Best Baby Mittens to Keep Tiny Hands Warm
Once the winter season gets going, you won’t want to leave the house without cold-weather accessories—especially if you’re accompanied by temperature-sensitive babies. Cozy hats and snowsuits are essential, but a great pair of baby mittens should also be high up on your winter checklist. Babies struggle to regulate their body temperature, and they lose a lot of warmth when their hands and feet are exposed to air. Unlike regular gloves, mittens allow four fingers to co-mingle and share body heat in the main compartment, making them a more appropriate choice to keep your snow bunnies warm and happy. (Plus, you don’t have to attempt to get each of your baby’s five fingers into their proper finger holes, which can be a serious struggle.)
When it comes to shopping for any baby garments, functionality and performance are the most important features to vet before adding to your cart—after all, there are bound to be tears when baby’s fingers are red, wet and tingling after a rigorous romp in the snow. Keep reading for a roundup of some of the best baby mittens to shop now, plus some buying tips for your search.
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With winter on the horizon, shopping for the perfect mittens for your baby ahead of seasonal sell-out can be stressful. Layer that with the fact that babies grow fast and are liable to shuck off mittens at the first opportunity—and you might just decide to hibernate with babe all winter long. But no need to bury your head in the snow, as The Bump team is here to help. Here are the steps we took to source mittens you’ll be smitten with.
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We consulted expert sources such as The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for information on how to keep your little one warm and safe during winter.
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We asked members of The Bump community to tell us about the toddler gloves and mittens they’ve used.
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We researched and considered important factors such as sizing, material, ease to put on and take off, level of insulation and, of course, style.
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Finally, because no two children are the same, we scoured forums and message boards and read user reviews to see how these toddler mittens performed for a variety of families.
Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read about how The Bump develops and reviews all articles, including product reviews.
Overall best baby mittens
- Thumbless design for easy on and off
- Roomy for baby’s fingers to wiggle around
- Magnetic fasteners are inaccessible to infants
- Fleece can get matted fairly easily
When it comes to ranking the best baby mittens out there, ones with a never-lose failsafe built right into the name are an automatic “add to cart.” Convenience just can’t be overlooked in parenthood, so the magnetic closures on the back of each mitten (that securely attach when they’re brought together) are truly game-changing feats. You’ll always have both mittens within reach, whether your baby is newborn or nearing the toddler years. That said, Magnetic Me rose to the top of our list for reasons well beyond that impressive feature. Crafted with a fluffy fleece shell, these mittens are incredibly soft and gentle against your baby's delicate skin. The Bump forum member kimberpoo, says she uses “fuzzy thumbless gloves” like these ones in winter when her little one is out of his carseat. “I put them on first, then /[his] jacket over,” she says before noting that his “jackets are a bit large so they cover his hands pretty well even without the mittens.” Aside from the fluffy fur-like exterior the lining is made from 100 percent organic cotton, which bodes well for a comfortable and breathable experience for your little one. And the combination of materials provides warmth, insulation and comfort, which is a triple threat, if you ask us.
Sizing: 0-6 months to 18-24 months | Material: Minky fleece (outer); cotton (lining)
Best winter mittens for newborns
- Organic cotton lining
- Machine-washable and dryer-safe
- Limited-time wear
- No adjustability
Lots of mittens in this list are thumbless models, and there’s a reason. “Get the mittens without thumbs,” advises The Bump forum member fish8412. This advice definitely rings true, as thumbless mittens are far easier to slip onto a wriggly or reluctant baby. If you’re looking for newborn mittens, that should be your baseline. But Zutano goes the extra mile, with a string to keep them together—because nothing’s worse than realizing halfway through your winter walk that baby’s missing a glove. You probably already know the name Zutano if you’ve shopped for baby booties before, but the baby mittens also live up to the company’s hype. Zutano’s fleece baby mittens have no thumb opening, making them easy to slide on little—and we mean just-born, uncoordinated baby hands. Plus, these parent-favorite pairs come in 15 different color options, so you’re bound to find something to match your little one’s outerwear.
Sizing: One size | Material: 70% cotton/30% polyester (outer); Cotton (cuff and lining)
Our community says:
I absolutely loved Zutano mittens when my girls were infants: There's no thumb hole, so you can easily slip the mitten over your newborn's entire hand; they have elasticated wrist bands that help the mittens actually stay put; and thanks to the attached string, I never had to deal with the headache of lost gloves! The fleece is super soft but fairly thin, so on the coldest days I'd put my baby's hands into their snowsuit cuffs—but they're the perfect weight for chilly walks around town, especially with a stroller blanket tucked over your little one. - Ashlee N., mom of two and content director for The Bump
Best baby snow mittens
- Extra-wide over-arm coverage
- Machine-washable
- Made with non-toxic, vegan materials
- Expensive
- Reviewers have conflicting opinions on sizing
Billed as the “warmest mittens on the market,” you’ll definitely want to check these out if you live somewhere that’s extra frosty in the winter—they can handle temperatures as low as -4º Fahrenheit. The waterproof and wind-resistant nylon design of these baby mittens features adjustable toggles to ensure a snug fit on baby. They also have an inner fleece lining that provides a soft and comfortable feel on your love bug’s hands. If you need one perfect last layer to your little one’s look, these mitts are a must.
