Moving from Texas What Winter Clothes Do We Need?

Hi Cara Well for starters, You all will needs heavy coats, boots, gloves and hats. We get snow up here that comes up pass a grown up knees(lol)and it can get pretty cold sometimes too. The kids can wear shoes that lace or buckle up around their feet. Some kid wear tennis shoes if it's not snowing out. You can find these items at any of the shopping malls or Wal-mart and K-mart.

I just wanted to add that you can usually get kids winter stuff at resale shops. Because kids outgrow these things so quickly (usually only wearing it for 1 year) you can find lots of stuff in resale shops. There are lots of independent ones, and one chain store that I like- Once Upon a Child. http://www.onceuponachild.com/ I got two pairs of waterproof snowboots for under $5 EACH! You may want to get the hats and stuff new, but you can save a lot going this route.

Layers work the best here. something really heavy can be cumbersome. keep in mind though, you will feel the cold much more here than people that have lived here.

i think others have covered the basics really well. yeah, it will be quite a shock for you guys if you're not used to cold weather. 30 degrees is cold but then when it's in the single digits or below zero, there is a huge difference and that's when you really bundle up and barely spend anytime outside- especially if its a little windy. after a little while, you'll be thankful for temps in the 30s- funny how that works.

as you'll notice, winter clothes can be very expensive. its probably worth it for you or your husband to buy good quality jackets because they can really last a long time. as others have said north face is a good brand so are some others at stores like rei. columbia is a cheaper brand that does the job quite well- i say save yourself some money and go that route. for your kids, its hard because they can grow out of it quicker than you want- how frustrating to spend $100s and only use it for a couple seasons (if that). i always think its funny to see 4-5 year olds wearing $250 north face jackets. don't get me wrong i have a nice north face jacket and i love it but not for kids- unless you have a lot of extra $ or can get a good deal used.

as others have said, waterproof boots are important- for your kids and you and your husband. ugg boots are cute and keep your feet warm, but are far from waterproof. if you are going to pull your kids in sleds in the backyard and are going to shovel or walk in the snow at all (which i'm sure you will), buy waterproof boots. you can spend a good $100 on these but they will last years and years. sorel is a good brand. usually buy a size bigger so you can wear bulky wool warmer socks.

good luck and enjoy the move!!

Snowpants, gloves, hats and winter jackets. Kohl's usually has really good sales on those items and they are good jackets. Definitely gym shoes and boots, most of the schools around here prefer the kids wear their boots to school and change into gym shoes once they get there when there is snow, which there is today. Most any store will have all of these items, they are not hard to find. Your kids will love playing in the snow and building snowmen. It does get pretty chilly in January and February so I would recommend lots of sweaters and sweatshirts for those months. Might want to pick up some sleds also, the kids will love sledding, it is so much fun!

Hi Cara!

I moved here 4 yrs ago from NC and it's really COLD!

We get the snowsuits (pants with bibs) from Target or Old Navy, boots usually from Walmart, but The Children's Place has some that last more than 1 season (to hand down!) Most any store has the nicer waterproof gloves. My older daughter (9) likes those ski mask things that cover a lot of her face while she plays outside and most stores sell them.

The best thing I got was something called YakTrax that are like a webbing that slips over the bottoms of your shoes to make it safer to walk on snow/ice and gives you traction. You CANNOT wear these indoors at ALL though, you will bust your butt! (Ask my husband!) But they are sooo great for walking outside on a slippery parking lot, driveway, etc.

You'll want to make sure you buy a snow shovel or two as soon as you get here and some ice to melt your stoop/stairs and driveway. Some people use snowblowers or pay for a plow service. Usually the driving is not too bad, but still BE CAREFUL! They usually plow the streets before you even wake up in the morning unless there was really a pile-up late at night or very early morning. Schools hardly ever close here, so get used to that!!!

Welcome to the area! I'm in Elgin, but if you ever want to hear another southern voice (believe me, you'll start to sound pretty strange to even YOURSELF! after awhile...) then just "give me a hollar!"

:)
M.

