9 Best Toddler Winter Coats, According to Parents

Your little one might not have their winter schedule booked up just yet, but one thing’s for sure: Once there’s a chill in the air, they’re most definitely going to need a high-quality winter coat. It’ll easily be one of the most used pieces of clothing your toddler will have. A good toddler winter coat or jacket ensures that your child will be warm and protected throughout the cold-weather season, whether it’s on the daily walk to preschool or while sledding and snowman building with the family. Most importantly, a practical toddler coat or jacket will make them look forward to spending time outdoors.

Ready to start shopping? We rounded up our favorite toddler winter coats, which will keep your little one toasty (and stylish) no matter how low the temperature dips. Plus, read what qualities to look for, the difference between synthetic and down fills and safety considerations, especially if your kiddo is often in and out of their car seat.

How We Chose the Best Toddler Winter Coats

To help you find the warmest, coziest toddler winter coat for your kiddo, we did the bulk of the research, so you don’t have to spend hours scrolling. To create this article:

• We put our staff to work, asking them to evaluate toddler winter coats they’ve personally used with their families.
• We researched what was being said about toddler winter jackets in The Bump community and forums to learn what parents looked for as they shopped and what qualities they appreciated when using these styles.
• We consulted safety guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) regarding toddler winter coats and car seat usage.
• To see how these jackets have worked for families, we conducted exhaustive market research, scouring forums and message boards and reading user reviews to find out what parents nationwide looked for in toddler coats.
• When choosing which coats to feature in our roundup, we considered several factors, such as size options, material, coat length and price point, to name a few.

Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read about how The Bump develops and reviews all articles, including product reviews.

Best Toddler Winter Coats to Shop

What to Look for in a Toddler Winter Coat

When it comes to choosing the perfect winter coat for your toddler, there are several considerations to keep in mind, but comfort and safety should top the list of priorities. From fit, fill (i.e. the kind of insulation and relative degree of warmth the coat boasts) and freedom of movement to reflective features, these are key qualities to look for when you’re adding toddler winter coats to the cart.

• Fit. Finding the perfect fit for your toddler’s winter coat is paramount, and it should strike the perfect balance between roominess and snugness, letting your kiddo move freely while accommodating extra layers underneath (long-sleeve shirts, thermals, sweatshirts, etc.). To that end, if you want the coat to last more than one season, consider buying a slightly larger size to allow for growth and hand-me-downs. A well-fitted coat won’t just keep your toddler warm, it’ll also keep them comfortable and cozy, so they can enjoy their winter activities to the fullest without feeling restricted.

• Safety features. A well-designed winter coat can help shield your child from wintertime elements, cold-weather ailments and frostbite, but if they’re not comfortable, they just won’t want to wear it. We’ve been there; that’s why we like coats with features like chin guards or zipper pulls that won’t pinch or catch little fingers in zippers. And when they’re playing into the late afternoon, built-in reflective elements or coats in bright colors can keep them visible in the shorter daylight hours and reduce risks of accidents if you’re out with them in the dark or trekking home near roadways.

• Thickness. When it comes to toddler coats, you may think puffier is better, but that isn’t always the case. As mentioned above, if you’re often in and out of vehicles and are looking for a jacket that can be safely worn in a car seat, opt for a toddler winter coat that isn’t puffy. Instead, consider a thin fleece or down design that’s still warm but not bulky.

Insulation and Warmth in Toddler Winter Coats

A top-performing winter coat for toddlers should have a weather-resistant or waterproof outer shell that provides superior insulation and protection from the elements, depending on where you live. In addition to the outer layer, you’ll also want to consider the fill. Here are the two main types of fill when it comes to winter coats:

• Natural down insulation. This fill is made from the downy layer found on geese and ducks. Feathers create the birds’ outermost layer, while the down lays underneath the feathers to retain warmth. Natural down is also more lightweight and fluffy than feathers. This makes it an ideal fill for coats, sleeping bags and other items designed to keep us warm, as it’s not super bulky. Plus, it can be easily compressed when needed. Many brands today also use recycled natural down—geese or duck down that’s been repurposed from previously loved garments and reused in new designs. One downside is that this fill isn’t as easy to clean as synthetic down, but it is super durable.
• Synthetic down insulation. On the other hand, this is an engineered fill typically made from polyester. It’s designed to mimic the pattern and feel of natural down, which prevents heat from escaping in chilly conditions. One key difference is that the synthetic down can hold its shape when wet—ie. it doesn’t get clumpy—so it’s better for wet conditions. Likewise, it’s easier to wash when needed, making it a more low-maintenance option than natural down.

Another aspect to keep in mind as you browse toddler winter jackets is fill power and fill weight. Put simply, fill power is the measure of cubic inches of down per ounce in a garment and can be best understood as fill’s density. Conversely, fill weight is the total weight of the down in the garment. With that in mind, the former is often a more useful measure of warmth because the latter varies from garment to garment. For example, your toddler’s down jacket is always going to weigh less than yours.

The bottom line: You want your winter adventurers all bundled up but not to the point where they’re overly warm or feeling restricted. After all, toddlers aren’t exactly pros at moving around in bulky clothing, so aim for a blend of warmth and mobility. If you live in a cold, dry environment and are looking for a coat that can be passed down to other siblings, a natural down jacket may be the best choice for you. Alternatively, if you are often in wet conditions and prefer coats that are easy to wash, opt for a synthetic down style.

Toddler Winter Coat Safety Considerations

Toddler winter gear is designed to protect your child from cold weather, but there are additional safety considerations to think of when they’re all bundled up. “Bulky clothing, including winter coats and snowsuits, should not be worn underneath the harness of a car seat,” states the AAP. This is because, in the event of a car crash, “fluffy padding in a coat immediately flattens out from the force, leaving extra space under the harness. A child can then slip through the straps and be thrown from the seat,” the AAP explains.

With this potential safety risk in mind, the AAP advises that infants, toddlers and children who use car seats shouldn’t wear coats or snowsuits that are bulky. If you’re in and out of the car often in the wintertime, consider dressing your child in snug-fit layers, like tights, leggings, full-length bodysuits, light sweaters or thermal-knit shirts. Alternatively, you could go with a toddler winter coat that’s thin; some fleece and down styles are great options. “As a general rule of thumb, infants should wear one more layer than adults. If you have a coat on, your infant will probably need a coat and blanket,” the AAP explains. When using a car seat, however, they recommend draping the blanket and/or coat over the car straps to keep your kiddo warm and safe. Additional advice from the AAP includes the following:

• Snug-fit harness. Tighten the car seat harness to ensure it fits snugly against your child’s chest. Depending on what they’re wearing, you may need to adjust the straps each time they get in their seat.
• Room temperature car seat. When not in use, keep the carrier portion of your infant car seat in your home. This will keep it at room temperature, so it’s not as chilly when you and your child first get in the car.
• Additional accessories. Keep your little one extra warm with hats, mittens, socks and/or booties. Moreover, you can add a car seat cover for more warmth—but only if it doesn’t go under baby. According to the AAP, “nothing bulky should ever go underneath your child’s body or between their body and the harness straps.”

About the writer:

Emma O’Regan-Reidy is an editor for The Bump. She specializes in writing e-commerce content about the latest and greatest in pregnancy, postpartum and parenting. Emma has researched an array of topics, from prenatal vitamins and postpartum pads to the best non-wifi baby monitors, toddler learning towers and everything in between. As a digital media professional, she’s written dozens of articles on baby gear, aiming to create engaging, helpful content that informs new and seasoned parents.