How I Keep my Kids Warm in Sub Zero Temps

This 2010/2011 winter season, my girls (10 and 8 years old) already have 25+ days of skiing under their belt. They started the season in Big Sky Montana with a ski camp the week of Thanksgiving. As I was getting the girls ready for 6 hours plus outside, newspapers declared "Temperature records fell all over the state Tuesday in what has shaped up as a miserable holiday week." I fretted and layered them up wondering if we should cancel, but they had a blast and stayed warm. I thought I'd share how we did it!

The first layer of their layering system is a base layer of Smartwool or Icebreaker Merino Wool - leggings and a crew neck. Thin, warm and breathable! We follow this up with a mid layer of more wool. The Icebreaker 260 weight sweaters are wonderful. Next is a race suit, but if your kids are not racers, I would do a layer of the Patagonia Micro-D fleece. It fits a little looser so it is easy to layer over the top of the wool.

The Patagonia Down Sweater has become an essential in our outerwear closet.  It is lightweight, warm and comfortable, and slips easily under a jacket. If the girls get too warm, the jacket compresses into their backpack - although, now that they have it, I've never seen them without their down layer. Finally, they have a Spyder jacket with 140 grams of insulation and Spyder pants with 100 grams of insulation (Montkid.com recommends trying to determine how many grams of insulation are in your kids outerwear selection before buying - not all brands are the same!). Ski racers need to be nimble and agile on the ski hill, so even though this may seem like a lot of big bulky layers, it is not. Those girls can move!

Also extremely important is keeping their head, hands and feet warm. On their feet, we use either Smartwool socks or Spyder socks along with foot warmers on really cold days. Unless it's race day, the girls always wear mittens with hand warmers stuffed inside. We like the Spyder Astrid, but one of Montkid.com's most popular mittens this year, were the Burton Heaterpack mittens featuring a zippered compartment for the hand warmer. Finally, on their head they wear a POC helmet which helps not only with protection but also warmth. Under their helmet, they have a balaclava, which unlike a neck gaiter, does not slip down off their cheeks. I also like to have them wear a neck gaiter that they can pull up over their nose for the ride up the chair lift. But, sometimes, this is the one item that they say is just too much! So, I make them put an extra in their backpack because if the first neck gaiter or balaclava gets steamed up from their breath, then frozen, it doesn't do much good! 

We've had extremely cold weather this season in Montana, but the girls haven't missed a day on the hill. Call us or visit our web site at www.montkid.com if you need additional help picking out items for your winter activity!

Winter Begins December 21st This Year.

I think here in Bozeman, winter started this week. I can tell because I was frantically searching for winter coats for my girls Monday morning. The snow in our backyard had accumulated to 8 inches overnight and was still falling!  Luckily, the snow stopped the next day and we will get a little breather before we are forced to make our final decisions on which winter outfits to purchase.

This procrastination got me thinking, "Why do I wait to make sure my children have adequate winter gear?"  Am I alone? I don't think so. The Montkid staff can watch a US weather map and guess who is going to be calling us on any given day. Snow hits New York and our FedEx Overnight Bin is overflowing!


Montkid.com has tried to take the pain out of winter outerwear shopping. We've got brights, neutrals, tie-dye, plaids, embroidery and everything in between. And we love to help put together outfits!

Here is an awesome outfit we helped MacKenzie put together yesterday. Mackenzie is a tall, twiggy 13 year old and the Burton Teen sizes fit her perfectly! The Burton Jr. Shayla Pants are so flattering. They feature a nice and long inseam, a slim cut through the thighs and they sit a little lower on the waist than some of the littler kids sizes.  The matching Burton Jr. Maria Jacket is a sweet pink with a bright yellow interior.  The Green POC Skull X helmet with the Anon Majestic Goggles make for a perfect day on the hill and apres ski, MacKenzie plans to put on the Nana Beanie which ties everything together. Find MacKenzie's outfit and more options for girls outerwear and boys outerwear at Montkid.com!

Mother's Day May 9th, 2010 Honor Youself

Since I'm positive the only one's reading the Montkid blog are mommy's, it doesn't do much good for me to suggest some mommy type gifts that daddy and the kids can give to you. So, how about something for you to give to yourself?

