If you're not from Juneau, you may not know that Alaska's capital city is in America's largest National Forest and the world's largest temperate rainforest - The Tongass National Forest. Covering over sixteen million acres, the Tongass covers the majority of the Southeast Alaskan Panhandle. Being a temperate rainforest usually means much more moderate temperatures and much more precipitation than comes to mind for most people when thinking of Alaska. I usually describe it to others as akin to typical weather in Seattle, Washington (sometimes called "the rainy city"). In fact, this year is on par to possibly become the highest level of precipitation on record, with over 82 inches of snow and rainfall so far. In comparison, Seattle's average is only 37 inches annually.

Living in this climate brings unique challenges for everyone who resides here; add a baby and first-time parents to the mix, and you have a whole new set of rules to figure out. Luckily, my partner, Jito, and I are both from Juneau and have just over a year of experience as Alaskan parents. I want to share some of my favorite products we discovered along the way. Hopefully, they help in case you're new here or expecting or shopping for a loved one!

#5 - Zutano Baby Booties

These were lifesavers over winter with my fall baby and are now one of my go-to gifts for baby showers! One of the first things our baby learned to do was take her socks off. Now, taking off her socks and shoes is one of her favorite ways to entertain herself. We still regularly end up in public with one sock on and a shoe never-to-be-found again. These guys (and #4) are still some of the only things we've found that stay on her feet!
I've used a few different brands, but Zutano remains my favorite because they have fleece options and "grippy bottom" options with sizes up to 24 months! I've found similar styles locally at Fred Meyers, Annie Kails, and sometimes on the local buy-sale-trade groups online.

#4 - Smartwool Socks

Some of the best advice I can give you for getting yourself and your baby ready to go outside for a wintery day in Southeast Alaska is to wear layers, incorporate wool, and invest in quality gear if you're going to make a habit of it! It is a normal human reaction to shunt blood away from fingers, toes, and eventually limbs when the body is cold, and this is especially true for our little ones. The best way to avoid this is to keep those little piggies warm and protected from the elements.
These socks have been one of my go-to's since my daughter was only a few days old. I always incorporate them into her base layer if we are going to be outside for a while. They make a significant difference over every day ''normal'' baby socks. You can find some multi-packs locally at NAO and sometimes Sportsmans Warehouse.

#3 - Stonz Booties

Recently my daughter has started walking and is aging out of the sizes of outdoor wear that have to oh-so-convenient hands and feet covers. I remembered I had been gifted a pair of Stonz Baby Booties and Liners. They come in super cute patterns and have sizes up to 2.5 years. They can also fit right over the top of other shoes for rainy days!
Some highlights:
-They stay on! With two toggles at the ankle and mid-calf!
-Wind-resistant and have a non-slip, water-resistant sole
-Machine washable
Unfortunately, I have not found any locally besides the online buy-sale-trade groups, but their shipping is fast, and customer service is excellent

#2 - Patagonia Capliene

We're talking about base layers again! We are on our third set of these. Our daughter keeps sizing up, and I put them away for the next kid because they are so great. Think of them like long underwear for your baby. This is our go-to full-body base layer for winter overnights.
Directly from Patagonia's website:
''This classic two-piece baselayer set is crafted of soft, smooth, 100% recycled polyester that makes layering easy. Hollow-core yarns and a diamond-grid back trap warm air, wick moisture, and dry fast, and HeiQ® Pure odor control keeps things fresh. Fair Trade Certified™ sewn.''
Now I won't lie to you, I've bought every set I have second-hand, and the quality has still been exceptional.
Sometimes you can snag a pair of these locally at Second Wind Sports. I've gotten mine from Poshmark and Patagonia's Re-Tool website.

#1 - Osprey Poco Plus Child Carrier

We offer a few different options for child carrier hiking backpacks at GUBR. But my personal favorite is the Osprey Poco Plus. I've used it to carry my daughter on overnight hiking/ cabin trips, day trips, and even simple dog walks. It has ample storage space and pockets to carry everything you need for family overnight adventures. There is also a built-in sun shade (we still get sunburns in December from snow reflection!) and a pocket for the rain cover. In addition, the child's cockpit has a very easy-to-adjust harness/seat, a washable drool/nap pad, and even stirrups, so their feet don't have to hang.
This carrier is the most comfortable of the ones I've tried for long treks, and it easily adjusts between myself and my partner. I love that I can bring my daughter on trails that a stroller would just flat out not work. I plan on using this carrier until my daughter no longer fits; according to Osprey's website, that should be about 3.5 years old.
You can find Osprey carriers locally at Foggy Mountain Shop downtown or NAO in the valley. I've even seen them turn up at Second Wind Sports from time to time.

Hopefully, this list has helped and maybe even given you some gift ideas for the upcoming holidays. Many of the items I've mentioned above are loved by local parents, and I see them come up gently used all of the time on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. They also come into consignment shops like Second Wind Sports. So if you happen across them for a good deal, I recommend scooping them up and trying them out for your family. That's how I've found and love most of the items on this list.

A few bonus tips:

Put a layer of Vasoline or coconut oil any exposed skin on your little to create a barrier against the cold and wind
Don’t forget sunscreen and eye protection! Like I mentioned in the list above you can still get sunburn from sunlight reflecting off of snow.
Put an overnight diaper on your little if you’ll be hiking for a few hours in the cold to avoid having to do a diaper change in the elements. Make sure if you do have to do a change that you put a barrier between the ground and your little and try to make a wind-shield around them.
Happy deal hunting, and keep warm!

Alaskan Winter Baby Must-Haves

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