Warm Hands, Happy Kids: Winter Glove & Mitten Hacks Every Parent Needs

Keeping your kids' hands warm and dry during a Canadian winter is no joke. As parent living in Prince George the past few years have brought us snow, slush and lots of lost mittens along with complaints. But it doesn't have to be that way. 

Here are my four tried-and-true hacks to help your kids enjoy the winter wonderland while staying cozy and dry. Because let’s be honest if they aren’t complaining about cold feet, it’s usually cold hands.

PS if your kids have chronic cold hands be sure to grab some warming pucks from Costco when they arrive - or come chat with us to explore better options for this year

1. Backup Gloves: A Parent’s Winter Lifesaver

My top trick for stress-free mornings? Buy two sets of matching gloves each season. Sure, one pair is easy but two pairs will keep you sane all winter. 

✅ If one goes missing (and you know it will), you’ve got a backup.
✅ Matching colours mean you’re never scrambling to find a pair --- it’s grab-and-go. Bonus if you assign kids a differnet colour  

For example - Anna only got pink gloves this year.

👉 Explore our kids’ mittens and gloves collection online or in store: durable, stylish, and ready for daycare, school, or sledding.

2. Double Down on Waterproofing: Rain Gloves Over Fleece

Want extra warmth and waterproofing? Layer unlined rain mittens over fleece or knit gloves.

This hack actually came from a local daycare and it’s a total game changer. But on this topic - think about whether you need a rain mitten or a snow mitten - different gloves function in different ways for different purposes. 

We recommend the Reima Kura Rain Mittens:

• Waterproof material with welded seams
  

• PVC-free flexible fabric for comfort
  

• Reflective details for visibility
  

• Made with 100% recycled polyester
  

3. The Secret Weapon: A Boot Dryer

Wet gloves = cold hands. The solution? A boot dryer.

Here’s the routine:

1. Empty your kids’ bags every evening.
   

2. Place gloves (and boots!) on a boot dryer.
   

3. Start the morning with warm, dry gear, every single day.
   

It’s a small investment that saves tears (and tantrums) on frosty mornings. We use the Costco model at home, but any reliable dryer works. Seriously - whoever told me this told me like five years too late. 

It also works great for wet boot

4. Label Everything

Winter gear disappears faster than you can say “lost and found.”

Add waterproof name labels or a quick Sharpie mark to every mitten, glove, and jacket. The fewer lost pairs, the fewer emergency shopping trips, though of course, we don’t mind seeing you at Nest & Sprout 

I use the labels from Mabels Labels - the ones I buy for regular school supplies. They peel off nicely when it's ready to pass it on to a new family.

Winter Essentials at Nest & Sprout

Ready to gear up? Visit us at 3049 McGill Crescent, Prince George, or browse our curated mittens & gloves collection. This year we've upped our game with  parent-approved brands like Reima (for Northern BC winters) and Jan & Jul (great for all-season play) bwith options for babies, toddlers, and big kids up to size 10+.