On a side note, why is the red or white carnation traditionally associated with this day on which mother's are honored? Even Emily Post agrees they are not the prettiest flower. The Libra in me, tells me not to be so prissy. I should be lucky to get flowers at all! But seriously, the carnation? How about a Peony?

Now, that we’ve been in business for several years, I’ve been thinking about how we got started in the children's outerwear business. Initially, we wanted to keep our kids in touch with nature so they would respect our planet and care about its future. We thought by providing a resource for high quality kids outerwear, clothing and gear, we could help others do the same. However, I recently put the baby in the kid carrier (I'm trying out the Sherpani Rumba) and took my 6 year old for a walk on a nearby trail and discovered the true and completely selfish reason I love spending time outdoors with my kids.

Walking with my kids, they start talking - really talking. My daughter and I had a wonderful chat that would have been missed had we neglected to get outside that day. She looked at me and said, “Mom, I’m not sure what I want to be when I grow up. Maybe I’ll just do nothing like you.” And the way she said it, was so sincere and genuine and filled with pride that I stifled my laugh and choked down my urge to list the 100+ things I do every day, and I told her she could be whatever she wanted to be when she grew up. And then we started dreaming of the possibilities.

This Mother's Day, get a gift for the family at Montkid.com, get a mom-tested, mom approved Child Carrier. And from now until May 9th, enjoy 20% off all non-sale items (including child carriers) with the coupon code: mom20.

Risk Free Shopping with Montkid.com

We realize shopping online with a vendor you haven't used before can be a bit stressful as you try to determine whether it is a legitimate site or not. We've been working hard to upgrade montkid.com to ensure you have a safe shopping experience.

Our first bit of major news is that we now accept Paypal! Paypal is undoubtedly the most popular online payment service on the world wide web. With Paypal, you can be in more control of your personal data.

We've also improved our Return Policy. We realize how difficult it can be to shop online without the benefit of being able to touch, feel and try on an item for size. Therefore, Montkid has a generous 100% return policy.
Please use these guidelines to determine if you qualify for an exchange or full refund:

• Return your item(s) within 30 days from the date on your invoice.
• Return your item for any reason in new condition with tags attached.
• If your item is returned due to the result of our error, we will refund any Shipping and Handling charges.

We are also, as always, partnered with the globally recognized certificate authority in online security - Thawte. If you have further questions, you can always pick up the phone, give us a call and talk to a real person.

Rolling Out Shop By Size

We are so excited to introduce Shop by Size on Montkid.com! Now, it will be even easier to assemble the perfect outfit for your little one. Find a jacket you love in a size 10, then see all the choices for matching snow pants in a size 10!

Choose any category from the Montkid.com Home Page: Baby, Girls or Boys and select the size you are interested in from the drop down box next to Search By Size. To get even more specific, choose a category such as girls outerwear or baby footwear before you begin to search by size.

Right now, our inventory is heavily depleted after a great winter season. The Shop by Size feature will help you filter through all of the children's outerwear currently on deep discount and find exactly what you need quickly and conveniently.

Please, Send us your Photos

We admit it, we love hearing from our customers. Of course we love it when you sing our praises :
I love your website. Your clothing is different from all the others. - thanks Nicole!
Thanks a million - you are great!!!! - thank you Tamar!

But we also love hearing about you! We love hearing about your children. We love helping you find the perfect outfit for your needs. We even love those of you who just want to chat and find out what the weather is like in Bozeman, Montana (if you want to save yourself the phone call, it's cold and snowing).

What we especially love, are customer photos! Here is one from a Tel Aviv customer taken while they were on vacation in Courchevel, France. I had to immediately research Courchevel, France and now I am pretty sure I need to visit! It looks like an amazing ski resort. The baby stayed toasty warm in her Patagonia Baby Down Sweater.

Submit a photo during the month of April of your little one sporting some Montkid outerwear, clothing or swimwear and we'll send you a coupon code good for 20% off your next order. You'll have 30 days to use it so get your shopping list started!

