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Didriksons Waterproof Rainset |
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Children love jumping through muddy puddles! This soft and flexible waterproof set in a breathable material is manufactured by a company that has been providing gear for Swedish fishermen for a century. These clothes allow children to have fun in comfort while keeping their clothes underneath safe and dry. Vibrant colours add to the fun, while reflective strips ensure visibility to cars even at dusk. The dungarees fit over shoes for easy and quick dressing. The hood is particularly well designed, with a built-in peak which doesn't flop over the face, giving both protection and visibility. Contrasting colours of jacket and dungarees make a change from the monochrome of many other brands. With regards sizing, trousers are long compared to the jacket sizing, but maybe our kids have short legs! Come in a good selection of colours.
Overall - excellent waterproofing and reasonably priced for the quality.
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Nanook Sympatex Jacket |
Merchant's Review
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This stylish jacket in a high-tech, fully breathable membrane from Sympatex offers complete protection against both wind and rain in a light, easy-care material. In accordance with the Scandinavian philosophy of dressing in flexible layers, the jacket is generously cut to leave room for a fleece underneath, and works well all year round.
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Keela Waterbugs |
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We got our little boy a one piece waterproof made by Keela. It has been fantastic as he loves jumping in puddles and the elasticated cuffs and legs seem to keep nearly all the water out. It is also pretty cool looking too and we have had lots of people ask us where we got it!
They come in sizes 6, 12 & 18 months and 2, 3 & 4 years, and there are two colour combinations red with navy or navy with red.
John Palmer, Worcester
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Rukka waterproofs |
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These fantastic waterproofs are made by a manufacturer of biker gear - which could explain why they work!! They come as a jacket and salopettes. PU outer. Jacket has elastic wrists, large hood, drawstring hem and popper fastenings. Elasticated waist and ankles on the salopettes with elastic straps and click fastenings, though the hood could do with some support as it flops over the eyes. These appear to be fully waterproof, and sweatiness isn't really a problem with toddlers. Our little boy has been virtually immersed in water and only ended up with wet feet and wrists.
Sizing is by height and you can get either red or blue. Quite pricey, but comparable with a decent all-in-one waterproof.
Overall - good waterproofs which last (now on their 3rd toddler!)
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Mac in a Sac Overtrousers |
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One of the things we liked about these trousers is that they aren't salopettes! So, great for whipping down when your toddler gets desperate half way round a walk... The elasticated waist has plenty of give and even stays up on skinny kids, and the velcro tabs on the legs are great for tucking into wellies. We weren't so keen on the straight leg style - it looks good but you have to take off boots/shoes in order to get the trousers over even little size 8 feet, which is a hassle in driving rain and howling gales.
These trousers fared well in the waterproof tests of puddles, boats and driving Hebridean rain. The fabric is thinner than other trousers tested, so durability is unknown, but seams are taped and the trousers are breathable and pack away into their own carry sack. This range offers good value for money as they are significantly cheaper than heavier alternatives and do offer good protection. Trousers and matching jackets available in a variety of sizes.
Overall - Good value for money waterproofing, but don't fit over shoes.
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Tells Waterproof Dungarees |
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Seriously heavy duty waterproofs from Scandinavia, designed for puddle monsters!
The salopettes we tried are made from heavy duty, breathable fabric with funky rainbow straps! The sizing is generous, and elasticated leg bottoms are wide enough to fit over little wellies for putting on in a rainstorm. The legs have footloops to prevent trousers riding up and there are side poppers to adjust the width at the waist. We've found them best outside wellies, as tucking the bulky fabric in can be uncomfortable. Our only criticism is regarding the fastenings on the straps, which are a bit small and fiddly to be easily undone with cold, wet, adult hands and impossible with gloves on.
The dungarees come in sizes from ages 1-9 (the 1-2 years are big on our 2 year old) and in 4 bright colours.
Overall - excellent waterproofing and built to last!
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Abeko All-in-One Rainsuit |
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A fantastic fully waterproof yet soft and lightweight suit for the young puddle monster.
This suit is breathable, waterproof and very durable! Sizes are generously proportioned so there is plenty of room for warm layers underneath and movement is not restricted, but it may be baggy on skinny toddlers. The elasticated wrists and ankles fit snugly on the arms and over wellies. The fleece collar makes the outfit comfortable around the neck and the hood is detachable. To top it all the suit is fully washable so just pop it in the machine after a days play and it is good as new for the next outing! The suit comes in two colour combinations for boys and girls and sizes from 6 months to 4 years.
