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A Special Feature in our Notes from Your Nanny Series…
Now that the last of the leaves have fallen, those of us from the northern part of the country are anticipating snow; some of us happily and some of us not so much. I personally cannot wait for the snow to come and I want to spread this excitement by offering some tips on how to enjoy the colder months. If you are feeling like you are the type of person that just does not do the cold, have your charges/children in mind while you read this. It is important to provide them with positive opportunities and encouragement.
Between living in New England my whole life and having a background in Outdoor Education, I know the two most important secrets to enjoying the colder months…dressing properly and finding an activity to enjoy!
This post is Part One of a two part series and it will focus on the first secret to enjoying the colder months…
Gearing up!
Whether young or old or somewhere in between there are a few guidelines to keep in mind while gearing up for the great outdoors.
Dress in Layers – you have probably heard this before, but what you may not have heard is dress in the correct layers. If you dress your child in ten layers of cotton and send them out to play in the snow they will be warm for the first ten minutes. Then they will likely start sweating and in no time they will be cold because the cotton they are wearing does not wick moisture away from the skin, thus leaving the sweat on the skin to do its job: cool the body down. Now, even if they do not sweat, the snow will eventually saturate all ten layers, resulting in the same soggy, cold state. To avoid this, take note of the following:
1. The first layer (wicking layer) of clothing during colder months should always be synthetic (ex. polypropylene, fleece), wool, or a blend of the two. The key here is to have a wicking fabric against your skin so even if you do sweat it will not have the chance to stay on your skin and cool you down. Do not assume that all long underwear or thermals are non-cotton, make sure you check the label! Also, first layer clothing ranges from lightweight to heavyweight, so you can adjust the first layer to accommodate outside temperature, activity, and body temperature.
2. The middle layer(s) (insulating layer(s)) should ideally be non-cotton for the same reasons as above, but because this layer is not in direct contact with the skin you could get away with a cotton or cotton blend sweatshirt. Fleece and wool are my personal favorites when it comes to the second layer; they are cozy, comfortable, quick drying and even if they do get wet, they will still keep you warm. The number of middle layers will also depend on how cold it is outside, what type of activity you do, and if you tend to run hot or cold, however, your last insulating/middle layer should also be non-cotton. My favorites for this layer are down and synthetic down. Nothing compares to the warmth and longevity of down, not to mention its warmth to weight ratio! Down is also good at adjusting to temperature differences, which is great for going in out of the house or skiing and then riding the chair lift up the windy, cold slope. Synthetic down is not quite as good as the real thing, but what it does offer that down is totally incapable of is its ability to keep you warm when it gets wet; down turns into big soggy clumps of feathers whereas synthetic down does not.
3. Then there is the outer layer (waterproof/water resistant layer). When in doubt go with a waterproof jacket and pants, especially if you will be engaging in some serious snowball fight action or it is snowing out. The only downfall (and only reason to wear something water resistant as opposed to waterproof) is waterproofness usually compromises breathability. However, despite being a little pricey, there are a lot of waterproof fabrics out there that provide exceptional breathability.
Head, Hands and Feet – again, the key to hats, gloves/mittens and socks is for them to be made out of non-cotton fabrics. For tumbling around and/or cold weather, look for insulated and waterproof gloves/mittens. If you are just taking a walk around the neighborhood, fleece gloves/mittens will do just fine. Last but not least, look for insulated, waterproof boots that fit well to ensure good circulation; it will not matter if they are rated for below zero weather if they are too tight and the blood cannot flow through the toes!
Take a deep breath. Digest this information. Smile. Consider yourself halfway there to loving winter!
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