How to Dress Your Baby for Winter Hiking

So, what should your baby wear when winter hiking? Possibly the most stressful part of taking your baby out for a hike in the winter is how to dress your baby for winter hikes. You want to make sure they’re warm enough and dry enough, yet not going to overheat. There is a simple solution to knowing your baby is comfortable, and that is: dress your baby like you would, plus an extra layer. When dressing for winter hikes, layers are your friend. You want to start with a base layer, mid layer, and weatherproof layer.

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Base Layer

 The base layer is the piece of clothing worn against the skin. For their base layers, you want to use a material that is not cotton. Polyester, bamboo, merino wool are all good options. Cotton holds onto moisture and keeps you chilled. I personally have my little guy wear the Iksplor Merino Wool base layers. You can use the code HAILEYOUTSIDE for 10% off.

I love merino wool because of all of its many benefits. It regulates body temperature, is odor resistant, wicks away moisture, and it’s the softest of all wool materials!

Mid Layer

The mid layer helps keep you insulated and warm. For this layer, I love to use fleece. Fleece jammies are a great option. They’re not expensive and you probably already have a few pairs lying around. One thing to note, if they are footed jammies, you might want to put on socks first to make dressing them a little easier.

Weatherproof Layer

This is a layer that will change depending on the weather. You can use a fleece bunting, a down bunting, a snowsuit that is waterproof. When it’s winter, and freezing outside (literally) I love having my baby in a down bunting. I use the Columbia Snuggly Bunny Bunting. It’s water resistant, but warm and windproof. It has fold over hands and feet which are perfect since he’s not walking. In combination with his base and mid layers, he stays plenty warm.

Extremities

Hands, feet, and head are all important to cover and keep warm in the winter. As I mentioned above, I love a bunting that has fold over hands and feet. When your kiddo is too young to walk, they don’t necessarily need shoes to keep them warm. I use a pair of wool socks underneath the fleece jammies and his feet stayed tucked in the bunting.

For their heads, a beanie is perfect. I love the kids’ Carhartt beanie. The toddler size has worked for my little guy since he was 6 months old. And lastly, if it’s windy, a fleece or polyester buff is a great way to keep their little faces warm.     

All of these are an important part of how to dress your baby for winter hikes. Every hike might vary depending on the weather that day. And when you get to the trailhead, it might be totally different than it was at your house. So bring options so you can dress them correctly for that hike. 

This layering system will help you be prepared and you can know with confidence how to dress your baby in the winter.

For other winter hiking resources, check out my posts here!