My advice to you would be to get a few items now before the move just to keep them warm when you arrive and when you get out here you can get everything you need. They will need a lot. Walmart is always a good place to shop if you are on a budget after the move. Also when you move join the group freecycle.org. It is people in your area that you can give to or post something you need. I have recieved a winter coat, snow boots for my son and much more. And when your children are done with things, you freecycle them to someone else! Good luck

You'll definately need winter boots/coats/hats/ gloves. Lands End has a great selection. You may still be able to get stuff online at Old Navy etc. If you don't want to buy too much stuff before you move I would make sure you have that stuff and some long sleeve shirts and you can probably hit the after holiday sales when you get here! Welcome to Naperville. I've lived here for 7 years so feel free to shoot me a message if you have any other questions!

Hi Cara, my family just moved here from Texas too. We have twin 2 1/2 years old boys. My advice, get the very basics at Burlington's and Target in Texas, but buy the real winter gear up here. The reason I say this is that a kid's coat at The Gap in Texas is MUCH lighter than the same style kid's coat at The Gap up here. So any coat you buy in Texas may well not be warm enough to last the winter. Land's End and LL Bean are good online resources. We layer a lot. Long sleeved t-shirts under fleece tops, lined pants. That kind of thing. Target has inexpensive snowboots for the kids. With respect to snow suits, get the kind where the coat and pants are separates. Also, make sure the pants can zip down over the boots. It's easier for potty training kids and in my experience keeps the snow out of the boots better.

For school recess, your 6 year olds will need winter coats, snow pants, snow boots, gloves, hats and maybe scarves. I also like something like hiking boots, which are good on icy or slushy days or for light snow. You may have trouble finding everything in late December, so you may want to look online. Up here all of this can be found in Walmart, Target, Sears, Kohl's, Penney's, so I guess they've got it online also. Good luck!

Hi mom this must be a job move because there is no way you should be leaving your warm town to come to a cold one. Well let me see you will need everything from top ( hats) to bottoms ( boots ) it started snowing today. I wish you and your family the best in your moving and happy holidays. Good Luck

Cara, Welcome to the tundra. Here is a tip. I buy my son THREE pairs of matching winter gloves. Your children will lose them faster than you can imagine, especially because they are not used to keeping track of them. If you have matching ones you don't have to replace them each time ONE gets lost. By the beginning of January they are always sold out. The stretchy cotton ones are all that are left and those are pretty useless for the real cold! Welcome. You will love Chicago. It is a great town with lots to do. The trains from Naperville are great.

Naperville is a great town with a top notch school system. Congrats on the move. You will need down jackets for everyone in the family - scarves, hats, mittens. Waterproof boots are also good. I'm sure this all sounds a lot and a bit overwhelming, but it could be fun shopping for this! For guys, hats can be cumbersome, so in the very least, look for these ear coverings called 180s. They cover the ears and the wraps behind the head so it's very understated but keeps the head warm (and thus the rest of the body).

For the stylish mama / kids, you could get UGGS. They are a bit pricey, but at least for the adult(s), I would strongly recommend them. They were the best investment in winter shoes I ever made - they are soooo warm that you don't even need to wear socks while you're out! If you tend to have cold feet at home, they make wonderful slippers for inside the house as well that my hubby and I can't live without. The sheep's wool also supposedly wicks away moisture so you don't tend to have smelly shoes from not wearing any socks.

For jackets, I would go with cute down jackets for the kids. For the adults, I would recommend versatile jacket systems like North Face or Columbia. Patagonia also has really great warm down jackets that don't make you look like a marshmellow. All of these companies make shells / jackets that are waterproof and windproof so you can wear it during rainy weather... so, it's versatile. Again, pricey but if you can see yourself wearing it in several different kind of weathers, then it's worth getting.

The winters get VERY cold here, so be ready for weather shock. Also, it can snow a lot here, so you might want to look up snow removal services for the home, or buy a snow plower if you are a DIY kind of family. Having salt for the sidewalk is also key.

Sorry, I digress. You asked about where to get all these things. The best place might be REI --- they carry all three brands of jackets and then some. Check out rei.com
Also, for the UGGS that I mentioned you can find them at Nordstrom's, Macy's, Bloomingdales. You might also find them at REI but I can't remember.

