Children
Now that the days are getting shorter, and the cool autumn breeze is setting in, it’s a good time to
consider how the change to cold weather can present some unique challenges in your child’s
wardrobe. As if getting the little ones groomed and ready weren’t difficult enough, now you have to
figure out how to keep your child warm without making them feel like an overstuffed burrito. Too
many layers can restrict your child’s movement, and stiff, stuffy clothing can leave children feeling
uncomfortable and irritated.
When dressing your child it is important to remember that the goal of layers is to keep your child
warm and to protect them from cold weather. The key to properly dressing your child for cold
weather is to understand how to use warm clothes. Dressing your child for cold weather doesn’t
necessarily mean over bundling them. There is a science to dressing your child for the cold, and it all
begins with understanding body heat basics and the art of layering.
Body Heat Basics:
Heat moves out of your body, particularly from the head, and warms the air around it. Warm clothes
help protect you from cold weather by keeping body heat close to your skin. When dressing your
child for cold weather, keep in mind these helpful yet simple facts.

• Fifty percent of body heat is lost through the top of your head. You also lose heat from
your neck, armpits, and the sides of your chest. Buy your child neck warmers, scarves, and
hats to protect them in the cold weather. Try to avoid synthetic fabrics that irritate skin.
Instead opt for a cotton scarf and hat to provide both warmth and comfort.

• Layering improperly can leave you wet and sweaty, causing you to feel cold even when
bundled. Choose light-weight materials and avoid heavy layering with synthetics.

• When your head and body are warm, your heart pumps more warm blood to hands and
feet. Always make sure your child is wearing a hat and opt for mittens instead of gloves.
Mittens keep little hands warmer by allowing more warm air to circulate around the fingers.
Invest in a pair with elasticized wrists for added warmth and protection.
The Art of Layering:
Children tend to be fairly more active than adults, and all that running around and playing leads to
fluctuating temperatures. They quickly get hot when playing, but the minute the fun stops, they get
cold again. Show your children how to add layers when they are cold and take off layers when they
get too warm. Functional layering such as wearing a hooded corduroy jacket, over a cotton
cardigan, and classic white tee, can help your child decide which layer to remove before they get all
hot and sweaty. Remember, dressing your child in too many layers can cause them to sweat
excessively, causing them to feel cold regardless of how many layers they are wearing.
Dressing your child in layers allows warm air to get trapped between the garments. This allows for
better insulation and will help keep your child warm. However, be aware of the items you are
layering. Layering several light garments has proven to be more effective than a single heavy layer
of clothing. Choose a light-weight material like cotton for layering. When worn alone, a cargo canvas
jacket may not be enough to keep your child warm during the fall season. However, when worn
over a long sleeve tee and cotton sweater, a cargo jacket can be highly effective in protecting your
child from the season’s cold weather.
Other Cold Weather Tips:

• Thick corduroy pants help keep your child’s legs and tush warm

• When dressing your child look for styles that are hooded to protect the head and neck,
cuffed at the wrists to stop cold air from going up the sleeves, and have pockets to hold your
child’s mittens and keep hands warm.