Winter clothes for preschool: checklist and tips

Winter clothes for preschool essentially come down to five things: a wool or synthetic base layer, a fleece or wool mid-layer, a winter snowsuit (or an insulated jacket and snow pants), insulated waterproof winter boots, and several pairs of mittens, plus a windproof hat and a neck warmer instead of a scarf. Then put extra mittens, socks and a warm mid-layer in your child’s cubby, because a winter day at preschool almost always gets wet at some point.

Here’s the complete checklist of what should be kept where, how to dress for the weather, how to tell if your child is cold, and how to get clothes dry and back from the cloakroom.

Winter clothes for preschool: the complete list

The list is organized by where things should be kept, because that’s where things tend to go wrong: the snowsuit is at home drying when it’s needed, or the mittens are in the wrong cubby. The quantities are our suggestions for a child who goes outside every day. Feel free to ask the preschool if they have their own list; many groups do, and some have specific requests, for example, for insulated or uninsulated rain gear.

On the child every day

• Wool, wool-blend or synthetic base layer (top and long underwear)
• Soft indoor clothes on top: sweatpants and a sweater, not jeans
• Wool socks or thick wool socks
• Winter snowsuit, or insulated jacket and snow pants
• Insulated, waterproof winter boots with Velcro or a zipper
• Windproof hat that covers the ears
• Neck warmer (pull-on balaclava) that goes over the head
• Insulated mittens
• Reflective vest or reflectors on outerwear

On the hook or in the cubby at preschool

• Shell pants and a shell jacket, or rain gear, to wear over clothes when it’s slushy
• 2 extra pairs of mittens, preferably one thinner and one thicker pair
• 1 pair of waterproof mittens (rubberized or shell) for wet snow
• 1 thin hat to wear under the thick one when it’s really cold
• Fleece or wool sweater as an extra mid-layer
• Extra insoles for winter boots

In the cubby (spare clothes)

• 2 pairs of underwear or bodysuits
• 2 pairs of socks and 2 pairs of wool socks
• 2 pairs of long underwear or tights
• 2 pairs of pants and 2 sweaters
• 1 thick wool or fleece sweater
• 1 extra neck warmer
• Indoor slippers or non-slip socks

Spare clothes at home

• A second pair of mittens for every pair at preschool, so one pair can always be drying
• An older snowsuit or hand-me-down snow pants, in case the regular snowsuit gets soaked through
• Restock the cubby: socks and underwear run out first

Put the spare clothes in their own fabric bag in the cubby to keep them together. Check the cubby and hook every Friday: anything that came home wet on Wednesday has rarely made its way back. Check the sizes at the same time; children outgrow tights and mittens in the middle of the season.

Layering: how to dress your child

Several thin layers provide more warmth than one thick layer, and the teachers can remove a layer when the child gets warm during play. This is also what 1177 recommends when children are going out in the cold.

• The base layer should keep the skin dry. Wool keeps you warm even when damp and works on both cold and mild days. Cotton absorbs sweat and makes you cold, so avoid cotton base layers in winter. If your child can’t wear wool against their skin, there are base layers with bamboo next to the skin.
• The middle layer provides warmth: a fleece top, wool sweater, or thin fleece suit. A windproof fleece can be worn as an outer layer on the mildest days.
• The outer layer blocks wind, snow, and moisture: a snowsuit or a snow jacket and snow pants.

A child who sits still needs more than one who runs around. A one-year-old who crawls and sits in the snow gets cold faster than a five-year-old who sleds all morning, so dress the youngest children more warmly.

Snowsuit or snow jacket and snow pants?

	Winter snowsuit	Snow jacket and snow pants
Best suited for	The youngest children, who crawl and sit a lot	Older children who use the toilet on their own
Advantage	No gaps at the waist, so snow can’t get in; one garment to put on	The jacket can be changed when it’s wet, and the pants can be worn with a shell jacket in spring
Disadvantage	The whole garment has to come off for bathroom breaks and gets completely wet all at once	Snow can get in around the waist if the jacket is short

The most important thing is the size. The snowsuit should have room for a base layer and sweater underneath, with a little extra space left over, because air provides insulation. Try it at home: have the child squat down and stretch their arms straight up. If it pulls across the bottom or the sleeves ride up from the mittens, it’s too small. Reinforced knees and seat will help it last a whole season in the sandbox and on the sledding hill.