Overall – One of the best all-in-one suits on the market
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Helly Hansen Adventure Set Waterproofs
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These waterproofs are the bee's knees and have all the quality and detail that you expect from Helly Hansen. The oil skin fabric is thick and durable and should keep the wearer dry even in the heaviest storm but at the same time they are very flexible and so won't restrict your child's movement. The set comes as separate salopettes and coat. The coat has a detachable hood, reflective stripes on the arms and back, fleece lined elasticated cuffs, pockets and weather proof zip and popper fastens down the front. The salopettes are elasticated around the waist and ankles to provide an excellent fit. They have adjustable and removable foot stirrups. The shoulder buckles are strong and simple to use making them very child friendly! Available for ages 1-6 and in a selection of colours.
Overall– A superb set of waterproofs that will keep your child dry even in the worst storms.
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Abeko Waterproof Trousers |
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Another great product from Abeko's brilliant range of waterproofs – the Scandinavians really do know how to design clothes to keep you dry!
These are baggy, durable trousers without the awkward bib and braces of salopettes. Leg bases are wide enough to fit over shoes/wellies and elasticated to keep in place. The waist has loose elastic and a drawstring to adjust for skinny kids (mine!) or extra layers. These have been thoroughly tested on the daily school run by boat as they are easy to put on/take off when in a hurry and have kept legs thoroughly dry even in stormy conditions.
Available in 4 colours from ages 3-11.
Overall – Great waterproofs and easy to get on over shoes. My favourite trousers of all tested!
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Marmot Precip Jacket (Boys/Girls
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A great lightweight, breathable and durable jacket that packs down very small and so is perfect to pop into a rucksack or pushchair in case of wet weather or as a windproof layer.
The build quality is excellent with taped seams, zipper and Velcro storm proof closure and soft chin guard. The hood and cuffs are elasticated to provide a reasonably snug fit and the overall shape allows plenty of room for movement and extra layers which are all essential for active kids. These jackets have coped with all our little reviewers put them through!
Sizes range from small to extra large to fit kids from 6 to 16 years of age, though there are no toddler versions, and there are a range of cool colours for both boys and girls. Adult versions are also available. |
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Nanook Polartec Microfleece Jacket |
Merchant's Review |
The Scandinavian tradition of dressing in layers ensures optimal preparation for anything the weather gods can throw at you when out and about. This wonderfully soft jacket in finest Polartec microfleece is incredibly light and easy to carry along in a backpack, yet provides snug warmth when the temperature suddenly turns colder.
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Helly Hansen K Shelter Microfleece Jacket |
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This lightweight, microfleece jacket is great for layering. The thin but warm fabric ensures insulation without bulk and as such it's great under waterproofs for that extra bit of warmth. The sizing is long and thin - the picture shows our slim 2 year old in an age 3 jacket. As the jacket is slim fitting we found we couldn't fit a jumper underneath it as the sleeves were too narrow. It's therefore not ideal for winter coat use, but is great as a cardigan or mid-layer. On its own it would make a good coat for spring or cooler summer days.
We particularly liked the grown-up shape to this jacket which comes in pink, turquoise or navy for ages 1 to 9.
Overall - a good mid-layer, flexible jacket for spring/summer but too thin for use as a winter coat on its own.
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Nanook Polartec Fleece Overall |
Merchant's Review |
This thermal all-in-one in a warm fleece with water-resistant finish is suitable for children up to 18 months old. Fold-over pockets keep little hands and feet snug in the buggy or back carrier, while optional stirrup straps fit over toddler boots. The two handy front-opening zips avoid having to disturb a sleeping baby when arriving indoors, making this a perfect all-round outfit for the buggy.
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Bush Baby Snugbug |
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The best bit of kit we have brought is a Bush Baby fleece ‘all in one' snug suit. We use it all the time in both the pushchair and papoose. Our little girl hates gloves so the fold over arms and feet are fantastic for keeping her really warm. We always pack this in our baby kit bag as it doesn't take up much space and we have something to keep her really warm if the weather suddenly changes.
The Snugbug suit comes in three sizes (0-6months, 6-12months and 1-2yrs) and four colours (royal blue, pale blue, red and pink).
