As autumn progresses, the days get shorter, the nights get longer and the weather gets more bitter, and as a result, it is time to start putting away the light summer clothes and get out thicker, warmer handmade girls dresses and tights.
Besides making sure your little ones stay healthy and avoid the shivers, winter clothing needs to be more robust, hard-wearing, thicker, and ideally be paired with accessories to stop heat escaping via the head and neck.
Here are some top tips when choosing your children’s clothes this winter.
Try Layering
One winter wear trick you see hikers often take full advantage of is the power of layers. Rather than wearing one or two very thick items, wear multiple thin layers instead that your little ones can put on and take off if they start to get too warm.
If your child is under five, follow the golden rule that they should wear one more layer than an adult would.
Give Your Kid Some Choice
Kids love having agency and independence, and if you have the chance to develop their sense of style and opinions, by all means do so. You learn more about them, and they get to learn more about what they like and do not like.
If your child has a favourite colour or colours, try and pick clothes in those colours, as they will enjoy wearing them, take better care of them and they will often look really nice on them.
Obviously, if they want to wear something inappropriate for the season, it is important to shut that down, and the easiest way to let them down gently is to offer them a choice of suitable clothes rather than enforcing your own choice.
After all, the best accessory for any outfit is a smile.
Quality Over Quantity
Winter is a rough month for clothes. Wind, snow and rain can cause them to sag, and they will need more washing, which can be tough on cheaper brands.
Instead, choose clothes made with quality and sustainability in mind, as they will get a lot more wear out of them and have a greater chance of surviving until spring.
As well as this, pick clothes that fit well, to make sure it is not stretched or snagged out. Some brands will even have “grow with you” designs that allow for an outfit to keep being worn even as they grow.
Accessorise
In especially cold weather, it is vital to make sure they have the right accessories to protect their extremities too. Put on heavier socks or tights, insulating boots, a pair of gloves and a hat to keep their forehead warm.
The fingertips and the forehead are the most temperature-sensitive parts of the body, and so when the weather gets very cold, they will be the parts that start to feel it quicker.
Stick To Natural Fibres
Natural fibres tend to be the most breathable textiles that help your child’s body to regulate their body temperature, so stick to cotton and wool clothes as much as possible unless you are buying an actual waterproof coat or jacket.