If you want one garment for both fall and winter, choose a snowsuit with a removable lining. That way, it’s a shell in October and a winter snowsuit in January.

Winter shoes, mittens, hat, and neck warmer

Winter shoes

Choose insulated, waterproof shoes with enough room for a pair of thick wool socks. A shoe that fits tightly with a thick sock will feel cold because there’s no air around the foot. Removable insoles are a big advantage: they can dry overnight, and having an extra pair of insoles at preschool means feet stay dry even after a wet morning. Velcro or a zipper makes it easy for the child to put on their shoes themselves, which both children and teachers appreciate.

Mittens

Mittens are the first thing to run out. Plan on having at least three pairs in rotation: one on the child, one at preschool, and one drying at home. Have both thinner and thicker mittens. The child should be able to grip a shovel while wearing them, or they’ll take them off. Mittens with a zipper that opens down toward the thumb and long cuffs are easier to put on, and mitten clips keep them from getting lost in the playground. For wet snow and slush, you need waterproof mittens, preferably lined with fleece or wool.

Hat and neck warmer

The hat should be windproof and cover the ears. A balaclava that also covers the cheeks works well for the youngest children. When it’s very cold, your child may need two hats, a thin one under a thick one. Don’t use a scarf: it can get caught in a climbing frame or slide. A neck warmer that goes over the head keeps the neck warm without that risk.

The same goes for drawstrings. According to the Swedish Consumer Agency, clothing for children up to and including age 6 must not have cords or drawstrings in the head and neck area, and a hood that comes off easily is safer than a sewn-on one. Don’t tie your child’s hat on with long strings; choose a balaclava that stays in place on its own instead.

Slush, snow or severe cold: what the day calls for

A list isn’t enough, because a winter’s day in Malmö isn’t the same as one in Luleå. Dress your child according to the weather that morning:

Weather	Add	Keep in mind
Slush and rain around freezing	Shell or rainwear over the snowsuit, waterproof mittens, preferably all-weather boots	Wetness chills more than cold. Wool socks in the boots and extra mittens in your pocket.
Dry snow and a few degrees below zero	The usual layers are enough: base layer, mid layer, snowsuit	Snow gets in at the wrists and boot tops. Cuffs over the mittens, trouser legs over the shoes.
Severe cold and wind	Extra mid layer, two hats, thickest mittens	Wind increases the risk of frostbite. Your child needs to go inside and warm up more often.

Slushy days are also when clothes come home soaking wet. If the preschool has a drying cabinet, ask how hot it gets and whether there’s anything they don’t want dried in it. This varies between preschools.

How to tell if your child is cold

Young children don’t always say when they’re cold. 1177 suggests a few simple checks:

• Feel the back of your child’s neck and their forehead. If they’re cold there, your child is cold. If their chest, neck or back is very warm, they’re wearing too much.
• Hands and feet are often a little cooler than the rest of the body, but they shouldn’t be ice-cold.
• Children who are cold shiver, turn pale and stand still to conserve heat.
• White patches on the face or hands are the first sign of frostbite. Look for them after your child has been outside for a long time.

Two things many people don’t know: don’t wash or moisturize your child’s face just before they go out in the cold, because it removes the skin’s natural protection. If you need to moisturize your child’s skin in freezing temperatures, use a completely water-free cream. And change into dry mittens and socks as soon as they get wet; dampness makes children feel cold much faster.

