Winter gear vent

[fruitloop]

For mits that won't stay on, I just wrap an elastic around their wrist...works like a charm. I also dress boys in nice pink mits that i have so we can go outside to play.

[sunnydays]

Brigth Sparks...I totally agree! And although I feel a bit bad that the parents are going to have to go shopping AGAIN for mitts...on the other hand, I clearly told them what works from my experience and they ignored it...so it's not my fault!

Fruitloop...sounds like a good idea...although I don't know if I want to get into dealing with a whole bunch of elastics and trying to make sure I can find them etc etc...sounds like one more thing to keep track of in the hectic nature of the `rush to get ready to go out. I don't even want to give the parents that idea or they will be expecting me to do it

[daycarewhisperer]

I provide ALL outdoor gear. That includes Gap warmest coats, gap and assorted hats, sweatpants, sweatshirts, shoes and I make each kid a mitted sweatshirt that goes OVER their coats to protect their hands. Here's a pic of some kids with the sweatshirts on: http://www.nanshouse.com/apps/photos...toid=142470737

The mitted sweatshirts are an extra layer of warmth and because they are double layered they are great mittens without the work of putting on mittens.

The quality of kids gear has gotten so bad that I can't rely on it. I have two of eight kids right now who have already gone thru one coat and we've just had a handful of cold days. The zippers have already broken and most of the kids from home coats have failed velcro already. It used to be by Febuary the stuff started breaking down. Now the quality is so bad the stuff is useless by November.

I have very high quality gear so I just use my own. It takes a ton of real estate and cost a ton of money to accumulate BUT no matter what... every kid has what they need every day.

[playfelt]

Take elastic from the fabric store and sew into rounds like you would use for making wrist bells. That then stretches over their hand and coat.

Since they can't really use their hands much anyways - especially the little ones that are crawling a pair of big kid/adult depending tube socks pulled over the mitts and up their arms works wonders. Used to do this when taking little ones in the wagon as they were unable to pull off the socks.

[sunnydays]

I'm not much of a sewer...well about all I can manage is buttons or small hand-sewn repairs....but I will try to sock idea or at least pass it on to parents and they can provide the socks. I put my daughter mittens from last year on my mittenless child today and they worked like a charm..they have a velcro band that you can wrap right around the wrist and tighten...he didn't get them off once and as a result we spent an entire hour outside because he wasn't crying dur to cold hands!

[sunnydays]

Playfelt you gave me another idea...I bet you can buy a strip of velcro and sew it onto the mittens...I am going to suggest it to his parents and they can use my daughter's mitts as a model

[playfelt]

Actually one thing we did for soccer one year because the coaches were responsible for putting up the nets. Got some industrial strength velcro from homedepot that was sticky back. Then cut pieces of both fussy and loops and stick them back to back. Then they were just wrapped around the posts to secure the nets. That would work for the kids too and be adjustable to whoever needed to use them.

Buying mitts that are too big is the other thing they need to do as in bigger goes up further. You can also cut off the top of a sock - like one that has gotten a hole in the heel. Then hand sew the piece of sock to the inside of the mitts. That makes them longer and they go on before the coat and that helps hold the mittens on - at least there is no wrist showing to get in the snow.

[BrightEyes]

These are good mittens that stay on....and children tend to love the designs:

http://www.mimitens.com/

[sunnydays]

Those are really cute...but I still require strings! I hate hunting for mittens for six different kids...I want them hanging from their jackets so we can put them on when needed and I don't have to think about it.

These are good mittens that stay on....and children tend to love the designs:

http://www.mimitens.com/

[sunnydays]

This sounds perfect! I may pick up some to have on hand! I still have to send my mitten-problem family out shopping though because they bought non-waterproof mitts...good for right now, but not once we get more snow and then the good old slush

Actually one thing we did for soccer one year because the coaches were responsible for putting up the nets. Got some industrial strength velcro from homedepot that was sticky back. Then cut pieces of both fussy and loops and stick them back to back. Then they were just wrapped around the posts to secure the nets. That would work for the kids too and be adjustable to whoever needed to use them.

Buying mitts that are too big is the other thing they need to do as in bigger goes up further. You can also cut off the top of a sock - like one that has gotten a hole in the heel. Then hand sew the piece of sock to the inside of the mitts. That makes them longer and they go on before the coat and that helps hold the mittens on - at least there is no wrist showing to get in the snow.