Helen Robertson, West Yorkshire
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Columbia Sportswear Company Snowtop II Bunting
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A lightweight fleece all in one suit which will keep the little one warm on chilly days.
The suit has a single long zip which allows easy access for nappy changes. The legs and arms have foldable cuffs so that hands and feet can be completely covered for extra warmth. The hood has an elasticated hem so that it fits snugly round babies face. Comes in sizes between 6-24 months and in a variety of colours and patterns. The suit packs up relatively small and so is great for packing in your bag just in case baby needs an extra layer if the weather turns cold.
Overall – A warm, cosy and soft suit that is a perfect all year round addition to your kit bag.
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Icebreaker Thermals |
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These children's thermals are made from pure Merino wool, and are unbelievably soft and flexible! We tried the Bodyfit 200 series, a finely knit base layer, which can also be worn as a T-shirt and leggings, or even as camping pyjamas for chilly nights. The fine, pure wool fabric keeps little ones warm, removing the need for massive coats. The top is long sleeved with a classic round-neck fit, with “Icebreaker” spelt out in animal pictures – popular with our little testers! The leggings are a fairly slim fit, with soft elastic at the waist.
The thermals come in a range of boys' and girls' colours, from 1-12 years. We found the sizing fairly large in terms of height; the 2-year old leggings are 7cm too long for our 2-year old tester and a better length for her tall 4-year old brother! This could in part be due to the broad height range for the size; 2 years is from 88-100cm, so there is plenty of room for growth – they just need to be tucked into socks at the smaller end of the scale!
Overall - lovely, soft and natural fibre outdoor clothing with no compromise on quality. And best of all….each garment has a barcode so you can go online and meet the sheep that made your thermals!
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Buff Headgear |
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The Buff comes in baby, junior and adult sizes, original and polar styles, and a multitude of funky designs. Learning how to use it can take a while (instructions on the packaging and an instructional video on the website), but once mastered the Buff can be used in many different ways; hat, balaclava, scarf, headband or invent your own, and it is this versatility that makes it great for year-round use. The polar Buff is perfect for winter with the fleece band providing extra warmth around the neck or head. The original Buff is useful all year for a little extra warmth, as a windbreak or sun protection.
We tested both original and polar Buffs in all the sizes available and found them to be a very handy addition to the day sack. It is worth trying them for size in the shop and to check that your child will wear it – we found that some kids loved them while others wouldn't go near them, but the variety of designs helps persuade fashion conscious toddlers! The adult Buff was popular with sporty folk as it makes a perfect cycling neckerchief and a wrist/headband for runners.
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Tells Rain Hat |
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A sou'wester style hat with a wide brim and long back that protects both the head and the neck from the wind and the rain. The hat is made from a soft and flexible waterproof and breathable material that makes it comfortable to wear. The thin chin strap helps to keep the hat in place in windy conditions. The hat is not lined so offers very little thermal insulation making it great for wet spring and summer days but not ideal in the winter. Available in four bright and cheerful colours and in three sizes for kids aged between 1-8 yrs.
Overall – A bright and comfy rain hat for warm wet days.
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Helly Hansen Buster Hat |
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A waterproof, fleece lined hat with peaked brim and earflaps which fasten under the chin. A great idea to keep kids warm and dry on stormy winter days, but we thought the design needed rethinking. The head diameter given on the hat didn't fit on even smaller heads, making the hat just too tight for comfortable use. The crown of the hat was too deep, leading to the hat coming down too far over the face, which also resulted in the earflaps being too long to fasten comfortably under the chin. Our daughter really didn't like it and it was a struggle to get the photograph before she took it off, so we didn't get chance to properly test the waterproofing.
Overall – Would fit children with long, narrow heads but buy big.
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Abeko Fleece Lined Mittens
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These waterproof mittens are great for playing in the snow and Abeko's lovely waterproof fabric means that they are soft and flexible as well as very durable. The mittens are long so that they extend over the top of the toddlers coat sleeve and have both elasticated cuffs and wrist straps to enhance the fit and ensure they remain in place. These mittens are also fleece lined for warmth, however, we found that on very cold days they were not quite warm enough and a pair of liner gloves was needed. Available in red and navy for kids between 1–8 years of age.
Overall - A handy mitten that is great for snowball fights, though the lining's a bit thin.
