Planning a European Christmas market trip with a thirteen-month-old sent me down a rabbit hole of searching for the best winter gear for toddlers.

Traveling internationally with a baby is challenging as it is, but add on the cold-weather factor (and my obsession with traveling carry-on only) and it could practically classify as an Olympic sport.

Fortunately, that’s where this handy packing guide comes in. In it, I’m sharing everything we brought to Europe to keep our little lady nice and snuggly (plus some nifty new snow gear for babies that I’m eyeing for the future).

Let’s discuss how to properly bundle your baby up for that first (or next!) winter trip – all without adding too much extra bulk to your luggage!

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If you’re planning to keep your toddler in the stroller for extended periods in the winter, a good stroller footmuff (a.k.a a bunting bag) is an absolute must.

Although your baby won’t “wear” this item in the strictest sense of the word, I’m still including it as an essential piece of winter gear for toddlers. Trust me, you (and your little one) won’t last long outside without one!

Since our winter trip involved walking around the Christmas markets in Colmar, Bern, and Innsbruck (and hence a lot of stroller time), I wanted something warm and waterproof (while keeping in line with my “sad-beige-mom” aesthetic, of course).

After (too much) researching, I eventually landed on this plush bunting bag in khaki from MomCozy.

I can’t say enough good things about this stroller foot muff – quality, warmth, weather-resistance, and aesthetic are all on point.

Most importantly, our daughter absolutely loves it, too. In fact, she full-on fell asleep inside it on more than one occasion – and often while it was literally freezing outside!

I also love that it comes with its own handy carrying case which makes it super easy to travel with. (We even managed to smuggle our tripod in there for the ease of getting through airport security!)

Before we dive into some of my favorite brands and recommendations, let’s quickly cover why layering is important and what layers your toddler should have.

As someone who swears by the tried-and-true layering method myself, I always do the same with my daughter during the winter. Layering is a great way to trap heat and keep your baby’s core warm without adding a huge amount of bulk like you would with one thick single top.

When it comes to base layers, they should fit fairly snugly and close to the body (provided they’re not uncomfortable) to wick away moisture.

Ideally, your toddler should wear 3 main layers in winter:

1. A base layer (to wick moisture away)
2. A middle layer (to insulate and keep core temperature steady)
3. An outer layer (to protect from the elements)

Merino wool tends to be a favorite as a base layer due to its warmth, but I’m still on the fence with that one since I’m severely allergic to wool and unsure how my daughter would react to it.

Having said that, if your toddler doesn’t have an aversion to wool, a Merino wool set like this one could be the perfect cozy base later.

For now, I love dressing her in the comfy tank bodysuits from Colored Organics. They’re made from 100% organic cotton and hold up really well in the wash. I actually order from Colored Organics quite a bit and find all of their clothing to be great quality!

When it comes to middle layers, I’ve also been loving the pullover sweatshirts from Colored Organics. We have this adorable ruffle-sleeve pullover in fog and this teal one with the cute bow print. I absolutely love the cozy fleece lining in their sweatshirts and how they fit my daughter’s frame.

I’m also a fan of the MAKEMAKE Organics brand for sweatshirts. They have super cute prints and their sweatshirts are buttery soft. My girl’s striped organic fleece sweatshirt from them is definitely a favorite.

Outer layers are meant to keep your kiddo protected from whatever Mother Nature decides to throw at you, whether that be wind, snow, hail, etc..

Overall style and aesthetic aside, the main thing you want to look for is a jacket that’s insulated. There are two main types of insulation you’ll find in winterwear: down feathers and synthetic insulation.

What’s preferable is a matter of personal choice, but keep in mind that down jackets won’t tend to keep your little one as warm once they get very wet.

At the risk of sounding a bit bougie, I personally love my daughter’s heavy weight stadium jacket by Michael Kors.

Not only is it warm, it’s also super cute, so double win! Plus, I snagged it during Black Friday season and got it for around 60% off!

Looking to travel carry-on only? I’d skip the snowsuit unless the focal point of your trip is for your toddler to spend time in the snow. This will help prevent extra bulk in your luggage.

That said, if you happen to live somewhere that gets snowy winters, you’ll probably want to invest in some snow gear for babies anyway – starting with a trusty snowsuit.

Frankly, I nixed this one for the purpose of our Christmas markets trip, but with the amount of snow we’re having at home right now, I really wish we had one on hand!

Surprisingly, Bloomingdale’s actually has a great selection of snowsuits and is even offering some good discounts, too!

In addition to – or perhaps instead of – a snowsuit, you may want to look for snow pants. This might be the case if your baby already has a solid winter jacket and you just need something to keep their bottom half warm.

