Conference moira::parenting

At Noelle's 15-month checkup, she was 33 inches tall
and weighed 23 pounds.  At her 2-year well-child
checkup, she was 36 inches and weighed 28 pounds.

I've been lucky with Rugged Bear snowsuits if you happen
to be in the "greater Maynard area".  The jacket has
bows to shorten/lengthen the sleeves and the snowpants
has an extra 2 inches or so.  Noelle got 2 years of
wear out of her first suit, and I'm hoping for 2 years
from the current suit.  There's a Rugged Bear in 
Amherst, NH, and I believe it's a chain with at least
one other location in MA.

- Deb B.

    Hi,
    
    Do you find the two piece sets better (easier to use - get on and off)
    than the one piece outfits?  
    
    I think there's a Rugged Bear in Acton -- so I'll check it out.  Thanks
    for the information.
    
    Lisa

    I asked my daycare provider about this one -- which they preferred: one
    piece or two piece snow suits.  Without hesitation, they said two
    piece.  They explained that it seems so difficult for the kids to move
    around and play in the snow in the one piece outfits.  To me, the kids
    would also seem a lot warmer with the bib-overall style pants
    underneath a warm jacket.  (also, you can just put the jacket on them
    if you want).
    
    There's also a Rugged Bear in Sudbury on route 20 if you're interested. 
    Rugged Bear does seem to have good sales pretty regularly.
    
    Hope this helps,
    
    Alison

    Hello,
    
    There is a Rugged Bear in Sudbury on Rt. 20.  It's in a small villiage
    mall across from Sudbury Crossings.
    
    Linda

    And don't forget the Rugged Bear in the Nagog Park shopping center
    on 2A in Acton (near the AKO facilities)!
    
    I also vote for 2-piece snowsuits.  You get a lot more mileage out
    of them.  At least in my case, my kids would outgrow the jacket, but
    the snowpants were adjustable so they'd get another year out of them.
    Plus, snowpants are pretty generic-looking, so it's easier to hand them
    down from brother to sister (or vice versa) than jackets are.  
    
    I tend to buy my kids' coats pretty big.  You want some room to layer
    sweatshirts, bulky sweaters, etc.  If you buy a coat with elastic or
    Velcro in the cuffs, it'll be easier to get a "custom" fit in the
    sleeves.  Also, I found the parka or anorak-type styles were more
    versatile than the waist-length ski-type jackets.  With a parka or
    anorak, it's not as obvious that they're outgrowing their jacket. :-)
    Plus, if you splurge on a good brand (Rugged Bear, Columbia, etc.),
    you want them to get at least a couple of years out of it!  
    
    Regardless, make sure you can machine wash and dry the coat.  To quote
    my late mother, "No one under 21 should own clothes that have to be
    dry-cleaned." 
    
    

    
    I don't remember anymore with my daughter but I do remember that
    they slow down 18 mo's to 2yrs...not as fast as first year..
    Good luck...my girlfriend buys for next year and has better
    luck now that they are older and don't grow as fast.
    

    
    We went through this with Jonathan .... He needed a new snowsuit
    mid-winter, when he was 1.  I wanted to get one that might also fit him
    'next' (this) winter.  HAHAHAHA!!!!!  I got a 24mos one, which was huge
    for him at the time (12-18mos would've been perfect).  This year he's
    wearing a size 3/4 ... I wouldn't have predicted he'd grow that much!!
    
    ALSO, he grew funny.  Last year he was ALL body.  This year, he's ALL
    legs.  Last year, even if I'd bought bigger, I wouldn't have bought
    bigger than a sz 2 pant.  He needs a sz 3.  The coat is a 3 or 4.
    (one's a 3, one's a 4).  
    
    I think I'd only buy ahead if either you're getting SUCH an awesome
    deal, you won't mind if it won't fit. or, you know someone else who is
    smaller than your girls that may be able to wear it if it doesn't fit.
    
     

    
    
    	Well, my boy is 2 years old, and he's about 29 lbs. Unfortunatley I
    can't help you out on the snowsuit part, he gets his from his cousins,
    ages 4 and 5. 
    	But, he's a little over 2 1/2 feet tall.,.....I think. Sounds awful
    but haven't been to doctor in a long time. :)
    
    			Katy

We try not to buy more than a season ahead of time.  Course you have to.
By the time its really winter, the stores have summer stuff out.

I'd hate to predict what size either of my kids would be a year from now.

Charlie

    I don't remember what sizes my kids wore (youngest is 24) but my
    grandson wore at 14 months wore a 2T or 24 months size and this year at
    26 months is wearing sizes 3T and 4T(London Fog).  He is 34"tall and 33
    Lbs... is at the 80 percentile in both height and weight.  Sizes on
    snowsuits depends on the manufacturers.  EMS snowsuits tend to run a
    little larger while London Fog seems to run small.
    
    At a year old K.J. was wearing 2T and 3T in Healthtex and Oshkosh
    clothing and weighed around 27 lbs.....  but children grow in spurts
    and then have a lull where they don't seem to grow at all..... 
    
    Carol

    Thanks to everyone who has posted responses.  I'm not sure I can
    accurately forcast how my girls will grow -- It doesn't sound like an
    exact science!  
    
    What I have decided is to buy two-piece outfits rather than the
    one-piece snowsuits.  At least that way I can adjust the bib-overall
    part for length (in case they grow quickly).
    
    Thanks again.

    One more piece of advice for those who buy ahead (like I do)...
    
    I bought a light-colored snowsuit for my daughter to wear from 2 to 3.
    I did this purely on what was cute and she might look good in. After
    all, it worked fine when she was 1.  This is not good.  An active
    toddler can trash a light-colored snowsuit in no time.  I ended up
    washing it a *lot* more often than I wanted.  I advise a purple, bright
    blue, fushia, or the like.  No pastels.
    
    I have bought ahead for both my kids from before they were born.  So
    far, I haven't gotten burned.  But they are not huge kids and tend to
    grow fairly evenly.
    
    judy