When it's 80-degrees and sunny outside, writing about snow seems almost ironic. But that's exactly the dilemma. How do you prepare your little one for snow when she's so used to wearing swimsuits and slippers year-round?
Although borrowing from friends is an option, we usually prefer buying brand-new since she'd most likely be using the gear for several snow trips. Hawaii does have a few stores that sell winter attire, like Old Navy, but with limited options, we filled our digital shopping carts instead.
Where to look? Amazon and Target were our most-frequented sites. Both have a wide selection, but an easy return policy was most important for us, since Liv couldn't try on the clothes before buying. I would typically order two different sizes at the same time and return the one that didn't fit. For Amazon, we'd drop off the item at a nearby UPS store, while for Target, we'd go to their customer service counter. Both very easy, no questions asked (with the original tags still attached, of course).
What to get? While it's tempting to go overboard when buying cold-weather gear, we stuck to the basics, and by basics, we mean layers! From the bottom layer and up, thermal underwear, leggings and thick shin-high socks were key to setting the foundation.
Then came the cute outer stuff, like chunky sweaters and a waterproof coat and snow pants. For a good deal, Amazon sells matching beanies, scarves and mittens as bundled sets. We'd recommend looking for fleece-lined attire whenever possible. Waterproof coats and boots were also important!
And although tempting to buy snow gear that's a size or two larger, for your little one to grow into, it's probably best to stick to actual sizing. We initially bought a snow bib and jacket one size too big, leaving Liv swimming in it and thus, not keeping in the warmth. Most snow attire fits loosely, so you shouldn't have a problem if you're hoping to make them last a few uses.
Were we snow-ready? Thankfully, yes! This was her second trip, and our little one handled the cold winter weather very well. (Touching the snow for the first time was another story!) We were initially concerned that she wouldn't want to wear all those layers and extra accessories because when we'd try them on her in Hawaii, she'd immediately peel them off. The frigid weather definitely changed her mind once we got there.
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