Cold Southern California Weather Must Haves For Kids

Dressing the kids for school with cold Southern California weather can seem like the ultimate guessing game. Our 1950’s bungalow is sooo cold each morning and during our walk to school, we’re all shattering from the chills. However, by miday, we’re sweating out of our parkas and running for a day at the beach. It’s a strange land here in SoCal!

When I send my babies off to school each day, I want to be sure they’re not only warm enough in the morning, but comfortable to play during lunch time too. Huge winter coats are cumbersome and, after the morning mist dries off, aren’t necessary. So how does one dress their kids for Southern California weather that ranges from 50-80 degrees in one day?

5 Must Haves for Cold California Weather

The key to staying warm during cold California weather is preparing for when it gets hot. Crazy, right? If you dress your kids in the “freezing” cold morning for an afternoon of play, they’ll be sweating like crazy by lunch time. Here are a few key items that I keep in rotation for dressing my kids for the California cold.

1. Hoodie: I like the Danskin Now Fleece hoodies from Walmart because they’re a great balance between affordability and quality. Hoodies are a great SoCal wardrobe addition because they’re lightweight, can cover the head and ears in the morning, yet easily be tied around the kid’s waist or stored away when it gets warm.
2. Undershirts/Camis/Thermal wear: Both my son and daughter wear undershirts and camisoles during the cold California winter. Sometime they both get long sleeve shirts under the outerwear, too. If upon checking the weather it looks like it’ll warm up (which is more than likely the case), my daughter wears a tank top undershirt like shown above. A thin layer snug against the skin won’t add too much bulk but will keep them warm during the brisk mornings.
3. Jeans Alternative: Much of California’s cold weather warrants jeans (I wear them alll the time), but for kids who are active all day long, they might get too warm. Sending them out in shorts seems like torture, though! Lightweight bottoms – like these Danskin Now Girl’s joggers in Aztec – is a great alternative.
4. Light weight sweaters: Layering is key when dressing for Southern California’s cold weather and keeping a rotation of light weight sweaters and cardigans will help keep kids warm. My kids wear them all day long without getting overheated.
5. Morning attire: Especially for SoCal families waking up in beach cities, the morning is the coldest of the entire day. My kids are lucky to have a mom that puts on the heater each morning, because my Cuban mom just yelled “ponte calcetines!” and called it a morning. Anyway, these Eskimuck cushioned slipper socks are super soft and cute. They’re Alina and my favorites this year!

Dressing the kids for a fun Southern California cold weather day can seem like a guessing game. It’s “freezing” in the morning and my midday you’re enjoying a picnic at the beach. Many SoCal moms have learned to embrace the spectrum of wardrobe and find a system that works best for their family. Stick with light weight layers, add soft textured fabric and spunky patterns, and your little ones will be perfectly dressed for SoCal weather.