Billabong Spring 2010 Boardshorts Are in Stock.. almost!

At long last, montkid.com's board short selection is about to be replenished! With design inspiration from surfing giants Andy, Taj, Parko (and more), the spring 2010 collection from Billabong is one of our favorites of all time.

Colorful, original designs dominate such as the Dom1nate from Joel Parkinson (from the Gold Coast of Australia and ranked 2nd after the worldchampionships in 2009), better known as Parko. The boys Dom1nate is 19" in length and kids Dom1nate is 15" in length. This is our favorite pair for the year, so we're already placing a second order!  Even so, the popular sizes sell out fast so don't wait. Email info@montkid.com to pre-order. They should ship out next week.

Along with your boys board shorts, don't forget a rash guard,  sunscreen and hat for extra protection against harmful UV rays. 

Spring Fever, Spring is Here at Last ...depending of course on where you live

 

Even though we still have Snow (and lots of it) outside, inside Montkid.com, it's beginning to look a lot like spring. New summer dresses, swimsuits and accessories from Kate Mack are arriving daily and give us hope that warmer weather is not too far off.  

Kate Mack's web site captures the essence of what makes their clothing so great:

What makes a memory?
Sometimes it’s the dress she wore. Luxurious fabrics,
a sprinkling of rosettes,
a playful ruffle –
these are just some of the
details that make
Kate Mack clothing & swimwear something special.

Kate Mack's Slice of Summer collection includes a tank style halter swimsuit, a matching halter style dress and a sun hat that you will fondly remember for years to come. Available at Montkid.com.

True love doesn't have a happy ending, because true love never ends.

Don't forget about your children this week! Valentine's Day is the perfect time to try and say all those things you feel about your family, but don't spend nearly enough time expressing. Maybe you say it with a poem, a hug, extra playtime, or maybe even a gift! Montkid.com can help.

We've got some hidden treasures in stock that we think will be perfect, and if you don't like our picks, we're having a 20% off promotion for all non-sale items. For your little baby boy, we love the Catimini Spirit Zip cardigan. It's perfect gift for Valentine's Day, but will lbe great all through spring and summer as well. 
We're a huge fan of BabyLegs baby leggings and they make the ideal gift (or splurge for yourself, because we're warning you, these are absolutely addicting)! My 3rd child is a very stubborn little thing. She insists on wearing dresses every day of the week and she doesn't like the way tights feel. Too small, too big, and too tight! Baby legs are a great solution for her long legged, skinny body. The creator of baby legs thought her baby deserved a fashionable break from diapers during a diaper rash episode. Other moms are using them as arm warmers, or over pants during walks outside. So may uses and so many choices.

These ideas don't work for you? Browse montkid.com and look for other sweet treats. Our gift to you? Coupon code: sweet is good for 20% off  all non-sale items. Offer valid through February 15th 2010.

Race Day

Now, things are really rolling. The winter outerwear season is in full swing and we have been out enjoying it. Two of our daughters decided to get into the sport of ski racing this year - actually at the tail end of last year. As I searched for gear to get them ready, I realized that there were very few sites offering products for alpine ski racing. We thought maybe montkid.com could start specializing in a few necessities.  Maybe it's just because it is an Olympic year, but we had so much fun outfitting both local athletes as well as athletes as far away as Italy, that we are amping up this category for next year. We are hooked on Spyder Race Suits. The fit and style just can't be matched. Young athletes even have the chance to look like their idols with suits matching Lindsey Vonn or the Jamaican race team. Cool! These suits are so great, Spyder is 100% sold out and it's only January! If your size and color options are not available, wait until next year - the suits graphics and colors get even better!

