12 Ways to Warm ‘Em Up

What's in a name? Style, quality, durability. Hanna Andersson makes clothing kids will love to wear, and parents will love to buy for longevity purposes (it definitely stands the ‘hand me down' test of time). Their cute monster hat is the perfect winter accessory for the little girl with lots of character in your house.

Your house is already home to several ‘bests': Best Dinosaur Impersonator, Best Bunk Bed Climber, Best at Operating on No Sleep (that's you). Claim a best you'll really be happy to own: having the best mittens around. Mitt-Ons from Ottawa-based ONS GEAR, feature a long, detachable fleece sleeve which flows into a waterproof mitten, and adjustable straps to keep them tight around hands. We suggest buying more than one pair. Just in case.

We've often wished these came in adult sizes, but then we'd probably never crawl out of it. Cover your babe in extreme comfort and warmth with the Studio 7 A.M. Enfant Le Sac Igloo ‘LS 500'. It's a beautifully-modern winter cover for infants and babies fit for the slopes of Gstaad or (more likely) a stroll around your neighbourhood.

Time for a bootie call? Call, or go online and have those needs met with Stonz, the children's outdoor apparel and footwear company. They can deliver total satisfaction in winter, spring, or fall when it comes to their fleece-lined Booties (for ages 0 to 3) and Rain Boot Linerz (for kids aged 4 to 8). We promise you won't regret either of these the morning after.

Sports and back strain have an unfortunate way of blending, especially when we're picking up kids who are constantly falling as they learn to ski or skate. Time to invest in the CoPilot Lift—a fitted harness that helps keep kids, and you, upright while they learn new skills. Made by a BC company, it was originally designed for kids learning to ski and navigate the chairlift, but it's also helpful when learning to glide on the ice.

We're smitten with Smittens from Canadian company, January Baby. Slide one hand in and wrap the length of the cozy fleece around to the other side. Their hands won't come out and the mittens won't fall off. It's easy to be—and stay—in love with this idea.

Stick it to them. Hats have always made statements, sporting team logos, creature replicas, or brand names, but Stickheads' hats ice the competition for Canadian kids who love hockey. This Canadian company makes ordinary fleece hats fun by adding a swinging fleece stick end to the top. If the kids shoot, you'll score with this winter wear.

You might already have a pair of FitFlops for the summer, but this popular footwear company is now offering enhanced shoes and boots for adults and children alike. For kids who don't stop growing, FitFlop's footwear promises to protect growing feet without limiting movement, allowing them to stretch and flex while providing increased shock absorption. Don't we all want to feel footloose in boots?

Give your girls a head start with Goodbye Girl Ponytail Headbands, the practical solution for little (and big) girls who love to have their long locks tied back but their ears still warm. No more lumpy, ill-fitting or unworn hats thanks to a pushed up ponytail. We seriously can't find a hole in this concept.

Soggy socks totally stink, especially for the parent who planned a fun day outdoors only to be sidelined by soaking feet. Aim high—actually, make that low—40 below in fact. In 40 Below socks from Wigwam, your toes will stay toasty in these wool, nylon and spandex boot-high socks.

Babies love games, particularly the “I take my hat off and throw it down” game. We know you never tire of your little one, but the games they play can be exhausting… and cause frostbite (not a good combination).The solution? The North Face's warm and wearable Polartec fleece hat with Velcro enclosure (underneath, so it won't aggravate the chin). Time to find a new sport, kiddo.

Make a good investment when you shell out your hard-earned cash for snowsuits this season. Geox, the popular shoe manufacturer, makes apparel too, and their Junior Unisex Snow Bib Pant with adjustable shoulder and waist straps will fit more than one young member of the family year after year.