But it's important to layer here. So get some lightweight fleeces to wear underneath the jacket. It's not so important to get the puffiest jacket in the store in order to withstand the cold here. Go with something that will be comfortable and that you can see yourself wearing in sun, rain, or snow. Then the $$ you spend will be worth it in the long run.

Hope this helps.

Hi, Cara!

That is a big move from Texas to Naperville! You guys will definitely need some winter clothes. Most importantly, you will need outdoor apparel for the snow and cold. You will need winter coats, hats, gloves/mittens, and snow boots. Anyone who will be out playing in the snow will need snow pants, too.

For regular clothes, you probably have at least a good base of what you will need. My kids wear jeans most of winter, along with long sleeved t-shirts, sweatshirts, and sweaters.

As far as where to buy these things, I normally try Kohls and Target, although it is already getting late in the purchasing season, so their pickings are slim. When I checked, it looked like Target still had some boots, and there are outerwear options at Old Navy, Children's Place, JCPenney, and WalMart.

Good luck with your move!

S.

One word of warning...by the time you get here the stores will be pretty much cleaned out of winter stuff so ordering on-line is probably your best bet. If you don't mind spending a little bit more Land's End and LL Bean has some really great stuff and there's a bunch of sales going on with free shipping. If you get an LL Bean credit card it's ALWAYS free shipping to you AND back if you don't like what you got. You will definitely need good snow boots, waterproof mittens/gloves, hats and scarves, plus a good, warm winter coat. Also, lots of hoodies/sweaters, warm socks and long sleeve shirts are a must, plus a couple pairs of long underwear are not a bad idea at all. Just remember, when you get here there will only be just a few months til warmer weather returns again! :)

You need winter coats, sweaters, nice heavy pants like blue jeans, tights to layer under clothes, and winter boots rather than shoes. Unless they need sneakers for gym, of course! Is ther a Goodwill or Salvation Army store near you wher you can get this stuff cheaper than retail, or have you tried Freecycle? Good luck and see you when you get here!

I just went out winter coat shopping for my oldest(8) this weekend. We found a great coat at Kohls, $120 on sale 40% off it still came to $72-just for the coat! Too much! Then I headed to Burlington Coat Factory--we got the exact same coat for $45! And I do mean the same--it had an original price tag of $120 on it--then I added snow pants for $20. So check on-line there. You definitely do not want to wait until you get here--there will be nothing left to buy. Hats and gloves are a must, and scarves may be necessary for the days when the windchill makes it feel like it is -25 degrees--that is skin biting cold! And you do not want to skimp and get cheap boots--they will just get wet feet quickly when playing out in the snow!
As for regular clothing, invest in plain long sleeved shirts and turtlenecks that you layer under the clothes they already have.
Good luck with the move!

Cara,

It's snowing here today & 28 degrees. :) Boots, boots boots! Warm coat and snow pants are going to be musts for your 6 year old twins & 3year old. The snow will be cool for them this year. Go online and at the very least get a warm, weather proof coat and boots for all of your kids (and yourself). Unlike places like Colorado, we have freezing temps that go along with the snow, most of the winter. Winter is a tough time to move up here, but with any luck you will become snow bunnies. As for some of us that have lived our entire lives here, todays snow is just a reminder of what we are in for the next 4 months! Good luck! Days like today make me wish I was moving to any place warmer than here.:)

Hi,

I just moved to Chicago from the UK and had nothing, I just kitted my 2 kids out from here, it wasn't too pricey and was recommended by other moms I have met : http://www.childrensplace.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/T...

(My three year old has to have snow pant for school)

Sal x

You will definitely need to get some snowsuits, snow boots, winter coats, scarves, hats and gloves/mittens. You can pretty much get that anywhere out here - Target, Wal-Mart, etc. We also have a great secondhand store out here called Once Upon a Child that you sells gently used/new clothes for cheap. There is one located in Naperville off of Route 59. Some stores (Children's Place) also sell crocs with fur in them too, which are great for the winter. :-)

Happy moving!!!

Howdy!

Ex-Texan here from Austin. Yes, every native Chicagoan thinks I am nuts that I moved here from a warmer climate, but it's not that bad once you get the basics down. Layer, layer, layer! Waterproof boots! My favorite spots to buy are Target, Land's End/Sears, LL Bean and Burlington Coat Factory.