We are also stocking up on POC Helmets. We have spent the past year researching the helmet market and really feel that POC represents the best of the best. POC is a Swedish company, built on a strong mission; to do everything possible to save lives and to reduce consequences of accidents, for gravity sports athletes, by developing and renewing what personal protection is all about. Of course, our girls like them because they are comfortable, warm and look really cool on! Our oldest daughter wears the Pocito - and that is now her nickname on the racing team. The POCito Skull helmet uses a softer lining, which provides much better shock absorption at lower speeds and force. The helmet also has adjustable sizing, which allows the child to grow with the helmet. At the back of the goggle clip there is a panel for writing down a parent’s contact information and emergency medical information. Mounted beneath the shell, there is a Recco® avalanche rescue reflector. For maximum visibility in daylight and twilight, the helmet is fluorescent orange or pink and has reflective stickers. A detachable LED lamp is included. Adjustable size from 50. The one thing everyone says about her is how easy it is to spot her on the mountain -she can always be picked out in a crowd.

Our 7 year old daughter was born with a slightly larger head than her big sister (don't you worry, it's not abnormally big!), so she is wearing the Skull Comp in this beautiful high gloss red. The POC Skull Comp has been redesigned with a new Bone Shell. Freakin awesome is what it is. I can't believe I'm so giddy about helmets. Call us to chat more about fit and function.
Did you make it to the end of this blog? Reward coming... use coupon code: raceday at checkout for 20% off. Offer valid on all regular priced merchandise until Jan. 31st.

Free Fed Ex 2nd Day Shipping

For the first time ever, we are offering Free FedEx 2nd Day shipping on every order placed within the United States. We will be rolling out this coupon to the masses late Saturday or early Sunday. We will also be taking the majority of items off sale during this promotion. We're giving our blog readers the opportunity to get Free 2 Day shipping while items are still on sale. Shop Now for best selection and best prices! Enter the coupon: Free2 at checkout and select FedEx 2nd day. There should be no charge. Let us know what you think! This promotion will end December 21st.

Behind the Scenes Look at Our Winter Photo Shoot

I've been trying to figure out how to word this post so that I don't come across as a stage mom who forces her kids into modeling. But, really, it's mostly that I'm too busy to plan ahead, and then I'm faced with a photo shoot scheduled mid day and have no kids that can take time off of school but my own. So, this photo shoot, I again, used my own kids and a few of their buddies as models. Modeling for a photo shoot sounds so glamorous until you've done it once.

We really wanted to get Seeley (2 1/2 ) wearing a few items, because like any mom, I think she's darn cute and she can help you imagine what the clothes will look like on your own adorable monster. I didn't, however, want her to help you imagine your own 2 year old throwing an all out fit! We got one picture of our adorable Seeley. The rest look like this! In case you are interested, she is wearing the Patagonia Baby Capilene 3 set and the BabyLegs Pop Heart Leg Warmers. I am modeling a BSF sweatshirt and jeans and did not anticipate being photographed!

Our Gift Giving Guide for Cold Weather Babies

Baby it's cold outside! We've come up with a list of our most popular gifts for baby. Practical enough to keep baby warm, yet stylish enough to elicit the "oohs!", "aahhs!" and "OMG That is so cute!" - reactions we love!

First up, anything from Patagonia is a scene stealer, however, one of our favorites for little guys is the Puffer Vest. When their means of locomotion includes belly crawling, they've got to keep their core warm! The high-loft Puffer Vest uses heat-trapping 200-g Quallofil® polyester insulation to get the job done. If you go with the Niagra Blue color, it matches the SmartWool Stripey Earflap Hat perfectly. The vest is also available in Tender Greens and Sea Pink.

Anything teeny tiny and pink always warms hearts. The PediPed Hannah boot is the perfect contender for this category. Pale Pink leather winter boot with fuzzy white faux fur trim takes this boot from street to party! The Hannah boot can be worn tall or with the fur rolled down for two adorable looks. Pediped also makes the chocolate brown Henry version for the fellas.




Need something to accompany those adorable boots? Legwarmers never get old! They look fantastic with baby girls holiday skirts and dresses and they have the added bonus of keeping those gams warmer than in just tights alone.

We could really go on and on with the gift ideas... Patagonia makes a wonderful water resistant on one side, plush on the other, blankie. They can take it with them on a wet stroller ride, drop it in a puddle, sit in the sand or just love it.

Along with the Stripey Hat from SmartWool, baby hat, we've got over 60 additional baby hat styles to choose from. Any baby wearing a hat that features ears, dino scales, pigtails, puffballs or mohawks looks adorable and most importantly, keeps their bald little head warm through wind, rain or snow.