What goes missing first, and how to label it

In winter, a whole classroom's worth of almost identical snowsuits hangs in the cloakroom, and the mittens go in and out of the drying cabinet several times a day. The items most likely to get lost or mixed up:

• One mitten from the pair. Label both, not just one. Put the label on the care tag inside the cuff, where the snow won't wear it off.
• The neck warmer and the thin hat. Small, soft, and alike. They end up in the wrong box when the staff tidy up.
• The snowsuit. The same brand, color, and size as three other children's. Label the care tag inside the collar or at the waist, so the name is visible when it's hanging on the hook.
• The insoles. They're taken out to dry and then get mixed up. Write the name on the underside with a permanent marker.
• The wool socks. Socks are difficult to label because adhesive labels don't stick well to knitted, stretchy fabric. Use a fabric pen, an iron-on label, or buy all the socks in a color no one else has.

For snowsuits, jackets, snow pants, shoes, and mittens with care labels, Lappu name labels work well: they stick to the care label, withstand washing at 60°C and tumble drying, and don't need ironing. Leave them in place for a day before the first wash so the adhesive has time to set. For hand-knitted mittens and hats without care labels, an iron-on label is safer. Find out more about the best place for the label in the guide to labeling socks, mittens, and small items.

Get everything dry by the next morning

Winter clothes that don't have time to dry are the most common reason a family thinks they need two of everything. Usually, one routine is enough:

1. Hang up the snowsuit as soon as you get home, with the zipper fully open and preferably the legs pointing down, so the moisture can escape.
2. Take the insoles out of the shoes and dry them separately. Stuff the shoes with newspaper if they're wet inside, and replace the paper once it gets damp.
3. Put the mittens on a radiator or in a drying cabinet on low heat. Wet mittens rarely dry by morning, so a spare pair is needed.
4. Shake off the snow before you go inside to reduce what needs drying.
5. Pack the dry items straight into your child's bag so they don't get forgotten on the radiator.

If that still doesn't work, a second pair of snow pants or a secondhand snowsuit is cheaper than buying a more expensive garment in the hope that it will dry faster.

Buy second-hand and pass clothes down wisely

Winter clothes for preschool get a lot of wear and children quickly outgrow them. You can find second-hand snowsuits, winter boots and mittens in good condition at thrift stores and on buy-and-sell sites, and that’s where many parents find a spare set. It’s better to spend more on what matters most for warmth: mittens and boots that keep water out. Buy mid-layers and spares second-hand.

If you pass clothes down between siblings, label them with your last name or initials instead of a first name. Then you won’t need to relabel anything when the garment is passed on.

Reflectors for early darkness

In November and December, it’s dark at both drop-off and pick-up. Choose outerwear with reflective strips on the arms and legs, and give your child a reflective vest for the walk to and from preschool. Reflectors on the hat are easy to see because the head is what sticks up between parked cars.

Label winter clothes

If your child is starting preschool this winter, find more information about what usually needs to be labeled on the page about name labels for preschool.

Frequently asked questions

How many pairs of mittens does your child need at preschool in winter?

Plan on having at least three pairs in rotation: one on your child, one in their preschool cubby and one at home drying. Add a pair of waterproof mittens for slushy days. Mittens often get wet and are easily lost.

Is a snowsuit or a winter jacket and snow pants best for preschool?

For younger children, a snowsuit is usually easiest because it has no gaps for snow to get in. Once your child can use the toilet independently, a winter jacket and snow pants are more practical. Whatever they wear, there should be room underneath for a base layer and a sweater.

Can children wear scarves at preschool?

No, choose a neck warmer instead. A scarf can get caught on climbing equipment or a slide. A neck warmer that you pull over your head keeps your neck just as warm without the risk.

Which base layer is best for preschool, wool or synthetic?

Wool is the safest choice because it keeps your child warm even when they’ve been sweating or gotten damp. Synthetic fabrics work too and dry quickly. Avoid cotton next to the skin in winter; it traps moisture and makes your child cold.

What should you keep in your child’s cubby at preschool in winter?

Two sets of underwear, socks, long johns, pants and sweaters, plus a sweatshirt, wool socks and an extra neck warmer. Keep extra mittens, a lightweight hat and shell clothing or rainwear on the hook or in the cubby. Check the cubby once a week.

Does your child need shell clothing in winter?

Yes, most preschool children benefit from shell clothing or rainwear even in winter. When it’s slushy around freezing, you can put it over their snowsuit or fleece layers to keep them dry.