Best Toddler Winter Coats
Don’t let the cold weather stop your toddler’s outdoor adventures.
By
Have you heard the Scandinavian saying, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes?” Getting outside during the winter with your toddler may feel daunting, but it can be fun and a great way to burn off energy—as long as you have the right outerwear.
Before you head outdoors and brave the chill in the name of a good time with your kids, you’ll need to bundle them up in a proper winter coat. If you live in a colder climate or plan to be out in the snow frequently, you’ll want to consider features like a water-repellent or water-resistant outer shell and a hood when you’re shopping for a toddler winter coat. And most importantly, you’ll want to think about the warmth level. Synthetic fiber-filled coats have that classic puffy look are both warm and resistant to moisture (like the moisture from rolling around making snow angels) while more heavy duty winter coats, ones filled with down, either goose or duck (or a blend of two), are allstars at trapping heat to keep your tot warmer for longer (like when they refuse to come in despite it being very cold out)—though they tend to be less efficient at staying dry and have a heftier price tag.
If the winter months for your part of the world is dry and cold with minimal snowfall, a down coat can keep your kiddo toasty for a longer stretch of time. If snow is a regular in the forecast lineup, synthetic filled toddler winter coats are likely to work better. And if winter is a precarious season that can hop between warm enough for just a hoodie at the start of the week and drop down to frigid by the end of the week, a lightweight winter coat with a removable hood that can be worn with warmer layers is ideal.
Here are some of the best toddler winter coats for your little outdoor explorer.
Best Lightweight Toddler Winter Coat
Primary’s puffer jackets are warm, lightweight, and affordable—three features that put them at the top of our favorites list. Available in a rainbow of colors, these jackets are not overly bulky so you can easily fold them up and pack them in a carry-on for wintertime traveling. The elastic hood and cuffs help your toddler stay warm and the jacket can be tossed right in the washing machine whenever it gets dirty.
Additional Specs
| Size range: | 2 to 14 |
| Material: | 100 percent recycled polyester |
Best Down-Filled Toddler Winter Coat
One of the warmest toddler winter coat options on our list, this jacket from outdoor brand Patagonia is insulated with 100 percent recycled 700-fill-power duck and goose down to keep your little one cozy no matter the weather conditions. It features elastic cuffs, an insulated hood, and a water-repellent shell that’s constructed from post-consumer recycled nylon ripstop that is made of recycled fishing nets—which means the fabric is designed to limit rips and tears from spreading. It’s pricy, but worth the investment if you live in a cooler climate or are looking for a coat you can pass down through siblings. Pro tip: Patagonia coats run on the larger side.
Additional Specs
| Size range: | 3-6 months to 5T |
| Material: | 100 percent postconsumer ripstop nylon shell, 100 percent recycled 700-fill-power duck and goose down fill |
Best Lightweight Toddler Winter Coat
Similar to the Patagonia jacket but a bit more affordable, this coat from L.L. Bean is filled with 650-fill power goose down and has a water-resistant shell made from recycled nylon. Here’s where the two differ: the down-fill inside of the Patagonia coat has a DownTek coating, making the coat more water-resistant. It’s reflective on the back, a nice-to-have feature if your little one regularly plays outside toward the end of the day when it’s starting to get dark. Parents love that it’s both warm and lightweight.
Additional Specs
| Size range: | 6-12 months to 4T |
| Material: | 100 percent ripstop nylon shell, 650-fill-power DownTek goose down fill |
Best Affordable Toddler Winter Coat
This toddler winter coat offers a lot for the price. To keep your tot extra toasty, this coat has a microfleece lining and sherpa laced hood. The extra-large front pockets have enough space to store their mittens and whatever little treasures they collect during their outdoor expeditions. Unlike our other picks on this list, this one has a softer outer shell, making it an ideal choice for a cold but dryer climate.