I've never been to Naperville but several of my coworkers love it there. They moved there for the schools so I am sure you'll be happy with your choice.

Good luck and remember, we get to brag to our sweaty Texan friends when it's a beautiful summer day. :)

1st DO NOT BUY ANYTHING THERE!!! It will cost you an arm, a leg and possibly an organ....Wait til you get here then HIT WALMART & KOHLS... Us folks in the "north" do lots of layering...the more "natural"(cotton) fabrics you have the better

You will need......
good coat(down if possible)
snow pants (bib type work great for 6ys oldsthey know the front easier)
Boots-Walmart is good for these since they grow sooooo fast

Hats( yes plural they lose them like teeth)
LOTS & LOTS of gloves and mittens (also lost like teeth)

cotton turtlenecks
fleece tops
long sleeve cotton shirts for everyday wear
gym shoes(most schools want a pair of gym shoes left at school for kids to change into...bonus they always have gym shoes for PE)
stride rite shoes or doc martins for "dressier"
Cotton undershirts
for girls-tights work well under pants or when they "just gotta" wear a dress when it is snowing or 12 degrees

Get READY!!!! It gets COLD here....not as cold as UP Michigan or Minnesota....but cold enough

Cara,

I think people here are already letting you know what you need...I'd shop off ebay for the jackets since you can save SO much money. Also you can buy "lots" of clothes based on the gender, size and season. You can get a ton of winterwear and supplement with what you want/need. I'd go "cheap" with the hats and gloves - consider them disposable...kids lose 'em.

Also, don't forget about warm pajamas, slippers and maybe bathrobes for the kids.

Finally, remember that the winters here make everything cold, wet and slow moving...so especially with the little kids, plan for everything to take 4 times as long as you are used to. It takes FOREVER getting them dressed and then moving through the snow and cold.

Good luck. Winters here are beautiful.

I would suggest ordering stuff from Lands End- they have practical, well made coats and boots for adults and kids- I get all my son's winter stuff from there. Your kids will want good warm coats (hoods are great)snowpants, boots, mittens, hats and scarves. I would also suggest a fleece for each one, to use as a layer beneath the outer coat when it is really cold out- my son puts his on at school if he gets chilly during the day as well. Be prepared for cold, damp weather and you can still have a lot of fun in it! Good luck with your move!

Hi Cara,

I am sorry to hear that you will now have to experince winter!! We moved from California just over four years ago and I miss is every year about ths time!

First of all, try to buy winter gear in your state: mittens, hats, snow boots, because I learned that everyone snaps this stuff up sometime in September.

I have three girls (7,3, and 1), and the snow clothes that we found are the best are made by Hannah Andersen; they are durable, warm, and well constructed. They also just started their outerwear sale. Kamik snowboots will keep feet dry/warm in the snow - dry is very important, and cheap boots will leak. We use uggs as our everyday shoe; they are warm and require no socks (a bonus!). I also buy one good pair of snow play gloves/mittens, a "cute" warm everyday pair, and a set of cheapie dollar gloves to stash in backpacks and the car for emergencies. Skip scarves as kids won't really wear them.

Good luck! Be sure to get yourself some uggs too!

Also....if you find a good deal on mittens but a bunch of identical ones so that you won't be searching around cursing in the morning looking for that matching glove/mitten. Just buy a bunch and save yourself the stress!

Oh geez - bad bad time to move to Illinois! You'll need tons of warm clothes and you'll want to layer. So figure T-shirts or turtlenecks underneath sweaters pretty much daily along with warm socks and a super heavy coat (down is the warmest) and good hats, scarves, mittens and/or gloves. Then you'll want some snow boots and snow suits for all. You're not by chance going to be commuting downtown Chicago, are you? If so, you'll need something even warmer perhaps to cover your face. There's a good couple weeks during the winter where you only see peoples' eyes if they're not covered with sunglasses or something else protective. Basically it gets darn cold, and if you're from TX, this will be even more glaring to you. But you do get used to it and it is fun to play in. Its quite beautiful as well. Nothing is as exciting to a kid (and I still remember and feel this way myself) as waking up and seeing snow outside and screaming SNOW!!! or better yet SNOW DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!