Children's winter clothes - Features and choosing the right size

Outerwear is an important part of children's wardrobes especially here in the Nordics. Outdoor play, snow games, sledding hills, and building snowmen make the dark winter a bit more fun, and during the long, cold months, high-quality outerwear and protective accessories are the cornerstone of the wardrobe.

In this article, we go through frequently asked questions about outerwear, such as: 

• How to care for outerwear
• What materials outerwear is made of
• What is the difference between Gugguu's different outerwear
• Layering clothes under outerwear
• How to choose the right size for outerwear

Washing and care of outerwear

Careful maintenance of garments helps keep them in use as long as possible. Since unnecessary washing should be avoided, individual stains should be wiped with a damp cloth or washed off by hand in a basin by wetting only the stained area. This removes dirt and saves the garment at the same time. When a proper wash is needed, you can safely wash Gugguu outerwear at home in the washing machine. 

Washing Gugguu outerwear

Outerwear should be washed loosely, meaning wash them separately. Remove faux fur trims from the garment before washing. The garment is washed inside out, so do not turn it inside out. Close the zipper and button the buttons. Use 40°C washing program. Use only detergent, so do not use fabric softener or other additives and remember to ensure that the detergent does not contain bleaching agents. When washing is done, lay the garment flat to dry, for example on a drying rack, so that it can dry in a well-ventilated way. 

What materials outerwear is made of

Gugguu outerwear has three layers: outer material, padding layer, and lining. 

Outer material

The outer material of outerwear is responsible for the garment's breathability as well as protection from wind and water. We have carefully selected the material and its supplier - it is a durable option offered by a Chinese supplier. The fabric is made from dense Oxford material (300D x 300D). Additionally, the fabric is laminated with a TPU coating. The fabric's water resistance is achieved with an environmentally friendly Bionic-Finish® Eco treatment. 

Other features:

• Water column: < 10,000 mm
  • Water column (or water pressure) indicates the level of waterproofness. The value refers to good waterproofness. A 10,000 mm water column means the product can withstand 10 meters of water pressure without water passing through the fabric – it is therefore very good and also withstands continuous rain well.
• Breathability: 7,000 g/m²/24h, meaning good breathability
• Reflectors: Outerwear features reflective details, and in addition, the padded clothes come with a separate Gugguu reflector.

Padding layer

The padded clothing uses 100% recycled polyester. The padding weight is 200g/m^2. Padding is an excellent insulator because it is very light and thin, yet effective. Therefore, the padded clothing does not become heavy and uncomfortable but is pleasant to wear. The purpose of the padding is to keep body heat inside the padded clothing, while ensuring the garment does not feel stuffy.

Lining

Besides the beautiful appearance, the polyester lining found in Gugguu padded clothes is also functional. The lining feels comfortable even against more sensitive skin.

In addition to the outer material, padding layer, and lining, the padded clothes have a detachable faux fur trim. Its materials are 52% Acrylic, 35% Modacrylic, 13% Polyester. The faux fur trim can be refreshed by brushing.

Gugguu padded clothing selection

In the Gugguu selection, you will find various padded clothes for children of different ages and needs. The materials are the same in all padded products, but there are differences in technical features.

C’moon Padded Overall

The original Gugguu padded overall fits babies and is available in sizes from 62 cm to 74 cm. The C’moon Padded Overall differs from the North Padded Overall designed for bigger toddlers by a few technical features: the C’moon Padded Overall has soft and wide cuffs, no foot straps on the legs, and the seams of the overall are not taped.

C’moon Padded Jacket

C’moon padded jacket is available in sizes from 80 cm to 152 cm. This jacket features taped seams, large pockets, and soft cuffs on the sleeves. 

North Padded Overall

North insulated overall is available in sizes 80-110 cm. The overall for toddlers and young children is more technical compared to the C’moon insulated overall for babies. The North insulated overall has taped seams, elastic cuffs on the legs and sleeves, and elastic loops on the legs.  

Print insulated overall

Print insulated overall is practically a patterned version of the North insulated overall, meaning the overall has taped seams, elastic cuffs on the legs and sleeves, and elastic loops on the legs. The difference is in the size range – Print insulated overall is available starting from size 62 cm. The difference for smaller sizes 62-74 cm is that the seams are not taped.

