I used to spend a fair bit of time and money dressing my boys in clothes that, according to them, “don’t feel nice, Mum”. Funny, there were never any complaints when they slipped into a comfy trackie. I didn’t fight it – out with the stiff jeans and scratchy woollen jumpers for everyday wear and in with versatile, mix and match hoodies and trackpants. And with the terrific range available, there are no concessions on style, which makes full-time tracksuit wearing easy to manage for fashionistas.

Here’s our pick of the hottest hoodies and trackpants for the cool weather from our sponsors:

I find dressing the kids in patterned or printed t-shirts in summer is
easy as there are lots to choose from. In winter, long-sleeved tees
invariably get covered up by plain jumpers and jackets so I was
immediately drawn to Swedish label Snoozy, who have some fabulous unisex printed hoodies. I particularly like the blue elephant print, trimmed in red, but the red ‘sea’ print featuring waves, seagulls and yachts is also terrific. Both are available from Baby Goes Retro for $47.95.

You can never go wrong with stripes and I love these stripey hoodies from Mill & Mia. It’s probably safe to say that I love everything from Mill & Mia (their divine store is enticingly close to where I live) and along with staple colours like red and navy there is a fantastic chocolate and grey marle combination. Mill & Mia stripey hoodies are $59.95 and are available from Shophouse.

For a hoodie with a twist, look no further than Baobab. Baobab hoodies have been given a kimono or ‘racer’ treatment with press-stud button enclosures for easy dressing. I love the kimono hoodie, but it is the fabric patterns at Baobab that win me over. Retro-inspired circles in fantastic unisex colours – red, chocolate and cool blue. Baobab also have pants to match the hoodies, or mix and match for a combination to suit your kids. Hoodies begin at $33.60 and pants at $27.20. All are available directly from Baobab.

For girls that just want skirts all of the time, the Elk ‘sweater dress’ will become a wardrobe favourite. The Elk Signature print features on this warm, fleecy hoodie that is actually a dress. It’s casual but edgy and the grey marle can be teamed with black opaques for understated style or brightened with some loud tights for girls that want to be noticed. The sweater dress is $89.95 and is only available in Australia from I Want Fabulous.

There is a saying that if you wore it the first-time round, leave it alone the second-time round. Well, I don’t think that fashion rule should apply to velour tracksuits. I have vivid memories of my first velour trackie and although the colour of mine may not be in today’s fashionable palette (bottle green – it was the seventies) it was super comfortable and super warm. This is why I still own a few velour tracksuits and also dress my kids in them. For pint-sized velour and in colours that won’t make anyone cringe in forty years time, the fairy-floss pink, powder blue or versatile grey marle of Pure Baby’s range of winter tracksuits is oh-so-cute. Hoodies are $34.95 and pants are $29.95 and are available from Little Styles.

If there is one wardrobe staple, it has to be the navy tracksuit. I certainly stock up on navy for my boys every winter and I’m finding it the perfect choice in my daughter’s wardrobe to balance out the pink. Ouch have a terrific navy velour tracksuit for babies in their winter collection. Although it is marketed for boys, it would look equally good on girls teamed with soft pink. The hoodie is $32.95 and the pants are $26.95. Both are available up to size 0 and are available from The Hip Infant.

For an eco-friendly choice and two hoodies in one, BabySoy has a nifty number. BabySoy’s winter collection teams chocolate brown with blue, pink, cream and eggplant. Each hoodie is reversible, so you can go blue one day and chocolate brown the next (does that mean less washing?!). Also available are co-ordinating pants. Hoodies begin at $35 and pants at $22, from Soda Pop Kids.

The Splendid range from the USA features pieces that are all splendidly warm and splendidly soft. For boys, check out the hooded waffle weave jacket in blue or red rugby stripes at $89 and for girls, fleecy purple or black will keep them toasty warm ($79.95). Splendid is available from the Kido Store.

It’s no secret that we are big fans of Big by Fiona Scanlan here at Babyology. Available in the winter collection is a simple velour tracksuit in tea rose pink. I particularly like that the pants have a wide, comfortable waistband. I’m sure lovers of all things Big will team the pants with some fairy wings or the top with a ruffle skirt or casual tutu. The hoodie top is $59.95, the pants are $49.95 and all the optional extras (such as fairy wings) are available from Ten Little Indians.

Little rockers can amp it up in a hoodie from Rock Your Baby. I have always liked the unconventional colours used by the designers at Rock Your Baby and without doubt their collection saved me from drowning in a sea of pink when my daughter was born. This winter they have black hoodies with a rock’n’roll twist – Little Miss Rock with a hot pink bird design and pink polka dot lining and Little Hell Raiser for boys. Both are $49.95 and are available from Kids Central.