How to dress your toddler for winter adventures

When we first moved here a year ago, I loved summer! We had so much fun exploring with the sun on our backs and our toes in the river. When winter came, I struggled hard to find a balance between finding happiness inside a home all winter. I am not a home-body by any means. I go stir crazy if I am stuck in my house more than 1 day. Last winter was rough because I "couldn't" take my son outside to explore because it was so cold. Emphasis on couldn't. I thought I "couldn't'... but I lacked the knowledge to know that I could, I just had to change my perspective and planning. We came from a tropical climate where the weather year round was 86 degrees so we never had to plan going outside. Well I read other blogs and educated myself on getting outside with toddlers in winter and what I learned was simply layering... Us New Mexicans never get outside in the winter because "it's too cold". I learned quickly that all it takes is extra planning and lots of layering. I wasted an entire winter outside because of ignorance. This winter, we have so many plans to explore more New Mexican treasures and we will be cozy and warm with all of our layers.

Here's some tips and tricks for layering as well as our favorite brands.

1. Thermal Base layers

2. Mid Layer- Sweater and sweatpants (Kai doesn't like this layer, he overheats since he is so active so this is totally up to you and your little one.)

3. Wool Socks

4. Snow Suit-Jacket and Pants

5. Snow Boots

6. Beanie and Snow Gloves (We also use a balaclava sometimes when Kai refused to keep his beanie on.)

The clothing items were bought on Amazon for a fraction of the price of other brands. I don't know about you, but Kai outgrows clothes sometimes every 6 months so I can't invest a lot of money in clothes. These Amazon picks are just as warm and durable as other brand name items and they were friendlier on our wallet. :) His snow boots we found at Target for $15!

Same applies for grownups!

Kai doesn't tell us if he's cold or hot yet so I have to over dress him and watch for signs of overheating (exhaustion, flushed face, sometimes he will pull at his clothes). I'd rather him be too warm than cold.

I hope this helps! :)

Lea