Hellobee

Charlie outgrew most of his clothes from last winter, so I’ve been stocking up on a new winter wardrobe.  He was a winter baby born in December, so we’ve been through a winter as an infant and a winter as a toddler.    These are some of the essentials that helped us survive!

1. Hat – A warm hat that covers the ears and secures under the chin with velcro is an absolute winter must.  Old Navy has some really great affordable fleece hats that Charlie wore all last winter.

2. Baby Legs – These socks can provide an extra layer of warmth under pants, and they make diaper changes easy since they’re only worn on the legs.  There are a million different designs for you to choose from.

3. Bunting – This Gap bunting allows you to separate the legs, or keep it in one piece.  When Charlie was a newborn and we needed to go to the pediatrician in the snow, we stuck him inside one of these super snuggly buntings.

4. Snow Boots – Charlie wasn’t walking well enough last winter to justify buying snow boots, but we’re definitely going to need them this year.  Sorel, North Face, and Kamuk are great brands, but Target also carries some very affordable snow boots as well.

5. Mommy Mitten – This is a fleece lined hand muff that goes on your stroller handles so  you don’t have to take your gloves on and off when you’re pushing the stroller.  I hate wearing gloves so I loved using this all last winter.  For a little splurge, the Teutonia Handmuff looks even snugglier!

6. Mittens – Charlie never kept his mittens on so he never wore them last winter, but maybe this year will be different because he’ll want to play in the snow.

7. Mitten Clips – If your child will wear mittens, he or she will inevitably lose one of them, unless you secure them to their jacket with mitten clips.

8. 7AM Enfant Blanket 212 Evolution – Initially I bought the foot muff that was made for our City Mini, but it only covered the lower half of Charlie’s body.  The 7AM Enfant Blankets definitely looked like the warmest foot muff around, but I couldn’t justify paying almost $200 for one.  Luckily I was able to buy one in great condition for $80 off my local parenting listserv.  We had a particularly grueling winter last year, and this was an absolute essential.  The JJ Cole foot muffs are also a popular, more affordable option.  One piece of advice I’d give you is to opt for the toddler size since the infant size won’t last you too long.

9. Puffy Jacket – Another winter must.  Charlie had many jackets, but he wore his puffy jacket over 90% of the time.

10. Rain Cover – A rain cover shields your child from not only the rain, but also snow and wind.

One last tip — apply aquaphor on your baby’s cheeks before going outside in the cold to prevent chapping.

What are some of your winter gear essentials?