Our best advice it to just give us a call or drop us an email. We've got lots of baby experience and would love to help you!

Top 10 Winter Essentials

When coming up with our list of essentials items for babies, toddlers and kids, we first look to what adults are wearing. Manufacturers are making kids outerwear as technology rich as what is available for adults. They are breathable, wickable, water resistant, insulated & lightweight. A lot of new parents struggle with the last one – lightweight – the most. A major mistake can be over-bundling your child. The first rule, is to think of what you would be comfortable wearing, and apply that to your baby or child. Also consider length of time your child will be outside and activity level. Riding in a stroller will require more layers – maybe a blanket - than hiking up a hill to sled.

1. Balaclava: Balaclavas provide the best protection for babies head, cheeks, ears and neck.
Just think of what those cute cheeks deserve. Reima makes our favorite wool balaclavas.

2. Mittens: We prefer mittens to gloves for the simple reason that all the fingers can work together in a mitten to stay warm. The mittens from Molehill Mountain feature a long enough wrist gaiter to go over the coat and keep snow and cold out. If your child insists on a glove, look for ones with a zippered pocket for a hand warmer like those from Spyder.

3. Socks: Invest in a pair of merino wool socks from Smartwool. Cotton does not insulate, wick, or dry easily. Smartwool socks go all the way down to a size 6 month and work great as indoor booties as well.

4. Baselayers: Cotton shirts are not a base layer. They hold onto moisture from sweat or melted snow. Merino wool or capilene provides an insulating layer that keeps skin dry. Icebreaker and Patagonia bother offer great base layers for babies and children.

5. Down insulator: We love down for keeping babies and kids warm. A down insulator provides the warmth of a heavy sweatshirt without the bulk. The new high –tech down is also capable of functioning even after it gets wet. It can be worn on its own, or as a mid layer under a jacket on a really cold day. Many thin layers are better than one thick one - the air between layers traps extra warmth and you can regulate your temperature better throughout the day by adjusting your layers.

6. Hat: A hat is essential to keeping body heat from escaping, as well as shedding snow and rain. We look for hats that pull down far enough to cover the ears. Chin ties help keep hats on infant and toddlers heads.

7. Boots: Of course it’s important to find boots that are well insulated and keep babies feet warm, but there are a few other things to look for in a good winter boot. Good traction is important in locations with ice and snow. A boot that is easy to pull on and off will make your life much easier in the 10 step process to getting your child ready for the great outdoors. We love boots by Reima that are insulated and feature a Velcro closure – easy to get on or off even with thick mittens on.

8. Insulated Jacket: To protect kids from the elements, a windproof and water resistant jacket is essential over their layers. Depending on activity level, look for jackets with 120-160 grams of insulation. Obermeyer kids outerwear comes in at the warmest with most jackets providing 200 grams of insulation.

9. Safety Gear: Helmets are essential. Children fall just trying to stand up on skis. A head injury when they are just beginning to form their opinions about participating in a new sport does not go over well. Goggles are another must. They help keep faces warm and improve visibility. Also, apply sunscreen even on cloudy days, as the sun's rays can be extra-intense against the snow.

10. Fun Outerwear: At Montkid.com, we believe in the power of fun and fashion to help build skills and excitement. This is the time when kids can get away with head-to-toe pink or a fierce Mohawk hat. My girls skiing ability improved exponentially the year one wore pink zebra and the other wore black zebra because they were so excited to put on their ski gear.

What's the Warmest Kids Outerwear?

We spent the morning researching the various brands of children's outerwear we carry at montkid.com to determine what we'll recommend when customers email or call us. Since we recommend all brands we carry for certain situations, we'll focus on the question we get the most: What brand of children's outerwear is the warmest? The best way to answer this question is to look at how many grams of insulation an item of children's outerwear has.

