In winter, parents want their children not to be cold and to be well covered when they go outside. But what are the most suitable clothes and materials for children? Do you necessarily have to put on several layers to dress them warmly? Advice from a Damart brand specialist.
When temperatures drop, as is the case for this week in December, children tend to get cold more easily. Due to their young age, children do not yet have the ability to regulate their body temperature. The little ones don’t always know how to express when they are cold either. They are thus more vulnerable to the cold. So when they have to go outside winter, to go to school or for any other activity, parents take it into their heads to cover them well so that they are warm and to prevent them from catching cold. Some even tend to layer clothing, using the famous onion technique. But still need to know what to wear for your child so that the heat diffuses in his body and this throughout the day. Because yes, some clothes and some materials are not made to keep the heat. Explanations and advice with Danièle Delforge, Category Manager of Thermolactyl underwear at Damart, also in charge of the brand’s collaborations and co-creations.
What clothes should be favored to fight against the cold?
To fight against the cold, second skin clothes are preferred for children. In general, this type of garment keeps you warm thanks to its composition, they are also thin and can therefore be worn under any outfit, a sweater, pants or overalls. This will be the first layer of clothing to put on the child. “The first layer of clothing is very important because it is directly in contact with the skin, it guarantees an optimal level of warmth for children”, explains Danièle Delforge. The Damart brand, which specializes in warm clothing, has notably developed a whole range of Thermolactyl underwear especially for young people. “We make long-sleeved underwear, short-sleeved underwear, leggings, but also bodysuits for the little ones. Most of our underwear has five heat levels, which range from degree 1 to degree 5 to cover all needs” for chilly toddlers and those who are less so. These underwear are to slip under the clothes, they are suitable for and guarantee the child a certain ease in his movements because of their cuts and a part of elastane. There are also other models with original patterns to please the tastes of the little ones.
Multiplying the layers of clothing, is it useful?
Accumulating layers of clothing on a child in winter often tends to reassure parents. They have the impression that with this technique their toddlers will be very warm. Alas, this is not the case. In addition to not always being comfortable to wear, because the child is like stuck in his clothes, the superposition of layers does not diffuse the heat, on the contrary. This leads to a sweat excessive, the cherub is not dry and it can even catch cold. As the expert from Damart points out, the first layer is essential, it is through it that the warmth will be guaranteed. The first layer protects the child against the cold and provides him with a warm layer all over his body. After this first layer, you can put your little one in a new layer of clothes suitable for winter, with a sweater and velvet pants for example. Two layers of clothing are therefore more than enough for a child in winter. Under the coat, of course!
What materials are best suited for winter?
Not all textile materials are suitable for low temperatures, and some are not always suitable for the youngest. Because certainly the youngest want to be warm but they especially want to be comfortable in their clothes. It is therefore appropriate to pay attention to the materials you choose. “In my opinion as a first layer, cashmere or wool are not very suitable for children in contact with the skin”, says the specialist. Some cherubim may even have skin reactions or irritation if it scratches them too much. Furthermore, the cotton does not guarantee warmth, and despite preconceived ideas retains moisture and perspiration. Choose thermo-regulating textiles, such as Thermolactyl which has two advantages : “it provides warmth and has a certain comfort, which results in the evacuation of humidity and therefore perspiration very quickly”, details Danièle Delforge before adding: “At Damart, we pay attention to the touch and the softness of our materials. All our underwear is Oeko-Tex certified. For a few seasons we have added a Thermolactyl Sensitive range, which maintains the natural hydration of the skin. Depending on the knit that we will use on the garment, the hydration is more or less strong: it goes from 4% up to 23%. The fibers of these clothes are not natural, but they are recycled and also labeled Oeko-Tex.
What are the criteria to check on a winter garment before a purchase?
Several criteria must be checked when you want to buy winter clothes for your child. The label of a garment already gives us a first reading on the quality and longevity of the garment. Instead, if your budget allows, turn to noble and natural materials that keep warm such as wool, cashmere, mohair or velvet, which is a fabric whose fibers are very tight, a plus to fight against winter temperatures. For a child, always think about his comfort, the material must be pleasant to the toucheven if it will have a first layer underneath to protect it.
The second criterion concerns the use of clothing, namely under what conditions the child will wear the garment. Are the temperatures seasonal, or on the contrary abnormal? Taking this into account, one can buy a garment that will be really useful for the child. This can also make it possible to choose the right thermoregulating underwear according to the outside temperatures and the needs of the toddler, whether he is cold or not.
What parts of the body need to be covered the most?
In cold weather, certain parts of the body should be covered in particular. the face and the head are the most exposed to the cold and are more sensitive to changes and variations in temperature. Do not hesitate to put a balaclava or a hat on your child. Likewise, the neck and the ends (feet and hands) must be well protected.
To go to school in winter, it is necessary to dress your child warmly. It goes through a first layer of clothes, a top and leggings, suitable for outdoor temperatures. It will be comfortable for the child and will provide warmth. The second layer allows you to add thickness and isolate the child’s body. You can put a sweater, a small fleece, velvet or woolen pants on it. Then comes the choice of coatdepending on the cold and bad weather, opt for a parka or a down jacket. Also consider accessories.a pair of woolen socks that are not too thick, a snood (no scarf!), a hat or a balaclava and a pair of gloves.
Thanks to Danièle Delforge, Thermolactyl underwear expert at Damart, for answering our questions.