DIY Snow Pants for Kids

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Make these easy DIY snow pants for kids before the snow hits! You will only need a few common household items and about 15 minutes of time!

It is snowing as I write this and I’m thrilled! We live right outside of Memphis, TN and snow isn’t exactly the norm. We usually get some kind of winter weather once or twice a year but it is rarely significant snow fall.

However, that is about to change! Later today and into tomorrow we are expecting up to 8 inches of snow! Ahh! I love it.

But when you live in the South and don’t get frequent snow, many people are not prepared with the proper clothing. All day yesterday, I watched the neighborhood Facebook pages flood with parents in search of snow bibs, snow pants, boots and sleds!

Some people got lucky and found a used option but many weren’t able to find the gear. Most retail stores around here don’t carry a large inventory (if any) of that type of winter clothing.

And since I have two kiddos that I know are going to spend days in the winter wonderland coming our way, I set out to find something.

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If I am being honest, I searched Amazon and every retail store around first and had no luck finding snow pants for my kids.

So this morning as it started snowing, I figured I needed to get serious about coming up with something. I saw a few people saying they were going to layer their kids up like our moms did to us in the 80’s and send them out.

I’m ok with that but then I started remembering how I would come in from the snow soaking wet as a kid. And since the Weather Channel says it currently feels like 1 Degree (yes one) outside, I wanted to at least attempt to keep my kids as dry as possible.

That is where the DIY Snow pants for kids come in and save the day! You can make these with common household supplies and just a few minutes.

They may not keep the kiddos bone dry but it will be much better than just cotton or fleece layers! And while they won’t win a fashion contest, your kids will be more comfortable with these pants on!

What You Need For DIY Snow Pants for Kids

Here are the supplies that you need to make water resistant snow pants:

Bags – You can use ClickList Bags from Kroger, Target Pick Up bags or a Garbage bag (outdoor bags would work best)
Scissors
Duct Tape
Sharpie
A Pair of Your Child’s Pants (I used Jeans)

How To Make Homemade Water Resistant Snow Pants for Children

Making the DIY snow pants for kids is quick, easy & cheap.

To make the pants, start by cutting your bag along the seams. You want the bag to lay flat. Do this for a total of 2 bags.

Best Bags by Size

Kroger ClickList Bags – Toddler Sizes (Probably up to size 4T)
Target Drive Up Bags – Child Size (Probably up to size 7 or 8)
Black Garbage Bags – Youth – Adult

A few more notes on bags. Don’t use regular grocery bags. They will be too thin. They ClickList or Target Driveup bags are thicker and will be more durable.

If you don’t have these or a black outdoor garbage bag, a kitchen garbage bag is probably your next best choice. A cheap disposable tablecloth could work as well.

Creating a Template

Place the two flat bags on top of each other. Next, place the child’s pants on top of one of the bags.

Using the Sharpie, trace around the pants leaving about 1 inch extra space between the pants and the line that you are drawing. This extra space is important to ensure the pants fit over the layers. They will also shrink up a bit when you perform the next step.

I didn’t add enough at the waist on the example below and had to redo them because they were too tight. Don’t make that mistake and give yourself some wiggle room. You can always make it more snug if you need to with tape.

*If you are using the black trash bags, you may need have someone hold the pants while you cut (skipping the Sharpie step). Otherwise, a white chalk marker would work if you want to trace the pant outline if you have one on hand.

Cutting the Disposable Snow Pants Out

Remove the child’s actual pair of pants that you traced, leaving just your bag with the drawn on template and the 2nd bag directly underneath.

Take care to ensure that your bags stay lined up and cut through both bags following along the lines of your template. These DIY snow pants for kids are pretty forgiving so if you don’t get it perfect, don’t worry.

No Sew Snow Pants for Kids

Now it is time to “sew” those pants up. Bring in the duct tape!

Start on one side and apply pieces of duct tape along the side. Place the tape about 1/2 inch from the edge and then wrap it around the other side.

As you make your way down, overlap each segment slightly to ensure a good seal.

In the crotch area, you may have to cut a few small pieces to make it work. I also added an extra piece of tape there to reinforce.

Leave Openings

Remember to leave the bottom open for the feet to go through. Around the waist, I put a piece of tape on each side to create a hem of sorts just to create a little extra durability but don’t seal it shut.

How Much Do Homemade Snow Pants Cost

Making them with the Kroger or Target bags costs virtually nothing. I had all of these items on hand at home. Since I was reusing the store bags, my only real cost was the few pieces of duct taper that I used.

When you compare that to the snow pants that I was looking at online, I easily saved $30-$100 per child!

How to Wear the Snow Pants

Here is how I’m planning to use these DIY Snow Pants for kids.

We will put on a base layer of leggings or long underwear. Next, the homemade water resistant snow pants. After that, we will layer on a big pair of sweatpants.

Putting the 2nd pair of pants over the homemade snow pants should hold them up. But if you are having trouble keeping them up, you could always add a couple of loosely placed duct tape pieces to create a more snug fit.

Just make sure you layer up! These homemade pants will help to keep you dry, not warm.

Want More DIY for Kids? Check out this DIY Slip N Slide for Preschoolers.