What to Wear in Lapland with Kids: A Family Packing Guide

If you’re planning a family holiday to Lapland, there’s usually one question that appears quite quickly:

What on earth do the children wear when it’s that cold?

This guide is from one of our own family trips to Finnish Lapland with an almost-four-year-old in tow. I photographed exactly what we packed, how we layered it and – perhaps more importantly – what actually proved useful once we got there.

We’ve updated it for families travelling to Lapland today, but the basic principle hasn’t changed:

You don’t need to pack your child’s entire winter wardrobe. You need good layers, warm hands and feet, plenty of dry spares and clothing they can actually move around in.

On almost all of our Lapland holidays and activities, specialist thermal outerwear and sometimes Arctic boots are provided. Exactly what’s included varies between holidays, so always check your itinerary before buying expensive outerwear you may barely use.

The quick answer: what should children wear in Lapland? For outdoor activities, think in layers:

Layer 1: thermal base layer = A long-sleeved thermal top and thermal leggings worn next to the skin.

Layer 2: warm everyday layer = A long-sleeved top with warm jogging bottoms, fleece-lined trousers or similar.

Layer 3: insulating layer = A fleece or wool layer. On particularly cold days, you can add a lightweight bodywarmer too.

Outer layer = Your child’s winter coat for getting around the resort, or the specialist thermal suit supplied for activities where this is included.

Then add the bits that make an enormous difference: warm socks, insulated boots, mittens, a hat that covers the ears and a neck warmer.

Children also need to be able to move. Piling on so many bulky layers that they can barely bend their knees isn’t helpful – running around, playing in the snow and staying active all help them stay warm too.

Our Lapland packing list for a four-night family holiday

• 2 sets of long-sleeved thermals
• 3–4 long-sleeved tops
• 2 pairs of warm jogging bottoms
• 2 pairs of leggings
• 1 thin fleece
• 1 thicker fleece
• 1 warm woollen jumper
• 1 lightweight fleece-lined bodywarmer
• Underwear and pyjamas
• Several pairs of everyday socks
• 2 pairs of warm wool or thermal socks
• Warm winter coat
• Winter boots
• Trainers or comfortable indoor shoes
• Slippers or thick fleece socks with grip (wooden floors can be very slippy)
• Warm hat
• Neck warmer or buff (If your children are anything like mine, for unknown reasons, they love to chew the inside of the buff/neck warmer, so bring a spare and remember to dry it between activities)
• Waterproof mittens plus spare gloves
• Onesie or dressing gown for downtime (This is great for any downtime as the kids will be comfy and can put it on themselves. Most of the time, you will need to help them dress into their outdoor clothing, which can be quite a fraught experience at times. Again, if your children are anything like mine and desperate to be independent, let them be comfortable and relaxed when they can!)
• Toiletries and any regular medication
• A small head torch (a great way to make any short walks or time spent waiting pass quicker. Look for diamonds in the snow, shine them at the trees to look at the shadows or make shadow puppets!)
• Small activities for restaurants and downtime
• A smarter outfit if you want one for a special dinner

Despite having a lot of experience travelling to the Arctic… we still overpacked. We actually took more than we needed, particularly because specialist boots and outer clothing were provided for some of our activities. That is why checking what’s included in your holiday before you start shopping is probably the best packing tip of all.

One extra tip for younger children

If your child has only recently stopped wearing pull-ups at night or occasionally has accidents, taking a few emergency pull-ups can be a very sensible idea.

A toilet isn’t always immediately available halfway through a husky safari or out in the wilderness – and removing a one-piece thermal suit, several layers and snow boots at speed is not quite as straightforward as doing a quick loo stop at home.

Layer 1: thermal base layers

The base layer sits directly against the skin and helps your child stay warm without adding lots of bulk.

Choose:

• a long-sleeved thermal top
• thermal leggings or long johns
• breathable synthetic fabric or merino wool

Merino is excellent, but you don’t have to buy an expensive merino wardrobe for a short family holiday. Good synthetic thermal layers work perfectly well too.

