Thermals are the first defence against the cold. Make sure your kids are warm and protected this year as the temperatures plummet. Thermals are a breathable base layer that are lightweight and comfortable for kids to wear all day long, helping to maintain a pleasant temperature.
Do Thermals Keep You Warm?
Thermals are one of the best ways to stay warm in winter. Thermals work best because trapping body heat and keep it close to your body in comparison to other materials and clothing which allow heat to escape.
Children are particularly vulnerable to to temperature changes, cold weather can have harsh effects on them if they are not properly protected from the lower temperatures.
When buying thermals for yourself or for your children you want to purchase thermals that are snug fitting. The tight fit allows for the heat to be kept closer to the skin and prevent as air and heat escaping as possible. A form fitting set of thermals makes it easy to add additional layers over the top without becoming too bulky.
Many newer thermals wick moisture and sweat away from the body. Water and moisture on the surface of the skin impeded the body’s ability to keep warm. This feature is particularly beneficial when taking children hiking and participating in other outdoor activities when the weather is cool. It is important to keep them warm, but increased activity can cause the body to sweat. It is a delicate balance to strike!
What Is A Thermal Base Layer?
A thermal base layer is the layer of clothing closest to your skin. A base layer is the first layer of defence against the cold.
Thermal base layers can be purchased as both tops and bottoms. Depending on what your activity is and the level of energy required you can select from a variety of different thermal fabrics.
Best Thermal Material?
We need to discuss the fabrics used to design thermal base layers. Cotton would seem an obvious choice but it is actually very poor at retaining heat. Furthermore it has a high moisture absorbency, this means that while it absorbs the moisture produced by the body it does a poor job of wicking it away. Once cotton becomes water logged it is terribly difficult to dry and heavy to carry. If you think about jumping into a pool with a pair of track pants you will get the idea.
You will find cheapest and most widely found thermal base layers for kids are usually made of a synthetic material. Synthetic does not always mean a poor choice. Sports players and other athletes use synthetic fabrics as they are have a high wicking capability. Building on that feature, are their lightweight and quick drying abilities. The downfall of using synthetic fibres is that they do not provide a high degree of warmth.
Base layers made of merino wool are very common, especially for children. Merino wool is a more expensive fibre, however it comes with many benefits which make it worth the investment. Many wool products can be itchy for children, however merino wool is incredibly soft and gentle of skin. Merino wool comes from the merino sheep and is very fine in texture. The fine texture of the wool allows it to be very breathable making it perfect for both winter and summer months.
The downside of merino wool is both its price and durability. Synthetic thermals tend to last a lot longer and also be cheaper. Natural fibres don’t seem to have the same durability that man-made materials do, however merino wool thermals will stand the test of time so long as they are cared for well.
What Temperature Should Your Kids Wear Thermals?
Dress children in layers in winter, starting with a thermal base layer. It is best to dress them in a few lighter layers rather than one heavy bulky layer. When the temperature fluctuates through out the day or their activity level changes it is easy to remove or add a layer and stay the optimum comfort level.
We aren’t sure if there is an exact temperature for when thermals become necessary for children. Our experience tells us with our children that temperature is around 10-15 degrees celcius or 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit. Where you live and where you are travelling to will make a vast difference also. We currently live in Queensland Australia where our children rarely wear shorts and t-shirts year round. At the end of the week we are heading to New Zealand which is much cooler. I have purchased our children new kids thermals so ensure they are warm as the temperature difference it quite vast and I know they feel the cold considering they were just swimming at the beach today. Children in New Zealand however probably won’t be in thermals just yet.
Favourite Thermals For Kids
We want to share our favourite picks for kids thermals. We always buy merino wool and we may be biased since most of the world’s merino wool comes from Australia. My mother always purchased them for us as there is a store in New Zealand that has a half price sale every year and she is able to stock up at much more affordable prices.
The majority of you don’t have that luxury so we wanted to share with you items that are very similar to the ones we buy and for the best prices.
Meriwool
Meriwool is well renowned in the industry for their attention to detail and performance of their products. They have recently emerged with a new childrens range of thermal base layers. You are able to find both bottoms and tops to complete the outfit. We love the neutral colours and designs for children.
Simply Merino
Simply Merino is a Canadian company who manufacturers right in the country which we love. The company import their wool direct from Australia also. The earth tones are very gender neutral and pleasing to look at. These items all come at a very reasonable price point for high quality pieces from another reputable company.
Rene-Rolf
These kids thermals are at a much lower price point as they are not as high quality or merino wool. However we are happy to recommend them because they offer a great product for the price if you are just looking for something basic and warm.
If we did not already have merino thermals for our trip to New Zealand this week then these would be the ones I would purchase. I doubt my children will have a chance to wear them again before outgrowing them. If you are purchasing kids thermals for a once off trip to the snow there is no need to spend a lot of money these will do fine.
How Many Layers Should I Dress My Kids In?
Three layers is the general rule when it comes to dressing for the cold weather.
- Base Layer
The base layer is the one closest to the skin as we have previously discussed. Base layers are lightweight, moisture wicking and heat retaining. - Middle Layer
The middle layer is where you are going to put a second long sleeves t-shirt, fleece sweater, and/or jacket. Depending on the temperature you may want to invest in a down jacket. We have purchased plain black down jackets for our kids which have been passed down over the years as they outgrow them. Down jackets are expensive but invest in a high quality jacket and it will last you many years. One like this NorthFace jacket is perfect. We purchase ours from Kathmandu as it is a New Zealand brand and we like to support local but North Face is a very we regarded brand and I have no hesitation recommending them. We have other items from them and can not fault the quality. - Outer Layer
The outer layer is to protect your child from wind and rain. A rain coat or wind breaker is what you are looking for. We absolutely love our rain coats from Cheeky Chickadee. They are small Australian company, just a stay at home mum of five. We purchase a lot of our kids clothes from here, it can be a little addictive. International shipping is free over $99 and trust me, $99 is going to be easy to spend! They even have matching for the whole family.