round to snatch good deals on items that will fit your baby in upcoming seasons. I’ve already got Indy’s first pair of snow bibs for the ski hill, and he’s barely walking!
Stay warm! Happy winter trails to you.