What matters most is that the fabric can deal with moisture. Children don’t politely stand still admiring the snow – they run, climb, roll around and get sweaty.

For outdoor activity days, avoid relying on a cotton T-shirt as the layer directly next to the skin, as cotton holds moisture rather than moving it away.

Two sets of thermals per child will usually give you enough flexibility for a short break, particularly if you can wash or dry things overnight.

Layer 2: warm, comfortable clothes

Over the thermals, add a comfortable everyday layer.

We used a long-sleeved top and jogging bottoms. Fleece-lined trousers are another good option.

The important word here is comfortable.

Your child may spend the morning on a husky safari, the afternoon building something questionable out of snow and the evening racing another child they’ve known for approximately seven minutes around the hotel.

They need to be able to move.

Jeans are generally better saved for travelling or indoor time rather than being your main outdoor layer.

Layer 3: fleece or wool

Next comes your insulating layer.

A fleece is ideal because it’s warm, relatively lightweight and easy to remove when you go indoors. On very cold days, we sometimes added a bodywarmer too.

One thing families quickly discover in Lapland is that you spend a surprising amount of time putting clothes on and off.

Hotel: warm.
Outside: cold.
Transfer bus: warm.
Husky safari: cold.
Restaurant: warm.

Several flexible layers are far easier to manage than one enormous jumper underneath an already enormous Arctic suit.

The outer layer: coat or thermal suit

For walking between your accommodation, restaurants and transfer vehicles, children will need a good winter coat.

For organised Arctic activities, specialist thermal suits are often provided and worn over your own layers.

Our original layering system was simply:

Thermals → warm clothes → fleece → thermal overall.

That’s still a very good starting point.

Please don’t immediately go out and spend hundreds of pounds on expedition-standard children’s outerwear before travelling. Speak to our team if you are at all unsure.

Hands, feet, head and neck: the bit you really shouldn’t underestimate

You can get the body layers absolutely right and still have a miserable child if their fingers are freezing.

Mittens

For younger children, mittens are generally easier to put on and keep hands warmer than individual-finger gloves. They also trap warm air inside, keeping small hands warmer. I particularly recommend waterproof mittens with a long zip (as seen in the picture) because it is much easier to get a small child’s hand inside them without the usual five-minute battle involving one mysteriously bent thumb.

Bring a spare pair too. Children are extraordinarily talented at making gloves wet.

Hat

Choose a warm hat that properly covers the ears rather than something that merely looks lovely in photographs.

Neck warmer

A fleece or wool neck warmer/buff is easier to manage than a long scarf. And, based on experience, take two for younger children. For reasons known only to children, they seem to love chewing them. I would recommend stuffing a second buff in an inside pocket and swapping them out if needed during any activity.

Socks and boots

Warm wool or technical ski socks are ideal.

Avoid squeezing several thick pairs into already-tight boots. Warmth depends partly on trapped air and good circulation, so footwear should have enough room for toes to move.

If specialist Arctic boots are being provided on activities, you may only need your own waterproof winter footwear for general use around the resort.

What if everything gets wet?

It will.

Snow gets into gloves. Socks get damp. Neck warmers acquire inexplicable amounts of moisture.

Take advantage of any drying cupboard, boot dryer or designated drying area provided by your accommodation, and bring enough spare gloves and socks to rotate things while they dry.

One thing we would change from the original version of this article: don’t use the sauna to dry clothing. Finnish fire-safety guidance specifically warns against drying laundry in saunas because of the fire risk.

A hairdryer can be useful for finishing off a slightly damp glove in a hurry, where the accommodation permits it.

A few small things we were very glad we packed

Hand warmers

A packet of disposable hand warmers takes almost no room in a pocket and can be extremely useful during periods when you’re outside but not moving much. Activate them before going outside, follow the manufacturer’s age and usage instructions, and don’t put them directly against a child’s bare skin.