Children's Obermeyer
The top rated brand of children's outerwear for warmth is Obermeyer. The warmest kids winter coat for the season is the Girls Posey Jacket at 240 grams and the Boys Sport Jacket also at 240 grams. Both of these jackets are under $100 which is an incredible deal! Most of the other Obermeyer Kids Jackets are roughly 220-240 grams. Obermeyer Kids Snowpants are roughly 100 grams which seems to be the industry average. When we move up into the larger sizes of Children's Obermeyer Jackets (6-18) the insulation drops down to 140 grams.

Children's Patagonia
Patagonia ties for the top spot in our review of warm children's outerwear (Obermeyer gets a tiny edge in terms of number of choices, but we're not allowed to talk about style choices in this article). Patagonia's excellent construction, quality use of materials and strong environmental messages appeal to bajillions of parents. The Puff Rider Jacket features 200 grams of insulation plus a durable water repellent finish to keep them dry when the skies unload.
The good news here, is that this jacket, with all of it's warmth, is available from size 3 months to 14 years! Patagonia edges out Obermeyer in the snow pant department. The Puff Rider Pant features that same 200 grams of insulation but are only available in size 3 months to 3 years old. After that, the kids have to tough it out in the 100 gram Snow Bum Pant.

Children's Spyder
Rounding out our group of brands at the top is Spyder. Spyder's Mini and Bitsy kids jackets in sizes 2-7 feature 160 grams of insulation. The Spyder Girls and Boys Jackets are at 140 grams. Spyder's kids snowpants are between 60 and 80 grams. The warmest little girls and toddler coat from Spyder is the Noatak Down Jacket with 600 fill power goose down. Even though the Noatak is a kids down jacket, it has a water repellent finish.

Reima, Deux Par Deux & Bogner
Of course, we also love Reima for the babies with about 140 grams of insulation in their one piece snowsuits and sets. Deux Par Deux is extremely warm, but doesn't list grams of insulation so we couldn't compare them. Just based on the number of years we've been in the business and our uncanny ability to judge insulation based on touch, we're guessing they have about 140-160 grams for their snowsuits and sets. Bogner is another brand that we love, but does not list their grams of insulation. I think they think they are above such a thing because when we ask, they roll their eyes at us and tell us their outerwear is made of the finest quality materials in the world. The down from the underbelly of the Eider Duck (superior to the goose)! We agree it is awesome. Eiderdown tests at approximately 700 fill power so that's all we can really say about that.

Children's Columbia
Winter wouldn't be winter without a mention of Columbia. Columbia is a wonderful value brand. And warm, too - we think! Columbia is another brand that does not list insulation in grams. It varies piece by piece but we believe it has roughly 100 - 120 grams of insulation. Perfect for most climates -especially toddlers or babies who are not exposed for hours and hours. We especially like their sets, like the Arctic Andrea and the Whoosh.

Did you make it through all that? Has the wave of cold weather hit your area yet? Let's try another private sale. Enter coupon code: warm at checkout for 25% off all regular priced merchandise. Sale runs through November 20th. At which point, we will probably kick off our very public annual Thanksgiving sale (same discount). So, we're giving you the chance to shop early and get the best selection.

Farewell to Reima

Reima was founded in 1944 in Kankaanpää Finland. Reima is the Nordic region’s leading manufacturer of children’s clothes. They have been a personal favorite at Montkid.com for several years. Reima's development of it's Reimatec™ product family was a breakthrough for babies, toddler and children's outerwear that protects in all weather conditions.
All Reima garments are made of waterproof, windproof and breathable Reimatec™ material. Reimatec™ shoes – with the same qualities – protect feet against the wet and cold.

Some of our favorites and best sellers have been the Fivel one piece snowsuit for infants. The Liro one piece snowsuit for toddlers and the Reima Footwear such as the Frozen Flower and Panda. The single item that is always on our list of winter essentials, however, is the Reima Balaclava. Made from a super soft wool, the balaclavas protect those super soft, super kissable cheeks!

Sadly, Reima will no longer be distributing to the US market. Montkid.com bought up the remainder of inventory available for the season, but it won't last long. And once it's gone, it really, truly is gone.

So, we find ourselves on the hunt for a replacement brand. Something that is of equal quality and style. If anyone has any suggestions, let us know!