The Best Winter Hiking Layers for Babies and Toddlers

Winter can be an incredible time of year to hike, even with kids, if you are prepared for the temperatures. I have put together a list of the best winter hiking layers for babies and toddlers. I’ve used many of these layers for multiple seasons for my kids and I have found them to hold up incredibly well. As a winter hiking fanatic who takes her kids out on snowy adventures multiple days a week, you can trust that these winter hiking layers are good.

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Why Merino Wool?

Merino wool is one of the most incredible clothing materials out there with some amazing qualities. So if you’ve ever wondered if the price was worth it, here is a list of reasons why it will benefit your kids in the outdoors:

• It is temperature regulating: When the temperature is cold, the way the fibers bend keep air trapped inside and help insulate you. But when it’s warm, the fibers will wick away sweat keeping you cool.
• It is moisture wicking: The fibers of merino wool are porous and will wick away sweat and moisture away from skin as a vapor. This differs from synthetic fibers that only wick away moisture once it’s a liquid leaving you feeling sweaty and clammy.
• It layers well: Since merino wool wicks away moisture while it’s still a vapor, it transports the moisture from one merino wool layer to the next without anything getting in between and stopping it.
• It is odor resistant: The fibers absorb the bacteria causing odors and stop them from building up. This means they can be worn multiple times without smelling. My kids have had accidents in their merino wool and while it does need to be cleaned, it doesn’t smell! A seriously cool phenomenon.
• It provides UPF protection: You have to check with each clothing piece but Iksplor’s merino wool pieces offer UPF protection of 50. I love not having to lather my kids in sunscreen and it’s especially nice when my babies are under 6 months and can’t wear sunscreen.
• It is soft: Merino wool is finer than human hair which makes it very soft and not scratchy. Very important for kids since it is worn against the skin.

When looking for the best winter hiking layers for your babies and toddlers, you want to make sure they are going to be warm enough, yet not going to overheat. A good rule of thumb is to dress your little one like you would, plus an extra layer. If you have a toddler or child that is hiking a lot on their own, you may not need that extra layer depending on if they run warm or not. When dressing for winter hikes, layers are your friend. You want to start with a base layer, then add a mid layer, and top with a weatherproof outer layer.

Base Layer for Winter Hiking

The base layer is the piece of clothing worn against the skin. When you are out winter hiking, you want to use a material that is not cotton as cotton holds onto moisture, keeps you chilled, and could lead to hypothermia. I almost solely dress my kids (and myself) in merino wool and find it to be the best winter hiking base layers for babies and toddlers because of the amazing benefits.

When the temperatures are a little more mild, I like to use the baby Iksplor 2 piece set as it is a little bit thinner. It is 100% merino wool, breathable, and comes in plenty of cute colors.

When it’s really cold, I love the Iksplor Adventure Onesie. It’s a zip up and a little thicker than the 2 piece set. On their website, they call it a mid layer, but I use it as a base all the time. Of course you could put the 2 piece set underneath and treat the Adventure Onesie as a mid layer for extra warmth.

For my toddler, I use the Iksplor Kid Set which is the same 2 piece set for babies, just bigger. I love that it’s thin because as my toddler hikes more, he is exerting more energy on the trail and heats up a lot faster than a baby who is just sitting in the pack. If your toddler is also potty trained, it’s good to have a 2 piece set to make it easier to go to the bathroom.

Mid Layer for Winter Hiking

The mid layer traps in the heat to keep you insulated and warm and is important to wear when the temperatures are really cold. Iksplor has mid layers for both babies and toddlers. I already mentioned the Adventure Onesie that I like to use as a base layer for my babies, but it can be worn as a mid layer as it was intended. There is also the Kids Adventure Jogger Set for kids ages 2-12. This matching hoodie with joggers set is perfect worn by itself or over a base layer. The set is thicker than the base layers without inhibiting movement and my toddler loves wearing it. (pst..they have a matching set for adults too!)

Fleece buntings and pajamas are also a good mid layer option. If you are looking for a fleece mid layer for your baby, I like to find one that have has over feet and hands. This just adds to the warmth and helps them from loosing a mitten or bootie. Depending on how cold it gets where you are hiking, fleece buntings can be your outer layer as well. In the fall here in Utah, I usually just have my babies in an Iksplor merino wool base layer and a fleece bunting.

• Columbia Fleece Bunting: This fleece layer is perfect for babies since it has the fold over hands and feet and they can crawl around in the dirt without you having to worry about it getting worn out.
• Reima Fleece Jumpsuit: This is my current favorite for my toddler. Since he is older, he does not need the fold over hands and feet as that would be impractical. It is very soft, but abrasion resistant. And it is tapered in the back so it doesn’t get in the way of him scrambling around and it honestly looks really cute.
• North Face Thermoball Bunting: This one is more similar to the Columbia bunting but warmer. If you live somewhere extremely cold and need and extra warm bunting this would be great. Or on the flip side, it’s not as cold and only need a fleece outer layer, this could be perfect.

Outer Layer for Winter Hiking

The outer layer should be a material that will protect your child from the weather conditions. So if it is snowing or raining, it should be waterproof. If it’s windy, it should be able to break the wind. I have used a few different outer layers for my kids.

