any advise on taking younger kid to ski pls

[tigeryuan]

taking my ds (23 months old) to ski end of jan for a week in italy.

do i need to get him those thermal top & long john stuffs??

any advises & tips pls?

I would, or use long sleeved t-shirt tops and tights ! With ours in serious cold, we'd do a bottom layer of thermal vest and longjohns/tights , then jogging bottoms/leggings and a poloneck shirt top with crotch poppers such as in Gap, fleece and snowsuit(plus hat , mittens and a neckwarmer ). If it was warmer we'd drop the fleece and perhaps the jogging bottoms. The problem is that at that age they aren't moving around enough to keep themselves warm. Try to get gloves with long cuffs so they don't gape at the wrist and thermal lined, waterproof snow boots (not just wellies !). Wet feet and cold fingers will make everyone miserable !

hth

will the normal cotton stuffs work, or i've to buy the thermal stuffs?

He may be a boy but tights will be fine, they are standard gear for boys in Austria! H&M even sell boys style tights on the continent!

I live in Austria and ds (now 3) wears vest, cotton polo neck (H&M) or long sleev tshirt, fleece & snow jacket on top half and cotton long johns & salopettes on bottom half. Last winter went he was 24-30 months it was long sleeve vest with crotch poppers, (plus sometimes long sleeve tshirt on top) fleece, tights, socks and snowsuit.

Agree you need good boots but you don't need to spend a fortune. I used an adult fleece "headover" in lieu of a scarf. Most difficult is gloves, always had problems getting ds to wear them!

Should have added that sun (in terms of glare) might be a problem, depends on Jan weather. Might need sunglasses but they are really difficult for a 2 year old to keep on in my experience (buy very cheap ones and be prepared for ds to break them at first wearing!).

thanks for your advises.
i did buy him a pair of sunglasses..tights is a good one. will check it out @ h&m.
do kids skill in austria at that age?

Try the baby banz or kidz banz sunglasses - they hav a strap that goes all the way round their head so stay on.

My DD (2.5) loves them and as soon as DH puts his on she wants hers!

Not 100% sure about Austria but you rarely find group lessons for kids under 4 (occcasionally 3 1/2) in Switzerland. Also it can be hard to get hire equipment to fit as most of the locals would buy or hire or for the season. tbh many kids don't have sufficent strength and coordination yet.

he will be in childcare for few hours and i haven't decided what activity afterwards yet.
i would like him to try skiing, but, i also worry that he is far too young!!

Sledding is fun, there may be a dedicated run down the moutain, and you could always walk along the cleared paths with him in tow. You should be able to hire one from a sports shop if the accommodation doesn't have them. Ice skating (some rinks have push-along supports and double bladed strap-on skates for little ones), trips up the cable car or gondola for a drink at the restaurant at the top of the mountian (he'll be free you would probably have a skipass to use)or if it really cold perhaps the resort has a pool or a hotel one which is open to the public. Hope you all have fun ! Where are you going ?

a lot of places have really fun snow garden for little ones. I'd also stronglyrecommend a balaclava

Hi Tigeruan, I´ve known 2 year old locals ski (alone!!!!) in Austria, watched over by all the ski instructors and other locals. 23 months might also be too young for yours to enjoy it though..

Think 2 is definitely a bit young for a non-local (ie. used to it) child to ski...

Took DS2 when he was 2.5 last year, and we had those little plastic skis, but he wasn't that interested.

He did love playing in the snow though and sledging, rides on a sleigh, and going up in a (non-busy) cable car.

Do you have all the kit you need? I was about to sell a Gap puffa jacket on eBay for a 2-3 year old? (DS wore it last year and was really snug!!)

sorry mo2, but if you haven't already got your gear tigeryuan, an all in one is really a must over jacket & trs. even at the age of 6 & def for a 2 yr old. snow will go up back & it will be a miserable experience for all. Do you already have accomodation? If not can post some good sites if you need

ernest - aha yes - I agree actually, but we teamed up the jacket with salopettes with very high back to prevent this...

Personally, we found the all in ones a pain in the backside - hopeless to get off by themselves (if in Kids Club), and if there's an 'accident' (of the wet variety' then you have to wash the whole thing, whereas it was easy to have two pairs of salopettes and alternate them.

thanks.
i got all gear now.. ski jacket with salopettes, sunglasses, ski boots, ski socks (H&M), fleece, thermal tops & long john (M&S).

i prefer the salopettes as i found it easier if i need to change his nappies!

can't wait !!!!!!!!