In the UK, the weather can be quite unpredictable, but that’s one of the things we love about our little island, right? Getting sun, rain and even a spot of sleet on the same day certainly keeps things interesting! And we're predicting that we'll have mixed weather during half term...
Our friends at Muddy Puddles are rainwear experts for children and their mission is to keep little explorers comfortable, dry and snuggly no matter what the weather is like. And that’s why we’ve partnered with them, as our Bundle Beds are perfect for campers who like to stay cosy! Together we’re passionate about helping families enjoy the outdoors, even when the weather isn’t as warm as you might like.
Inspired by the natural world, the Muddy Puddles team love to be outside even on chillier days. But they know that it’s not as easy to get outdoors when you’ve got little ones because cooler temperatures mean more planning. The good news is that it’s not as difficult as you might think to dress for cold days, and it only takes a few core essentials to stay warm. They've got some top tips on how to keep your children warm when it’s cold outside...
Carry Snacks… More Snacks
Every parent quickly learns the value of carrying snacks for their children - an adventure quickly drains energy reserves, and a hangry child isn’t fun for anyone.
Take that idea and multiply it when the weather is chilly. It takes more energy for the body to maintain its core temperature when it’s cold, so your children will need even more snacks than usual.
If you’ve got room in your bag, a flask with some hot chocolate will go down a treat and encourage them to play out for longer.
Emergency Handwarmers
If you’re dressed properly for the cold weather - we’ll get to that in a minute - you shouldn’t really need hand warmers. But we all know that things don’t always go to plan, and a glove dropped in a puddle can leave little fingers feeling the chill.
Handwarmers don’t take up much space and are perfect to break out as a backup. If you’ve got a long walk back and hands are cold, hand warmers will stop the complaints long enough to get home.
Proper Clothing
Staying warm in the winter isn’t just about piling on as many layers as you can fit. Not only will your little one look like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, but they’ll also overheat quite quickly.
If you put the wrong type of clothing on your child or too many layers, they’ll overheat and start sweating. And sweat is one of the fastest ways to end up feeling cold…leading to an uncomfortable and unhappy child.
So how should you dress for cooler days out? Here’s what you need:
- A good base layer, like a thermal. Wool or synthetics are better as they wick sweat away from the body. Cotton stays wet for longer and can cause chills so it’s not ideal next to the skin
- A loose, puffy mid layer traps air and retains heat while also being breathable. A fleece or gilet is perfect for this. If it’s very cold, you might need two mid layers.
- The shell is all about protection from the elements. Look for a coat, trousers or all-in-one that’s waterproof, windproof and won’t let in trickles or leaks.
- Ski socks and insulated snow boots will stop the cold radiating up through the ground to your child’s feet.
- Gloves or mittens on the hands are an essential. Gloves can be harder to put on younger children but the lack of dexterity with mittens can sometimes lead to them being sneakily taken off!
- A warm hat helps to keep the heat in and also protects little ears. A woolly hat beneath a raincoat will keep your child warm and dry.
- Neckwarmers, scarves or balaclavas are all good additions, but it depends on how cold the weather is - you might not always need all of these.
Winter clothing that protects your child should keep them warm without making them sweaty, so they won’t be inclined to discard their layers the minute your back is turned! A comfortable child will be happy to play outside for much longer and a happy child means a happy parent, so that’s got to be a win!
We're big fans of the Muddy Puddles clothing range, and would highly recommend their kids waterproofs, wellies and children's outer layers, whatever the weather.
We've got an amazing Half Term Challenge full of activities for the kids that they can do inside or out, and it's FREE to access them!
And if you're keep to keep the kids warm, take a look at our top tips for keeping cosy under canvas.