How to Keep Feet Warm in Cold Weather

There is nothing worse than cold feet for adults OR kids to make a winter outdoor adventure go really bad, really fast. While we truly believe investing in great gear for your feet is worth it, there are also some easy tips keep feet warm in cold weather. Keeping kids’ feet warm in the winter is crucial, not just for comfort but also for their health. When it’s cold outside, children’s feet can get cold quickly, which can lead to discomfort or even frostbite in extreme conditions.

Curious how cold is TOO cold? We’ve helped answer that in this post. Want more tips on helping dress your kids from head to toe for cold weather? Check this post out.

A baby sits in the snow, her feet are covered in the snow and she's wearing a pink jacket. Another girl sits next to her in a checkered jacket and purple pants

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It’s all about the Base (layers, that is) to Keep Feet Warm

The socks you wear in your boots really does make ALL the difference. You can be wearing the best boots there are, but the warmth factor is compromised without well-fitting wool or wool-blend socks. Thicker does NOT mean warmer necessarily. Wool socks are often the best choice, as wool naturally insulates and wicks moisture away from the skin, keeping feet dry and warm.

Merino wool in particular wicks sweat away and is temperature regulating. There are also merino wool blends that offer a softer, less itchy feel for sensitive skin.

Just a gentle reminder if you heaven’t heard it in a while – cotton is a big no-no, especially for avoiding cold feet. If you sweat or your feet get wet at all, in very cold temperatures, cotton can literally be deadly as it holds that moisture in. At the very least, you’ll end up with really cold feet.

In addition to focusing on their feet, make sure your baby or kid is warmly layered overall. An insulated jacket, base layers, hat, and mittens are essential for their warmth. Little ones (especially babies) lose a lot of heat from their heads and hands, so making sure they’re bundled up will help ensure that their extremities stay warm as well. Check out all of our favorite base layers for kids.

A child slides down a hill on a tube head first with feet in the air.

Properly Fitting Socks Matter for Keeping Feet Warm

Wool socks are great, but not all socks are made the same, just like not all feet are the same. Look for socks that fit snuggly, contour to your foot and are padded, but not too bulky.

Bulky, ill-fitting socks tend to bunch and actually inhibit circulation to feet, which is key. Layering is also an effective strategy. In extremely cold weather, a thin moisture-wicking sock paired with a thicker wool sock can help provide both insulation and moisture control. A liner + wool sock is great, but doubling up on thick socks or layering cotton + wool actually can make your feet colder.

A baby in pink pants has on a pair of grey and blue striped socks — Tiny Smartwool socks on a baby.

A baby who is all smiles wears a pink jacket and beanie and oversized wool socks — Tiny Smartwool socks on a baby.

Team Favorite Sock Recommendations:

Smartwool Toddler Trio pack for babies and toddlers
Darn Tough Merino socks for kids
Smartwool Wintersport socks for kids
Farm to Feet Merino blend socks for kids

A kid stands on a mat in pink Smartwool socks

Choose the Right Boots

Socks alone aren’t enough – insulated, waterproof boots are essential for keeping feet dry and warm while playing outside. Look for boots with a good thermal lining and a snug, adjustable fit to avoid snow or cold air seeping in. We’ve gathered our favorite winter boots for kids here. And the Best Boots for Babies and Toddlers.

A pair of grey boots with purple toes and purple snowpants stand on the ground.

It’s also worth considering the importance of circulation when dressing kids for winter. Tight shoes or boots can restrict blood flow, leading to cold feet. Make sure shoes are the right size, with enough room to allow movement, but not so loose that they cause rubbing or discomfort. Depending on your kid, you could size up one or two sizes to allow for thick socks and dead air space, especially for babies and smaller toddlers who won’t be doing a lot of running around.

Start with Warm Gear to Maintain Warm Feet

For this one, I literally mean gear that is actually warmed up to a good temperature. If your feet don’t have to work hard to warm up the gear you put on them, you are already winning and your body will not have to work as hard to keep itself warm. This is especially true for feet! Have you ever slipped into a sleeping bag on a cold night with freezing toes? Not the best feeling in the world! Starting warm can do a lot of the work for you and your kiddos in staying warm.

On really cold days, we throw our boots on a boot warmer before we put them on. Or if we are driving somewhere, put them in front of the floor vent with heat on. And we avoid letting gear sit in a cold car before we go out if we can at all avoid it.

Encourage Circulation

This one is a bit of a given, but keeping kids moving to avoid getting cold is WAY easier than getting them moving when they are already cold and hurting. Encourage your kids to keep their feet moving when they’re out in the cold to boost circulation and keep the warmth flowing!

A girl wearing a pink jacket and white hat kicks a kicksled on the snow.

For our family, we find this particularly tough for our toddlers. Make time outside as fun as you can, avoid heavy boots that make walking hard for them and have a back up plan for getting them inside and/or warmed up. Check out our favorite lightweight toddler boots here!

Special Note: Kids who are dangling in packs are especially susceptible to poor circulation and therefore cold feet. This is just one of the reasons why we especially love Deuter packs, which, in our opinion, do a great job giving a good seat for kids. Take time for breaks where they can walk around, use stirrups so their feet aren’t dangling, and be smart about layers. Avoid one piece footie style that could put extra pressure on the bottom of the feet.