Print insulated jacket

Print insulated jacket is available in sizes from 80 cm to 152 cm. The jacket has side pockets and elastic cuffs. The seams are taped.  

Print insulated pants

Gugguu Print Winter Pants are beautiful patterned insulated pants. The pants have detachable suspenders and black reinforcement fabric on the knees and back to emphasize practicality.

Insulated pants

Gugguu insulated pants are a desired addition to outerwear. The pants have detachable suspenders and black reinforcement fabric on the knees and back to emphasize practicality.

Print insulated mittens

Print Winter Glowes insulated mittens are available in sizes 1-3 years and 4-6 years. The smaller size has a zipper on the side to make dressing easier. The mitten has a soft furry teddy lining.

Insulated mittens
Winter Glowes insulated mittens are available in sizes 1-3 years and 4-6 years. The smaller size has a zipper on the side to make dressing easier. The mitten has a soft furry teddy lining.

Using winter clothes

Weather conditions affect whether you should wear lighter outerwear for transitional seasons or proper winter clothes. You can easily layer under outerwear with a few simple rules – layering makes transitional outerwear last longer and winter clothes sufficient even in severe frost. There is no official guideline on when to switch from transitional clothes to winter clothes. Usually, winter clothes are used when the outdoor temperature drops to zero or below. 

Layering clothes in winter

Layering clothes is the best way to stay warm in the coolness of autumn as well as in winter frost. However, when layering, it is important to keep a few key guidelines in mind for it to work – simply wearing any clothes on top of each other is not enough.

Typically, there are three layers: base layer, mid layer, and outer layer. 

Base layer

The base layer includes fabrics that are against the skin. This means underwear, socks, and possibly thermal underwear. Ideal materials for the base layer are wool, merino wool, and silk, and thin garments made from these. These materials breathe and, most importantly, wick moisture away from the skin, making you feel dry and therefore warmer. Synthetic base layers can also be used. However, cotton should be avoided as it does not wick moisture away from the skin but absorbs it, making you feel colder. 

Mid-layer

The mid-layer's job is to insulate the wearer from the outside air and trap as much air as possible in the garment's structure. The mid-layer material should also wick moisture away from itself because if sweat remains damp in the layer, the garment no longer protects well against the cold. Therefore, cotton should also be avoided in the mid-layer, and wool, merino wool, or fleece should be chosen. 

Shell layer

In winter, a winter jacket or snowsuit acts as the shell layer, while in spring and autumn, a mid-season jacket or snowsuit is used. The shell layer's job is to protect against wind and water and to keep the air stored in the mid-layer inside. The shell layer should be loose enough to fit the base and mid-layers underneath. A hood completes the shell layer - with it and a proper hat, the head area can also be made wind- and water-resistant. 

Accessories

The head, neck, and hands should also be protected from the cold. In winter, merino wool is an excellent choice because, as mentioned above, cotton does not wick moisture away from the skin but absorbs it itself - merino wool, on the other hand, wicks moisture away from the skin and thus keeps the skin dry. Usually, accessories like a hat, scarf, and mittens are enough, but especially in extreme cold or windy weather, protection can be increased by using a hood, for example.

How to dress in extremely cold weather?

If temperatures drop unusually low, in addition to regular layering, you can add an extra base layer. The layer closest to the skin usually plays the most important role, and doubling the base layer traps more warm air in the fibers, thus providing extra insulation. 

Choose the right size for winter clothes

Gugguu's winter clothes have a loose fit, so usually the size should be chosen based on the child's height. Since babies and toddlers grow quickly, remember the child's growth during the winter - if you buy winter clothing for a small child early in the fall, it's best to choose the next size up from their current clothing size. 

Check these things when trying on winter clothing:

1. When trying on the snowsuit, check if it "pinches" at the back or crotch when the child squats - if the snowsuit is tight at the back or crotch, it's best to choose the next size up.
2. When trying on the jacket and snowsuit, ask the child to raise their arms towards the ceiling. If the size fits, the wrists remain hidden under the garment.
3. The leg of the snowsuit should cover the shoe but not touch the ground while wearing the shoes. 
4. Is there room for layers underneath? When trying on a winter jacket or snowsuit without layers, there should be about a fist-sized amount of extra space.