How appropriate given the recent weather conditions locally.  Yes, the last few nights and days found Hong Kong at around 9-10 degrees Celcius weather.  As a Canadian, I might argue that “BAH, 10 degrees? That’s NOTHING!”, but you’d be surprised at how cold it FEELS.  The things working against you:

• I live by the sea - literally.  So my apartment is the first line of defense in cold winds.  Which means, I am eating the wind.
• There is no central heating.  How I miss central heating.  You take it for granted in Canada and now my house feels like a freezer. 
• There are no carpets.  Only the throw rugs you have around the house and those are minimal because of my attempt to keep clean air and the potential of mold growth.
• There is no insulation.  The windows are not prone to air leaks and that pink stuff that I’m so used to seeing in new homes doesn’t exist.
• I could see my exhale from a hot shower this morning!
• It’s a humid cold - so it literally seeps into your bones.  I think I’d prefer dry cold.  I can’t explain the difference, but 10 degrees wet is colder than 10 degrees dry. 

So here are a few tips that I’ve picked up over the years (and from more experienced HK folks) to help you and your kids stay warm in Hong Kong.

Layer it On

You’ll be able to find lots of cotton filled and fluffy home clothing all around children’s stores in Hong Kong.  I’ve gotten some puffy pants and sleepers that make my kids look like the michelin man and they look adorable.  I do this because it’s a hazard and danger to pile too many blankets and pillows into the crib and so I just put enough clothing on and put them to sleep.  Be careful to overheating your children as this also poses a risk as well.

Warm the Feet

Put on socks, slippers (great Thomas the Train slippers available at your local shops for a wonderful $20 HKD a pair!), booties, whatever!  They are especially ideal for homes with tiled floors which can be one source of heat loss.

Children Friendly Floor Coverings

I have the thinnest throw rug in the world sitting on my living room floor that is a great barrier between little feet and cold tiles.  It’s a year-round rug that is mold resistant and easy to clean.  My other fantastic option is padded mats.  This is a long term investment that is easy to clean, configurable, absorbs impact from falls, provides a great sitting area and play area.

Space Heaters

Excellent for bath times and pre-bedtimes.  I don’t leave the heater on all night (potential fire hazard and overheat hazard) but they serve as great space warmers. 

Hot Water Bags

Excellent for heating up the beds before sleeping or keeping the bed and body warm.  I do caution that if it’s too hot, it can be a burn potential - so for kids, keep the water cooler rather than hotter (but obviously warmer than room temperature).  There are sorts of children’s hot water bags available for purchase in Hong Kong like Hello Kitty and Dora.

Underwear

The Chinese are so fond of “underwear” and not just the panties types, but under shirts and under leggings and under whatever.  You’ll be able to purchase super warm under wear for your children (and yourself) all over Hong Kong.  They serve as great bases for cold days - especially at school where it can get cold, so I just end up layering stuff so she can take it off if she feels she’s too warm.

I know - everything sounds so common sense, but just for your information - I use all the above.  Somehow, it always feel so much colder IN the house than it does OUTSIDE!!  But this could be because I’m moving outside and with the limited space IN the house, my mobility is limited.  Anyways, just another random post…