Staying warm and cozy in frightful weather

As we're deep into what feels like the coldest days of the season, we can't help but worry about our little ones. Since they're not able to tell us if they're comfortable, we need to make sure they are warm--but not overheated. This can be especially difficult when we take them out in the stroller or car seat. They can't seem to resist kicking off the blanket, and if we wrap it around them, we can't fasten the buckles.

GoBaby, a Seattle, Wash.-based company, has a solution in Teddytoes--the Blanket with Feet. Made of a soft fleece, this bunting stays with the infant and not the gear, allowing you to swaddle the infant while on the go. Designed with separate legs and snapped shoulder slits, you can be sure your most precious cargo stays warm and secure during those long rides. When you need to dash into the store, the baby will remain toasty in the Teddytoes and you will not need to perform the juggling act of trying to carry a small child while keeping his blanket wrapped around him.

Available in a variety of colors and prints, size 1 fits 0-6 months, and size 2 fits 6-18 months. Teddytoes retails for $40-$44. For more information, visit www.teddytoes.com.

Once youngsters reach the toddler stage and beyond, your next big cold-related worry stems from trying to keep their mittens on when they're out in the snow. The No-Snow Snuggler by Crazy Hens is a combination sweatshirt and mitten set. Providing an extra layer of warmth, the No-Snow Snuggler features built-in water-resistant sleevemittens and is worn underneath the coat. Its design will help keep the cold, wet snow from lodging on the forearms between the mittens and jacket.

For older kids, the No-Snow II features the same protection for the wrist area, but has a fingerless glove that slips into their own snow glove so that they have access to their hands while playing in the cold white stuff. Again, with the gap eliminated, snow won't get down between the gloves and jackets. For more information, visit www.nosnowsnuggler.com.

We also found a couple of products from Brooks Pond, Brookline, Mass., that help to protect our little one from the elements without encasing him in so many layers that he can't budge.

The Classic Buggy Blanket ($95) acts as a stroller bunting with a warm fleece interior and a wind- and water-repellent nylon shell. It has Velcro openings in the back to allow the stroller's harness to pass through, and a full-length zipper on both sides to make it easy to get the child in and out. With its signature boot pouch, the bottom is protected from soiled shoes, and the blanket is machine washable. Designed to fit infants to preschoolers, it can be used with a variety of strollers or joggers. It's perfect for anything from a morning run to the freezing bleachers at the local hockey rink.

If you're toting your baby in a front carrier, the Original Carrier Cover ($65) wraps around the device to keep the infant cozy and dry. We like it because our little guy can stay comfortable without having to wear a bulky snowsuit, which is cumbersome to fit in the carrier. Additionally, it has pockets to warm the wearers hands or hold wallets and keys. Available in a variety of colors, the Original fleece covers are machine washable. The Metro line has a wind- and water-repellent nylon shell, Thinsulate insulation, and suede cloth interior; the Luxe line includes a number of faux furs and denim.

For more information visit www.brookspond.com.

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COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning