7 Free Ways To Keep Kids Warm in the Winter

These 7 ways to keep your kids warm in the winter are free and easy to implement so your kids stay happy and warm on your next winter adventure.

I love getting out all winter long with my kids and keeping them warm and dry (and safe) is my number one priority. While I have invested in good layers that do a great job, there are a few additional things I find that really help keep my kids warm.

Often times we think we need to buy something thicker, or a more expensive material. And while that may solve the problem, often times just making a few adjustments to the clothes they already have will make a difference.

Even if we have the warmest clothes on, if snow gets in their boot, a draft runs down their jacket, or they’re hungry, the clothes don’t matter and my kids get cold.

Here are 7 ways to keep your kids warm in the winter that won’t cost you anything extra.

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How To Keep Your Kids Warm In the Winter

Layer Them Properly

The most important way to keep kids warm in the winter is layering. When layering your kids for a winter adventure, you typically dress them in 3 layers: The base layer, mid layer, and outer layer. You may not need all three layers depending on the temperature but it’s a good baseline.

You usually want to dress your baby/toddler who isn’t walking in one extra layer than what you’re wearing. So if you’re wearing a base layer and down jacket, you can dress your baby in a base layer, fleece mid layer, and their snow suit.

When choosing what clothing you should use for these layers, you want to make sure they are made of materials that will keep your kid warm and dry. Some examples of good materials to use are wool, polyester, bamboo, etc. Avoid cotton as it holds onto moisture and will make you colder and can lead to hypothermia.

When you are out and about, make sure you are checking on them throughout your hike or activity. You don’t want them to get too cold or too hot. You may need to add or remove layers depending on how they are feeling.

Heat up their Accessories Before Going Outside

When I drive up to a hike, I like to throw my kids’ socks and gloves (and sometimes boots) up on the car dash and crank the defrost heater. This way their accessories get nice and toasty.

When hands and feet start off cold, they have a hard time being able to warm up. But when you put on already warm gloves and socks, their hands start off warm and are more likely to stay warm.

Pull Their Snow Pants Over the Top of Their Boots

While your kids might have very cute snow boots, it’s best to keep their pants over the tops of their boots. This keeps the snow from getting into their boots and subsequently keeps their feet warm and dry.

Some snow pants even comes with a stirrup, so if yours does, make sure to pull that underneath the boot in the middle of the foot to help keep the pants down.

If you have the Reima snowsuits, they have the silicone stirrup which are also adjustable in length as your kids get taller and they are also removable.

Cover their Neck

While this may seem insignificant, having an exposed neck can make you much colder especially if it’s windy. A neck warmer or balaclava will keep snow and windy drafts from going down their jacket and keep them much warmer.

If you don’t already own one, you can sew together a tube of fabric to make your own or cut the top off of an old beanie. I recommend using fleece, polyester, or merino wool so on the chance it gets wet, it won’t make them colder.

Keep Their Mittens On

Kid’s mittens can be one of the trickiest clothing items to get them to keep on. But once the gloves come off, it can lead to very cold hands quickly which can be miserable.

One way I have found that helps keep my kids mittens on is to put them on before the snowsuit. This way, once the snow suit or snow jacket goes on, the cuff is trapped under the snow jacket and it’s harder to come off.

Have Your Kids Eat and Drink While They’re Out

Making sure your kids are hydrated and eating is a great way to help them stay warm. Not only will they be happier not being hungry, it actually makes their bodies warmer. Your body uses water to help maintain its proper temperature so if you are dehydrated, it can make you colder.

And eating food raises your body temperature though something called thermogenesis. This is the process of your body producing heat caused by the food you eat metabolizing.

So make sure they are drinking water (formula or breastmilk for your babies) and eating nutritious foods while out on your winter adventures. Hot chocolate or cider is always a fun treat and great way to warm up!

Take Breaks to Warm Up

This is mostly for those winter activities where your little ones are sitting (on a sled or in the ski trailer) or riding in the kid carrier. I like to take breaks, out of the wind, and get their little bodies moving. We jump around, make snow angels, whatever we need to to get their blood flowing and energy up.

If your kids are already moving a lot, make sure they aren’t getting too sweaty because when they do take a break to sit, this could lead to them getting cold.

7 Free Ways To Keep Kids Warm in the Winter