A head torch

This sounds like a boring practical item. To a small child in a dark snowy forest, it is entertainment. My daughter loved using hers for finding “diamonds” in the snow, looking at trees, making ‘shadow puppets’ and generally turning any short wait into a game.

A onesie or dressing gown

Children spend a lot of time being helped into complicated outdoor clothing in Lapland. Giving them something cosy that they can put on themselves when you’re back inside makes everyone’s life easier.

A few carefully deployed activities

Rather than producing every toy on the first day, keep different things for different situations. A sticker book that’s only for restaurants, for example, has a remarkably long lifespan.

What don’t you need to pack for Lapland?

Potentially quite a lot.

Before buying anything, check your specific holiday to see whether thermal suits, Arctic boots or other specialist clothing are supplied.

You probably don’t need:

• a different outdoor outfit for every day
• multiple enormous jumpers
• expensive technical kit your child will outgrow by February
• several pairs of bulky snow boots if Arctic footwear is supplied
• lots of smart clothes
• half the toy cupboard

Focus your luggage space on good layers and dry spares, particularly socks, gloves and base layers.

Lapland clothing FAQs

How cold does Lapland get in winter?

Conditions vary enormously according to location, month and weather system. During a winter holiday you could experience relatively mild conditions or temperatures well below freezing.

That variation is precisely why layers work so well: you can add and remove insulation rather than trying to find one outfit that works for every possible temperature.

What if everything gets wet?

It will. Snow gets into gloves. Socks get damp. Neck warmers acquire inexplicable amounts of moisture.

Take advantage of any drying cupboard, boot dryer or heated flooring provided by your accommodation, and bring enough spare gloves and socks to rotate things while they dry.

In a pinch, a hairdryer can also be very useful for finishing off a slightly damp neck warmer or glove in a hurry! If you have a problem then please just speak to the guides or local team, they will also be keen to help – no one wants children to get cold during activities.  Spares can normally be found to keep everyone warm and toasty.

Do children need thermals in Lapland?

Yes. A proper thermal base layer is one of the most useful things you can pack for a child travelling to Lapland in winter.

It keeps warmth close to the body without restricting movement and sits comfortably beneath the specialist thermal outerwear commonly used for Arctic activities.

Do thermals have to be merino wool?

No. Merino wool is excellent because it is warm and manages moisture well, but good-quality synthetic thermal clothing can also work extremely well and is often significantly cheaper.

For a growing child taking one short Arctic holiday, you do not necessarily need to buy the most expensive option.

How many sets of thermals should I pack for a child?

For a four-night break, we found two sets worked well. They normally take up very little space

For a longer holiday, add another set or check whether you’ll have easy access to laundry and drying facilities.

Are thermal suits provided in Lapland?

They frequently are for organised Arctic activities, but this varies between accommodation, activity providers and holidays.

Always check the inclusions for your specific trip rather than assuming you’ll receive them.

Do children need snow boots?

They need warm, suitable footwear whenever they’re outside, but specialist Arctic boots may be provided for some organised excursions.

Check before buying. Even where activity boots are included, children will still need appropriate winter footwear for getting around their accommodation and resort.

Should children wear gloves or mittens in Lapland?

For younger children, we’d strongly recommend warm waterproof mittens, because they’re generally warmer and easier to manage. It also allows warm air to circulate around small fingers and pop in hand warmers too.

A lightweight pair of gloves underneath or as a spare can also be useful for short periods outside.

Ready for your family adventure?

Once you’ve solved the clothing question, planning Lapland becomes considerably more exciting.

Whether your children are dreaming of meeting Father Christmas, racing through snowy forests behind a team of huskies or they’re older and much more interested in snowmobiles and the Northern Lights, we’ll help you choose a holiday that genuinely works for your family.

Explore our Northern Lights family holidays or discover our Lapland holidays for older families and teenagers.