How to Dress Your Baby for a Winter Hike

A very common question I get asked is “How do I dress my baby for a winter hike?” That is a great question because you want to make sure they’re warm enough and dry enough, yet not going to overheat. Young babies are not able to regulate their body temperature, so it’s your job as the parent to check on them regularly to make sure that they are at a comfortable temperature.

Winter hiking with a baby may sound intimidating and you may even hear people say it’s unsafe. But if you are prepared, your baby is healthy, and you use your good judgement, there is no reason you should stay inside all winter with your baby! The fresh air and light is so good for both of you so make sure you get out on the trail.

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How To KNow IF Your Baby is Warm Enough

There is a simple solution to knowing your baby is warm enough on a winter hike, and that is: Dress your baby like you would, plus an extra layer. The extra layer is because they are not moving much so they aren’t exerting the same energy that you are. This is a general rule of thumb but you should check on them often to make sure they are layered up correctly.

Throughout your hike, check on them to make sure they are warm enough. It’s also important to note that you should make sure they aren’t so warm that they are sweating. Young babies aren’t able to regulate their body temperature so they can overheat if they are dressed too warm.

The best way to check their temperature is by feeling their chest or the top of their back. It should feel warm, not cold or hot and sweaty. Check their feet and hands as well. It’s okay if they are cool, but again, you don’t want them to be really cold or white.

When dressing for winter hikes, layers are your friend. You want to start with a base layer, mid layer, and weatherproof layer. Layers are important because if the temperatures change, you can add layers to warm up or take them off to cool down. This is why it’s important to regularly check on your baby to make sure they are staying at a comfortable and safe temperature.

Base Layer

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. It regulates body temperature, is odor resistant, wicks away moisture, and it’s the softest of all wool materials!
The Iksplor Merino Wool base layers are some of my favorites. You can use the code HAILEYOUTSIDE for 10% off.

Iksplor Baby 2 Piece Set: 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.
Discount Code: HAILEYOUTSIDE for 10% off

Iksplor Adventure Onesie: 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.
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Mid Layer

The mid layer traps in the heat to keep you insulated and warm and is important to wear when the temperatures are really cold. Fleece, merino wool, and down insulation all make great mid layer pieces.

Fleece jammies: Non Cotton pajamas are a great layering option. They’re not expensive and you probably already have a few pairs lying around. One thing to note: If they are footed pajamas, make sure they are not too tight otherwise they will restrict blood flow to the feet and make them colder.

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.

Tahti Fleece Jumpsuit: A fleece jumpsuit is a great staple to have in the winter. My kids wear them around the house or I will throw it on over their clothes when we go out for a non-snowy walk or outing. I love the cinched back so it’s not baggy and fits them great.
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Parvin Wool Jumpsuit: For my moms who love wool, this jumpsuit is one of my favorites. It’s a great mid layer that isn’t too thick so it doesn’t restrict movement, but has the wonderful wool properties we all love.
Reima Discount Code: Hailey20 for 20% off

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.

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 probably the best snowsuit my kids have ever worn. This one is for older babies as it does run big. 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.
Reima Discount Code: Hailey20 for 20% off

Patagonia Hi-Loft Down Bunting: This bunting is a cozy, full-body suit that’s made with recycled materials. It’s windproof and water-resistant. I love the double zipper to easily get baby in and out and for easy diaper changes.

Ergobaby All Weather Cover: 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

Extremities

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 buntings 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 the elbow. They are waterproof and insulated.
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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

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.

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.
Reima Discount Code: Hailey20

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.

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. The smallest size runs a little small and my kids usually need the next size up around 5 months old. Granted my kids do have big heads. 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.
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Carhartt Kids Beanie: This is a classic beanie that is warm and cute. The toddler size fit my baby great from the time he was about 6 months old.

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.
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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 on winter hiking with kids!

• 7 Free Ways to Keep Kids Warm in the Winter
• How I Dress my Toddler for a Mild Winter Hike
• What To Pack on Your Winter Hike | Essential Winter Hiking Gear