Anrainy autumn daysYoung and old alike need good rainwear. Children in particular should be well protected from head to toe. Rainwear for children should be functional, practical and yet colorful and cheerful. We will tell you in the article which items of clothing are suitable. Excursions on the beach or in the forest are a lot of fun, even in rain and wind.
Rainwear for children aged 5 and over: the rain jacket
Usually there are twoTypes of rain jackets: The normal rain jackets are very thin and made of PVC or polyester. They only offer rain and wind protection, but do not keep you warm. The advantage: These jackets can be combined with a matching jacket or vest. This means the child is well prepared for changeable weather. There is also a second variant and these are the so-called waterproof jackets, which consist of two layers. The top layer is made of polyester and the bottom layer is made of fabric. These jackets can also be lined.
No matter which of the two variants you choose, the rain jacket should definitely be able to do one thing: protect against rain and water. But waterproof is not the same as waterproof. The European standard EN 343 provides more clarity about which materials can be described as waterproof. The water permeability of a textile is determined after a special test. Water is pressed onto the rain jacket under pressure. If more than three drops penetrate the fabric, it is no longer considered waterproof. The pressure with which the water was pressed onto the jacket is called the “water column”. The higher the water column value, the better the rain protection. Already from 1300 millimetersa rain jacketDesignated as waterproof, you can find the stamp on the inside of the garment. However, this value is not sufficient and cannot provide protection in heavy rain. The rainwear is divided into four categories; we will explain the differences to you below.
1. 500 millimeters of water columnoffers only limited protection, namely from drizzle. Although in Germany this value is enough to call the rain jacket waterproof, it is not suitable for playing on damp ground or going for a walk in heavy rain.
It's on the stamp4000 millimeters of water column,then it means that the rain jacket can effectively protect the children from heavy rain and wet ground.
A value between4000 and 10,000 millimetershas high-quality rainwear that also protects against very heavy rain and bad weather.
Values that are above10000 millimetershave professional protective clothing.
To prevent water from penetrating the rain jacket so quickly, the garment can also be treated with a waterproofing spray. A rain jacket that is considered waterproof not only protects against water, but also against strong winds.
Especially for children, the rain jacket should not only provide rain protection, but also be breathable. Children are very active and sweat and need clothing that wicks this moisture away from the skin and to the outside. To determine a fabric's breathability, manufacturers measure the moisture released in grams per square meter for 24 hours. The same applies here: the higher the value, the more breathable the clothing. High-quality rain jackets are therefore equipped with membranes.
The rain jacket is considered breathable from just 1,000 g/m²/24h. However, this outerwear is only suitable for short-term use and is recommended for low to moderate physical activity.
If you want to buy rainwear for children that can be worn for hours, then you should choose a rain jacket with a value of around 3,000 g/m²/24h.
Clothing with a value of over 5,000 g/m²/24h is suitable for heavy physical exertion such as jogging.
Values over 10,000 guarantee high breathability for professional athletes.
We have already mentioned that the rain jackets can have multiple layers. Now we will give you an overview of the variants:
1. Lined rain jackets. The outer material is polyester, the inside of the rain jacket is lined with a soft fabric. The lining increases wearing comfort.
2. The three-layer rain jacket is made of a robust outer material such as polyester, a membrane layer and lining. It is extremely comfortable and offers good protection even in heavy rain. The three-layer rain jacket is sufficient as outerwear and you do not need to also put a vest or jacket on the child underneath.
3. The softshell jackets are not waterproof. Above all, they protect against abrasions caused by friction while playing. In contrast, hardshell rain jackets are considered more robust and waterproof.
Rainwear for children aged 5 and over: the mud trousers
The mud or rain pants together with the rain jacket form the perfect outfit for cold and rainy autumn days. The garment is available in two versions: The dungarees with shoulder straps are perfect for the cold autumn months of October and November. The trousers do not keep you very warm and are therefore worn in late summer to early autumn. If there is already snow, parents should opt for hardshell trousers. Because ice and snow place high demands on children's clothing and the trousers have to withstand harsher conditions. But before you invest a lot of money in rainwear, you should ask yourself the question: Where, how often and how long will it be worn? If the child plays in the sandbox for an hour a day, then they don't need hardshell trousers. A pair of mud pants made of polyethylene is sufficient. If the children attend a forest kindergarten, they should be dressed accordingly.
Rainwear for children of all ages: rubber boots
Rubber boots are an absolute must when it rains because they are guaranteed to keep your feet dry and protect against moisture and mud. The rubber boots are – similar to the rain jacket – available with and without lining. It depends on the weather which model should be worn. In summer and autumn, children's feet sweat significantly more and the inner lining absorbs sweat. In the end, children's feet stay wet all day long.
Rainwear for children: Südwester rain hat
The sou'wester was originally used by sailors as a headgear in bad weather. Thanks to their wide brim, no rainwater can run into your clothes. Nowadays the rain hat is made from numerous materials. When buying, you should especially make sure that the outer material is waterproof and that the seams are welded. For example, impregnated cotton comes into question. Although it cannot provide 100% protection from rain, the fabric is breathable. Another option is polyester. An adjustable storm strap with a stopper also contributes to comfort.
Rainwear for children between 1 and 3 years: The rain overall
There is another option for babies and toddlers between 1 and 3 years: the rain overall. It is ideal for crawling children and for children who like to play while sitting. Because the garment scores with a decisive advantage. In contrast to a rain suit, no moisture can penetrate between the rain jacket and the mud pants. In the best case scenario, the rain overalls have a hood. A full-length zipper makes it easy to put on, and elastic cuffs on the sleeves and trouser hems increase comfort and allow free movement. This rainwear is water-repellent and protects against wind, but does not keep you warm. The child should wear trousers or tights and a sweater underneath.
Rainwear and child safety
The right rainwear should not only protect children from wet and wind. As with outerwear, parents should also attach importance to safety. That's why most rain jackets and pants have reflective stripes so that children are clearly visible both in the forest and on the street. If these are missing, visibility can be increased using strong colors. Children love colorful clothing in cheerful colors anyway. The rain jackets, mud pants and rubber boots have now become real eye-catchers. They are richly decorated with different prints and are in no way inferior to normal children's clothing in terms of fashion.
Rainwear for children: This is what you should pay attention to when cleaning
It goes without saying that children's rainwear gets very dirty. This makes it all the more important that all items of clothing are cleaned daily. At the same time, rainwear is very sensitive and you should pay attention to a few things every time you wash it. Unless the manufacturer states otherwise, you can wash the rainwear gently. Just stick to a few basic rules:
- Only use liquid mild detergent as it does not contain bleach, enzymes or optical brighteners that can damage the textiles.
- Do not use fabric softener.
- Wash the rainwear at a low temperature. 30 degrees Celsius proves to be optimal.
- Avoid spinning the laundry too vigorously. A spin speed between 600 and 800 proves to be optimal.
- It is best to air dry the rainwear instead of putting it in the tumble dryer. Higher temperatures can damage the textiles.
- If necessary, you can re-waterproof children's rainwear after washing. There are special sprays for this purpose.
Children's rainwear: Thanks to numerous color and print variants, the rain jacket has become a real statement
Many manufacturers offer rain jackets and umbrellas with the same patterns
When the weather changes and it drizzles, the little ones can only wear a rain jacket and rubber boots
The rain jackets in bold colors are clearly visible
Waterproof is not the same as waterproof: There are several values that you should pay attention to when buying rainwear
There are a few things to consider when buying a rain jacket
In late summer, only rubber boots are sufficient
Rainwear for toddlers