Sizing: 0-12 months to 12-24 months | Material: Nylon with C6 DWR coating (outer); polyester (lining and insulation); polyurethane (membrane)
Our community says:
My family spends most winter weekends in Vermont, and these were my go-to baby mittens for cold, snowy days. They're super warm and totally waterproof, so I never had to worry about cold, wet hands (even in sub-zero temps!). But the best thing about Stonz mittens is the ease of use—the thumbless, wide-cuff design means you can slip the mitten over your baby's entire hand and coat sleeve, and cinch it closed with the drawstring toggle. And because it has a flexible fit (and highly durable construction), you can get more than one winter of use out of them! - Ashlee N., mom of two and content director for The Bump
Best double-fleece baby mittens
- Outer fleece is soft in case baby scratches their face
- Extra large thumb space
- Fleece isn’t waterproof
- May fall off without something to cinch or adjust the fit
Taking an infant out in freezing weather calls for something more substantial than your average baby mittens. Patagonia’s Baby Pita Mittens have a double-layer of fleece for warmth and a smooth lining that helps these gloves slide on and off. Plus, the long cuffs fit nicely underneath a jacket to keep them firmly in place.
Sizing: 3 to 24 months | Material: Polyester
Best wool baby mittens
- Thumbless design
- Hypoallergenic material
- Hand-knitted by artisans in Bolivia
- Expensive
Luxury baby clothes don’t just stop at onesies and stylish separates, upscale accessories are great wardrobe staples, too. Enter: Hand-crafted baby mittens, an excellent choice for well-dressed tinies. These mittens by Cabbages & Kings are made from fair trade Alpaca wool, which is naturally hypoallergenic and is soft like cashmere, so they won’t itch or cause irritation to sensitive baby skin. The ribbed edge adds both an aesthetic touch and snug and secure fit around their little wrists, while the string will keep them together, so you always have a perfect pair.
Sizing: N/A | Material: Alpaca wool
Best lightweight baby mittens
- Breathable fabric
- Thumbless design
- Ribbed cuffs help them stay in place
- Best for younger babies
- Not suitable for very cold weather
These sweet thumbless gloves are perfect for babies under 3 months. And since they’re crafted from a breathable blend of bamboo and cotton—they’re super soft and keep their digits warm without being too hot, stuffy or sweaty. Looking for something a little more robust? MORI has knitted mittens too.
Sizing: 0-3 months | Material: 70% viscose/ 30% cotton
Best furry baby mittens
- Thumbless design
- Elasticated cuff
- Stay-together clips
- Expensive
If you’re welcoming a baby in the wintertime, staying warm and toasty inside when the temperature gets low sounds pretty inviting, right? We’re right there with you! But when you’ve got errands to run and things to do with your little cub in tow, these adorable bear paw mittens are great to have on hand. These thumbless mittens are perfect for babies under a year old, and are easy to slip on thanks to the elasticated cuff. They're made from an ultra-cozy fleece material, and have an embroidered paw print on one side and The North Face logo on the other. Plus, pairing clips keep them together when they are not in use.
Sizing: 0-6 months to 0 to 24 months | Material: Polyester
Here’s what to look for when looking for the best baby mittens:
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Easy on, easy off. To get baby gloves on and off easily, you’ll want to look for pairs that have extra-wide openings for their hands, aren’t too tight and don’t have too many zippers or bungee cords to undo. The best baby winter mittens have fastening systems like Velcro closures and adjustable straps to ensure they fit snugly on your child without feeling too tight.
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Water-repellent materials. If your winter warrior will be braving blustery or snowy conditions outside, they’ll need baby mittens that won’t get saturated after an hour or so of light play. That means you’ll need options that are waterproof or feature water-repellent fabrics and materials in some regard. Pay special attention to brand-engineered technology references—like Thermolite or Thinsulate—which can add even more thermal protection and insulation to your kiddos’ precious palms.
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Connected pairs. Babies are known for losing just about everything, including mittens, which makes an easy case for pairs that have a string that keeps them together or can be separated and then reattached via clips or snaps. Wrist elastics that let your child take their mittens off without losing them are also helpful.
About the writer: Martina Garvey is an editor at The Bump, where she writes and edits e-commerce content covering pregnancy, postpartum and parenting topics. Over an eight-plus year career in educational publishing and digital media, Martina has developed a keen eye for detail and robust reporting skills. As a staff member on The Bump, she leverages an in-depth knowledge of must-have baby gear and postpartum essentials alongside a passion for the latest trends to create informative content parents can trust.
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