Two parents have two little ones in a baby backpacks, they are wearing sunglasses and there is snow in the background.

Keeping Sedentary Baby and Toddlers’ Feet Warm

As outdoor families, we are often toting small kids with us in trailers or on our backs in the winter. And, as parents, we worry especially about keeping them warm when they can’t necessarily communicate to us what is wrong if they were to get cold. Keeping a baby’s feet warm in a baby backpack during winter outings is important because even though they’re bundled up, their little toes can still get cold, especially if they’re in a carrier for an extended period.

For babies, it is easier to layer under buntings with wool socks and fleece. As they get older (but before walking) we like to do wool socks plus soft booties. A good pair of fleece-lined booties or insulated baby shoes can help protect your baby’s feet from the cold. Look for ones that cover the ankle to prevent cold air from creeping in. Soft, stretchy booties that fit over socks and have elastic at the top are ideal because they stay in place without restricting circulation. On super cold days, we buy ourselves a little more guarantee with a foot warmer tucked between the layers (but never directly on skin).

Even in a baby carrier, babies can get too hot or too cold, so it’s important to check on their feet periodically since they can’t communicate they are too cold. If they feel cool or damp, you might want to adjust layers or add a foot warmer if you have them on hand.

Since it is hard to simply add layers under a toddler’s boot (example: a 2 year old sitting in a backpack while you’re skiing), we pay particular attention at this age. If you know they won’t be walking much, using slightly larger boots and tucking in those foot warmers on longer days makes a world of difference.

Keep Feet Dry

Keeping feet dry is key. As mentioned before, use wool or wool-blend socks to wick away moisture, and that will stay warm even when damp, and avoid cotton that makes you even colder when wet. Also, know the conditions you will be out in and plan accordingly – if it will be a very wet, slushy snow, be sure to wear the appropriate footwear and bring extra socks if your kids will be sloshing around in icy puddles or streams.

It’s always a good idea to have boots you are certain will keep your feet dry. A lot of winter boots that are marketed for small kids are NOT fully waterproof and will lead to wet feet (and tears!) Here are ones we recommend for kids. For adults, we have been very impressed with this year’s Bogs and Mucks.

Bring a Back Up Pair of Socks

It’s a good idea to keep a pair of extra socks in the bag for quick changes if they get wet. Wet socks and shoes are a quick way to lose body heat, and since kids tend to be more active outside, they often encounter snow or puddles that can soak through their footwear.

Keeping a dry backup ensures they can stay warm and comfortable for longer. Many adventures could have been saved simply by having a pair of back up dry socks when we needed them! Keep a stash in your car for desperate measures, or, on super long days, bring them along (along with an extra set of base layers, just in case).

If anything, having dry socks to drive home in help warm up your body much faster. Sitting in a cold car that’s struggling to heat up can sometimes be the coldest part of a winter outing!

A kid in blue socks stuffs a furry Aurora Heat warmer in their sock.

Add Aurora Heat Warmers

Using Aurora Heat warmers in your kids’ socks can be a game-changer when it comes to keeping their feet warm and comfortable in cold winter conditions. These beaver pelt warmers are natural, sustainable, and reusable! And oh so, so soft. Place in the sock, fur side against the skin and carefully put the sock back on. By giving their boots an extra layer of warmth, you’re helping protect their feet from cold-related issues while allowing them to stay active and comfortable longer.

Check out our full review on Aurora Heat Reusable Warmers!

Use code MTNMAMA to save 10% on Aurora Heat

Bring Down Blankets or Sleeping Bags

A down blanket or a sleeping bag tucked around feet helps a ton to keep feet warm in cold weather. We haul ours with us for kids in sleds or strollers or for lunch breaks on the ski trail.

A child stands in the snow with a modified sleeping bag wrapped around her. — TMM Team Member Kristin, keeps her kids’ feet warm on the coldest Alaskan days with old sleeping bags that are customized to fit them so they can walk around.

In Scandinavia, it’s common to have foot muffs or small sleeping bags for babies and toddlers fit right into their strollers and zip up around them to keep them warm when strolling around. These can be more difficult to find in the U.S., but they work really well in strollers or bike trailers in keeping tiny toes warm during winter adventures or outdoor naps!

A baby sleeps in a stroller in the snow with a black down foot muff sleeping bag in their stroller.

Drink Hot Drinks to Warm All the Way Down to your Toes

Don’t underestimate the power of a hot drink. Hot chocolate/cider is reserved for the coldest adventures for our family and is a special treat. We like to pre-make ours and bring along in a thermos with cups (and lids) for everyone. Warm bellies means warm bodies means less complaining all around!

A kid in a blue jacket drinks out of a blue mug

Keeping those Little Toes Warm in Winter

In conclusion, keeping kids’ and babies’ feet warm during outdoor play in the winter or snow is all about layering, proper insulation, and moisture management. For babies, soft, fleece-lined booties or snug, waterproof boots with a warm lining are key, and making sure their little toes are covered with soft wool or thermal socks will ensure they stay cozy. For older kids, insulated boots that are both waterproof and breathable, paired with moisture-wicking socks, will protect against the cold and wet conditions.

Regularly checking their feet for signs of discomfort or coldness can prevent any issues before they get serious. By combining the right clothing and gear with the habit of frequent breaks to warm up, you can make sure they stay safe, happy, and warm while they enjoy the winter weather to the fullest.

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