Several months ago I agreed to partner with Polarn O. Pyret to help get the word out to parents on how to properly dress their little ones for the cold. Today is the day I (finally!) get to share with you all that I learned. As a result I have a lot to say – but hang in there and you’ll be rewarded with a video (shot by yours truly) and a discount code!
Are you guys familiar with the story behind Polarn O. Pyret? I first heard about them via Design Mom last January and have since become a major PO.P convert.
Here’s part of their mission statement:
We believe in good looking clothes that let children be children. Clothes should withstand wear-and-tear and become part of your family; from brother to sister, cousin to cousin.
With a philosophy like that, how could I not love them?
Along with their super cute trademark stripes, Polarn O. Pyret is also known for producing top-of-the-line outerwear for kids. They’re a Swedish company that goes by the motto, “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes” and they mean it.
Did you know that kids in Sweden play outside for large chunks of the day every day, no matter the weather (rain, snow or wind)? According to this, there are preschools there that don’t even have a building! They’re held entirely outside. From drop-off to pick-up: snack time, play time and learning time all happen outside.
And get this, the babies in Sweden take all their naps outside too. They’re bundled up, put in a stroller and rolled out to the porch where they nap for hours at a time in every kind of weather. And a lot of that weather isn’t pretty because, remember, it’s Sweden… and Sweden is friggin’ cold!!
Suffice to say the Swedes know what they’re talking about when it comes to dressing kids for the cold. Which is why Polarn O. Pyret has launched a campaign to teach parents how to properly dress kids for outdoor play and to show them why it’s OK to get outside and be messy even in cold weather (yay!).
For my involvement in the campaign, I had the chance to try out some of their pieces and to talk to one of their experts. I was very impressed by the style and construction of what we received. Each piece was adjustable in every conceivable way (cuffs, waistbands and leg holes) so I know we’ll get many years of use out of them. With extra features like thumb holes, detachable hoods, taped seams, and pre-bent elbows, everything was also extremely durable and built for play.
I also learned a lot. Did you know, for example, that it’s best to start with a layer of wool (not cotton) when dealing with wet weather? It will help wick the water away from the skin. Be sure to check out PO.P’s super-helpful layering guide for the best tips on layering for the cold. It’s an interactive program that lets you customize your recommendations by age, body part, and layer (next to the skin, middle layer or outer layer).
Finally, if you’d like to learn more about these clothes and how to dress your little ones for the cold, you can also check out the video I put together on my experience here. It’s a little long-ish but there’s a lot of good stuff in there (I promise).
And here’s the really good news. To help keep your kiddos warm and dry this season, Polarn O. Pyret is generously offering up a 20% discount on full price items to MPMK readers! Just use the code: MESSYKIDS at checkout, good until December 31st, 2011. Happy Holidays!
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