When looking for snow pants, check to make sure there’s a mention of waterproofing or water resistance. I personally would choose these neutral-colored Timber Mountain Pants from REI or these Bugaboo III snow pants from Columbia, which offer more colorful options.

Keep in mind that snow pants are often sized in XS/S/M/L/etc. as opposed to numbered sizes. Be sure to refer to the individual brand’s size guide to find the right fit for your child.

While we still have yet to venture into the world of serious snow boots, I opted for a quality pair from Stride Rite for the time being.

In case you weren’t aware, Stride Rite basically has a monopoly on the beginner-walker’s market. Their shoes are touted by podiatrists for their safety and quality, promoting healthy foot development in young kids.

Our little lady has the Gigi boot from Stride Rite and we love it for its comfort, ease to put on, and versatility in coordinating with any outfit.

Once we walk the true snow-boot path, I’ll have to report back!

When I tell you the struggle I had to find mittens! I debated for weeks whether to get mittens with a thumb or thumbless mittens.

The pro of a mitten with a thumb is that your child will have more flexibility to grasp objects, but the downside is that they can get colder. The idea of the thumbless variety is that they supposedly do a better job of trapping heat…

…But after thinking on it, I came to the realization that my daughter wouldn’t be doing all that much grasping while sitting in her stroller footmuff, so I figured I should get the ones I liked best.

I eventually landed on these cozy teddy mittens from 7 A.M. Enfant.

(By the way, we don’t have the adorable teddy hat that comes with this set, as I was able to source the mittens on their own.)

I love that these mittens have bands attached so that you won’t lose them if your child takes them off. Simply place the bands around your toddlers wrists before putting the mittens on.

I will say, if you’re looking for waterproof toddler mittens, these aren’t the ones for you. My husband made the point that she’s way too young to pack snowballs right now, so the non-waterproof variety seemed perfectly sufficient at this point.

That said, if you’re in the market for waterproof mittens, you may be interested in the quality ones at Maisonette.

To ensure your toddler is good and warm, it’s important to keep their head covered.

When it comes to the world of hats, there’s an overwhelming amount of selection, from hats that cover the ears, to hats with strings, to knit beanies like this Colored Organics one we have for our girl.

String ones like this one from Petite Maison Kids can also come in handy if your toddler tends to take their hat off. Plus, they’re super stylish, too!

Alternatively, you may want to look at water-resistant snow hats like these if you’re planning to spend a lot of time in the snow with your child.

After trying a variety of swaddles and sleep sacks, I can say we’re a Kyte baby fam. For winter, our go-to is this Kyte baby 2.5 tog.

This is the warmest of their sleep sacks and perfect for our cold Connecticut winters.

I suggest purchasing two so that you have an extra one on hand, as they’re hang-dry only.

Another brand I’ll go to bat for is Little Sleepies. Our girl exclusively wears their cozy bamboo pjs and after trying several other bamboo brands, we’re pretty brand-loyal. Until she turned one, we were rocking the one-piece zippies, but now that she’s almost 15 months, we’re all about their two-piece sets.

The idea behind bamboo is that it keeps your little one cool when it’s warm out and warm when it’s cold out. I love that they’re also moisture-wicking and our little lady never wakes up overheated and sweaty.

Our 14-month-old is currently wearing the 18-24 month and 2T size in Little Sleepies.

• Consider water resistance – If your toddler is staying outside in the cold for extended periods and actually playing in the snow, etc., it’s worth springing for water-resistant gear. Otherwise, your little one will get soggy pretty quickly, drastically cutting down on outdoor time.
• Prioritize practicality over fashion – As a “content creator mom”, this has been a tough lesson for me to learn. While I’m all about the aesthetic-looking attire for my little lady, practicality is king in the winter, so if something isn’t warm enough, it’s not going to make the cut.
• Consider your child’s growth – Ahh, the age old debate: Should you buy clothing that’s the exact right fit for your child right now or should you size up to get more wear out of it? While there are pros and cons to both, the main takeaway is that the item needs to safely do its job of retaining heat. Avoid items that restrict your child’s movement, and, conversely, items that don’t do an adequate job of retaining heat.
• Add an additional layer beyond what you’d wear – A general rule of thumb to go by – especially for wee ones under a year – is to add one additional layer to your baby’s attire than you would need. (That said, our girl tends to run warm, so we often skip this tip!)
• Use packing cubes – I’m a huge proponent of packing cubes in general, but never more so than in winter, when items are bulkier than usual. There are many styles to choose from, but I’m personally partial to packing cubes with a netted viewing window so you can see the contents.

I hope this guide has given you some helpful pointers on what winter gear for toddlers you should focus on.

What questions do you have for me about the items in this guide, dressing your little one in winter, and/or packing for a toddler in the winter? Let me know in the comments below!