How to Dress a Toddler for Daycare in a Chicago Winter

For a winter day at daycare, dress your toddler in easy layers indoors and send full snow gear for outside: a warm coat or snowsuit, snow pants, waterproof boots, a hat and mittens. Most centers take children outside every day the weather allows, and in the Chicago area that means playing in the cold from December through March.

Here is a simple system that keeps your toddler warm outside, comfortable inside, and makes drop-off faster.

What your toddler should wear to daycare in winter

Classrooms are kept warm, so heavy sweaters all day can make toddlers sweaty and cranky. Dress for the classroom and send the outdoor layers separately.

• Base layer: a long-sleeve cotton or moisture-wicking shirt and comfortable pants or leggings.
• Warm middle layer: a fleece or light sweatshirt that is easy to take off.
• Socks: warm, non-cotton socks are best on very cold days, because cotton stays wet.
• Indoor shoes: sneakers or slippers with grips, so wet boots can dry during the day.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests a simple rule: dress young children in one more layer than an adult would wear in the same conditions.

The outdoor gear to send (and leave at school)

Many parents keep a full set of snow gear at daycare all winter. Ask whether your center has cubbies or hooks for it.

• Insulated winter coat or one-piece snowsuit
• Waterproof snow pants or bibs
• Waterproof boots, a half size up to fit warm socks
• A warm hat that covers the ears
• Mittens, ideally waterproof, plus a spare pair. Mittens are easier for toddlers than gloves.
• A neck gaiter instead of a long scarf. Scarves can be a strangling hazard on play equipment.

Label everything with your child's name. Snow gear from 15 toddlers looks very similar on a coat rack.

Spare clothes for winter days

Winter means wet sleeves, snowy socks and slushy pants. Keep a full change of clothes at daycare, plus extra socks and a second pair of pants. Check the cubby every Friday and refill what came home.

A clear zip bag with your child's name helps teachers find spares quickly, and gives you a place for wet clothes to come home. See how many spare clothes to send to daycare for a full checklist.

Winter coats and car seats

Puffy coats and snowsuits should not be worn under car seat straps. The padding compresses in a crash and leaves the harness too loose. The AAP and car seat safety experts recommend this instead:

1. Dress your toddler in thin, warm layers, like a fleece.
2. Buckle them in and tighten the harness.
3. Put the coat on backward over the straps, or use a blanket.
4. Put the coat on properly when you arrive.

Pre-warming the car on very cold mornings helps too.

How cold is too cold for outdoor play at daycare?

Each center sets its own policy. Many use a chart called Child Care Weather Watch, created by the Iowa Department of Public Health, that combines temperature and wind speed into wind chill. Its guide describes wind chill this way:

• About 30°F: chilly and generally uncomfortable. Children who are dressed for it can usually play.
• 15°F to 30°F: cold. Many centers shorten outdoor time and watch children closely.
• 0°F to 15°F: very cold. Many centers keep play very short or stay in.
• Below 0°F: bitter cold with a real risk of frostbite. Most centers stay indoors.

Infants and toddlers get cold faster than older children and cannot tell you when they are too cold, so teachers watch them closely and bring them in sooner. Ask your center for its written weather policy, including heat and air quality rules for summer.

Why daycares go outside in winter

Some parents worry that cold air causes colds. Colds come from viruses, which spread more easily indoors in crowded rooms. Fresh air and outdoor play give children a chance to run, climb and burn energy, which often helps them nap better and handle the afternoon. Winter play also builds gross motor skills, like walking on uneven snow and pulling a sled.

A five-minute winter drop-off routine

1. Night before: check the forecast and pack a dry change of clothes.
2. Morning: dress in classroom clothes plus a fleece.
3. In the car: coat over the straps, not under.
4. At daycare: boots off, indoor shoes on, snow gear on the hook.
5. At pickup: bring home anything wet so it can dry overnight.

Frequently asked questions

Do daycares take kids outside in winter in Illinois?

Most do, whenever the weather is safe. Many centers stay inside on days with extreme wind chill, ice or storms. Ask for your center's policy.

Should my toddler wear a snowsuit to daycare?

Send it rather than wear it. A snowsuit is too warm for the classroom and unsafe under car seat straps. Teachers will help your child put it on before going outside.

How many layers should a toddler wear in winter?

Indoors, normal clothes plus a light layer. Outside, add a coat, snow pants, hat and mittens. A good rule is one more layer than you would wear.

What if my child hates wearing mittens?

Try mittens with long cuffs that go over the coat sleeve, or a pair with a string through the sleeves. Let your child pick a color they like.

Winter at Children's Land

At Children's Land, we try to take children outside every day the weather permits, and families provide the clothing children need for playground time and stroller walks. When it is too cold, children stay active indoors. Ask your location about its indoor play space and playground. Find a location near you, learn about our toddler program, or read our FAQ.

Related reading: A Winter Movement Routine for Toddlers Indoors.