As summer comes to an end, the inevitable chilly, wet weather is just around the corner. With both my kids in school, they're going to need a good set of wet-weather gear that's warm, waterproof, and safe (both in how they are made and what they are made of) for those dreary days at recess. I could easily find jackets that meet my first two criteria, but the last one's a challenge – many waterproof clothes on the market today contain PVC or phthalates, the same chemicals used in the shower curtains that have been shown to release volitile organic compounds (or VOCs). I would prefer my kids not to be exposed to those chemicals, let alone wear them on their backs.
Changing Hands
Alexandra Anglin-Shields shares my concerns. So when her first child was very young, they got their first set of Puddlegear, a company that sells chemically inert, waterproof and windproof raingear for children, most of which are certified to be free of over 100 harmful chemicals by oeko-tex. These coats and pants come from the Swedish company Abeko who've been making raingear for North Sea fishers for over 65 years. The European manufacturing of Puddlegear clothing makes for a design with many safety features such as no drawstrings, a detachable hood, reflective accents, and safety snaps that undo if the child gets snagged while on the playground or in nature. We can certainly understand why Alexandra was concerned when the original owners of Puddlegear decided to move on to something else. Her family had so much confidence in the company after passing down thier Puddlegear to other kids over the years (and seeing how it is still in great shape) that it took them just two hours to decide to take over the company. And after 10 years in business and a change in ownership, Puddlegear still carries the same Swedish raingear that the Shields family had come to love.
Perfect For Kids
I had the opportunity to see for myself how great these cute raincoats are when Alexandra sent me a red set for my son and a pink set for my daughter. They are breathable, soft, flexible and free of branding clutter. The fleece lining makes Puddlegear comfortable for 3 or 4 seasons (depending where you live), and they are great for layering over warm clothing like wool and fleece. My kids wear the jackets to school on their own on rainy days, and the full suit when they really want to have fun and get dirty. And when they've had enough of jumping in puddles and playing in the mud, I throw their wet weather gear straight into the washing machine, taking any fuss out of cleaning up.
Safe from PVC and phthalates that are oh-so-common in kids raingear, practical to maintain, and effective rain protection throughout the seasons, Puddlegear is a company that sure knows how to please both mom and the kids, earning them the Naturally Savvy Seal of Approval.
Puddlegear is available in kids sizes from 0 – 10, but larger sizes can be special ordered for larger kids or adults. For more information or to buy your own Puddlegear, visit www.Puddlegear.com.