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Helly Hansen K Explorer Mittens |
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Waterproof, fleece lined mittens for winter warmth and playing in the snow and ice. Though not suitable for picking up smaller objects (or holding comfort blankets!), these are a great over-mitt to keep little hands toasty if the baby is sat in the papoose or pushchair for long periods. The lining is a bit thin for sufficient warmth if building snowmen, but the generous sizing allows these to fit over a normal pair of fleece mittens. In fact, the sizing is a bit too generous for pre-schoolers as the mittens fit small adult hands! The mittens come in navy or pink.
Overall - A good waterproof over mitten but needs an extra layer for real warmth.
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Abeko Polar Paws |
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A waterproof and fleece lined pair of booties to keep tiny feet warm and dry. These booties come in one size to fit babies between 6-18 months and are perfect for little ones who are cruising and crawling. As well as elasticated cuffs these booties also have an elastic strap to hold them in place both over trousers and just above the ankle. The booties are fleece lined but we would recommend thick socks underneath for extra warmth.
Overall - Perfect for adventurous babies on the move or a windproof layer for those in slings and backpacks, but the lining's a bit thin.
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Bug In a Rug |
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The Australian "Bug in a Rug" is versatile and cosy to keep your baby snug and warm in buggies, prams, papooses, car seats and just about anywhere else! We found these absolutely brilliant with our two and used them from birth for those first trips out.
* Put Baby's feet in the fleecy legs, wrap the flaps over their body and fasten with the velcro to keep them snug and warm.
* When you get into the warm, simply open the flaps and cool your baby down without having to remove them from the blanket; ideal when Baby is asleep!
* Can be used with 5 point harnesses
m* Integral hood so you don't even need to remember a hat and the built in feet keep little legs warm.
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Fleurville Sling Tote Diaper Bag |
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A well thought out and stylish nappy bag that looks so good you'll want to use it everyday!
This tulip shaped designer bag has three compartments, a large central one and two smaller ones on either side. Each compartment has a variety of pockets to hold the many different items you need on an average day out with the baby. There is a zipped pocket for valuables, a karabiner key clip and fleeced lined pockets so that your sunglasses don't get scratched! Also comes with an insulated bottle pouch, a wipes case and changing cloth/mat. The outside of the bag is vinyl coated and so very easy to clean and it comes in a variety of colours and patterns to suit all tastes. The bag has a detachable shoulder strap, tote handles and also great o-ring attachments which allow you to hang the bag on your pushchair handle.
Overall – Expensive and sold in very few outlets in the UK but looks great! |
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Sunshine Kids Change ‘n Go |
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Keep all your nappy changing kit together and tidy in this compact and stylish bag which has a velcro strap so it can be attached to any pushchair. The Change ‘n Go bag opens out to reveal a large waterproof and cushioned changing mat with three zippered mesh pockets attached. The pockets are ideal for storage of nappies, bags and creams and a plastic wipes case is included in the kit. There is also a zipper pocket on the outside of the bag that is suitable for valuables. This bag is great for short trips out but we struggled to close it if we put in more than 2 disposable nappies and there wasn't really space for a spare sleepsuit or baby vest. Washable nappies were too bulky to fit in the pockets and so had to be carried in a separate bag.
Overall– A compact way of carrying nappy changing kit on short trips. |
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Sunshine Kids
2 Cool 2-Bottle Travel Insulator
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An insulated and waterproof bag with space for two drinks bottles. This versatile bag attaches to the buggy via its poppered carry handles. The bag can either be used for two bottles or for one bottle and a small packed lunch. As well as the main insulated compartment it has a zippered pocket, open side pocket and name tag slot making it ideal for days out or for your child to take to school, nursery or the childminder's.
Overall– A versatile cool bag that can be easily clipped on or off the pushchair. |
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Sunshine Kids
Warm ‘n Go Travel Bottle Warmer |
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If you are out and about in the car for the day it is handy to be able to warm your baby's bottle while you are on the go. The ‘Warm ‘n Go' system consists of a neoprene bottle holder within which there is a hidden heating element. Simply place your bottle in the holder, plug it into the cars cigarette lighter and the milk will be gently warmed. We found that it takes approximately 30 minutes for an 8oz bottle to warm straight from the fridge. Milk that is already at room temperature will be significantly quicker to warm.
Overall– A handy way to warm milk when you are on the go! |
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