• Reima Baby Kettula Bunting: This is the bunting I have for my baby this winter. It is waterproof and extremely well insulated. It has fold over hands but only buttons at the feet.
• Columbia Snuggly Bunny Bunting: I used this bunting for 2 winters with my oldest. It has fold over hands and feet and down filled. It is water resistant so if my son crawled around in the snow a lot or if the snow was wet, it would wet out over time. But it was very warm and easy for my kid to walk around in when he got a little older.
• Reima Gotland Snowsuit: This is the snowsuit I have for my toddler this winter. It is waterproof and well insulated. It is breathable as well which is great as he hikes a lot on his own. He has no problem running around in it and the fur hood helps block the wind as well.

Accessories for Winter Hiking

Keeping your kids hands, feet, and head warm are just as important as their body so don’t forget these important pieces of gear for winter hiking layers for babies and toddlers.

Hands

Gloves and mittens can be tricky for kids as their hands are so little, it’s hard to keep them on. Also, kids don’t always like having their hands restricted and can make it extra tricky to keep them covered and warm. For my baby and toddler, I have had the most success with mittens that come up high towards their elbows.

Mittens are also warmer than gloves because the fingers are able to share body warmth with the whole hand. It does restrict dexterity, but it’s not as big of a deal when they are little. It also helps if they are holding a small toy they love inside the mitten.

Another option for babies is to buy layers with fold over hands. This way you don’t have to worry about their gloves/mittens falling off mid hike. When it’s really cold, I put mittens on my baby and then fold the hands over for extra warmth and to ensure the mittens don’t fall off.

• Reima Tassu Mittens: These are the mittens I have for my baby this winter. They have zippers up the side so they are easy to put on and come up to her elbow. They are waterproof and insulated
• Reima Ote Mittens: These are the mittens I have for my toddler this winter. They have an adjustable cinch around the wrists to help keep them stay on. They come up to about mid arm. They are waterproof and insulated as well as abrasion resistant which is great for my toddler.
• Stonz Mittens: These are the mittens I used for my toddler last winter. They have a cinch around the wrist and the top of the gauntlet so they always stayed on. These baby ones though don’t have the the thumb hold which was fine since he never would have used it

Feet

Footwear will again depend on the age of your child and how much hiking/playing they are doing on their own. For my babies, depending on how cold it was, sometimes just thick wool socks and their fold over feet on their buntings was sufficient. But I prefer using some kind of insulated bootie when it was really cold

• Reima booties: I got these booties for my baby this year and love them. They are waterproof and insulated keeping her toes warm. The sole is a thicker fabric but not firm so it doesn’t affect her foot development.
• Stonz bootie liners: For babies that aren’t walking, you can often times skip shoes. I liked these fleece liners over socks. They add warmth, but if you need even more, Stonz does make a baby bootie.
• Wool socks: I bought these socks when my toddler was a baby and they are going on their 3rd winter. They are really thick and warm.

For my toddler that is walking, wool socks with waterproof and insulated boots is the best way to keep his feet warm.

• See Kai Run Boots: These are the boots I used for my toddler last winter. They come in a variety of sizes. The boot is waterproof and fleece lined.
• Reima Kids Boots: These are the boots I got for my toddler this winter. The smallest size is size toddler 8. They are waterproof and insulated with a wool/fleece blend. The sole is thicker than the See Kai Run Boots.
• Iksplor Wool Socks: I love wool socks for my kids and these are thin which is good so the feet don’t feel restricted in the boots. They also have rubber grips on the bottom so kids don’t slip while walking around the house.

Head

Keeping your kids head, ears, and neck warm is important in keeping them happy out in freezing temperatures. There are a few different options that I like. A lot of times a beanie is sufficient in keeping them warm from the neck up.

• Iksplor Beanie: This merino wool beanie is amazing. It is thin but warm. I particularly love having my kids sleep in it when we camp in colder temperatures. My toddler has also worn it under his bike helmet (wearing anything underneath a bike helmet can compromise its safety) to keep his ears warm.
• Carhartt Kids Beanie: This is a classic beanie that is warm and cute.

If it’s particularly cold and/or windy I love pairing a beanie with a the Iksplor Neckie. This helps keep the cold off of their neck and from creeping down their bunting opening. Another great option is a balaclava. This is like a beanie and buff in one. Balaclavas are warm and they don’t slip off as easily as a beanie.

• Iksplor Neckie: A very versatile piece of gear. Mostly my kids wear this around their neck to help keep them extra warm. But I have also folded it into a beanie when I’ve forgotten theirs. You can also pull it up over their head to form a makeshift balaclava. I also love it for my baby if she is drooling to wipe her chin so it doesn’t get too cold.
• Reima Balaclava: A thick, warm balaclava is very effective in keeping kids warm in the winter. There are no gaps so the heat gets trapped.

Pack Cover

One piece of gear that you may not think about as a winter hiking layer for babies and toddlers is the rain cover for your framed carrier. It is extremely effective in keeping your little one warm and blocked from the wind. The rain cover is waterproof meaning it is not as breathable and will trap in heat. If it’s very windy or cold I will throw this on my pack even if there isn’t any moisture falling to help keep them insulated.

If you have a soft structured carrier, the Ergobaby All Weather Cover works great in helping insulate your little one from the elements. I definitely think of these covers as essential winter hiking layers for babies and toddlers.

If you found this list of Best Winter Hiking Layers for Babies and Toddlers helpful, be sure to check out my other posts on Winter Hiking with Kids!