Additional Specs
| Size range: | 12-18 months to 5T |
| Material: | 100 percent polyester shell, sherpa lined hood, microfleece body lining |
Best Car Seat-Safe Toddler Winter Coat
Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs), doctors, and baby gear experts agree that a child should never wear a puffy coat in a car seat. If ever in a crash, the straps of your toddler’s car seat can cause the air in thick sweaters and puffy coats to compress, causing a dangerous gap between your child and the straps. And while its totally fine for your toddler to wear their coat during the walk to the car and to take it off before you buckle them up, the Buckle Me Baby winter coat is another solid alternative. Crash tested for safety, the opening of the specially designed coat fits over the harness of the car seat which ensures that there is nothing between your child and the straps. The coat has a soft fleece lining and a polyester shell. And although this coat is designed with car seat safety in mind, it can be worn outside of the car too.
Additional Specs
| Size range: | 6 months to 5T |
| Material: | 100 percent polyester shell, polyester fleece lining, and polyester front panel fill |
Most Stylish Toddler Winter Coat
Boden coats are stylish and warm—an ideal combination. This one uses an environmentally friendly water-repellent coating, so it’s perfect for playing outside in the snow. And if you live in an extra-cold climate, this jacket is designed to keep your kiddo warm in weather that dips as low as zero degrees Farenheit. The lining is insulated with polyester, so it’s a good choice if you’d like to skip down, and the hood is sherpa lined for extra coziness. And there’s one really cool feature: the sleeves are detachable, converting the jacket into a vest for warmer days.
Additional Specs
| Size range: | 2-3 years old to 13-14 years old |
| Material: | 100 percent recycled polyester shell, lining, and fill |
Best Reversible Toddler Winter Coat
The North Face is known for their heavy duty coats that are designed to take on the coldest months of the year. This middle of the road winter coat features a that quintessential water resistant insulation that North Face fans know and love. But, what makes this coat special is the reversibility—on extra chilly days, your kiddo can wear the coat with the fuzzy fleece lining on the inside and when the weather is milder, the coat can be flipped so the fleecy lining is worn on the outside.
Additional Specs
| Size range: | 2T-3T and 4-7 years old |
| Material: | 100 percent recycled polyester shell, lining, and fill |
Best Adaptive Toddler Winter Coat
Part of Target’s Adaptive Clothing line, this puffer from in-house brand favorite Cat & Jack has several adaptive features including full-length zippers along the front and on each side to make dressing easier while also offering quick access to your child’s body or other devices. The stylish quilted pattern lays flatly and the sizeable front pockets is the perfect place to store mittens, treats, or whatever your toddler thinks up. The medium weight style is not designed to take on the harshest of winters so we recommend this one if your winter months are milder.
Additional Specs
| Size range: | 2T to 5T |
| Material: | 100 percent recycled polyester |
Best Organic Toddler Winter Coat
If you’re looking for a toddler winter coat that’s gender-neutral and eco-friendly, this one from Carter’s is a good choice. It’s made from organic fabric and sustainable recycled polyester, and it features a sherpa-lined hood for extra warmth.
Additional Specs
| Size range: | 2T to 5T |
| Material: | 100 percent recycled polyester shell, sherpa lined hood, jersey lined body |
![Add to Babylist](javascript: bl.addToRegistry({"images":"https://images.ctfassets.net/50gzycvace50/6sxDbeJRCHJlF9odDBvFXE/431cc70959da8e996df5605c4dee5d43/the-puffer-jacket_cobalt_P_1200x1200.jpg?fit=pad\u0026fl=progressive\u0026fm=jpg\u0026w=620\u0026h=620","price":"$39.50","title":"Primary Kids lightweight puffer jacket","url":"https://www.primary.com/products/the-puffer-jacket?variant=39582519820347\u0026color=tangerine\u0026size=4-5","source":"hello_baby"});){kind=link}
![Add to Babylist](javascript: bl.addToRegistry({"images":"https://images.ctfassets.net/50gzycvace50/7e0BZpBTar6rUPYkBrrwvK/de27feb472ad0ab553478b718884e0eb/60494_WAVB.jpg?fit=pad\u0026fl=progressive\u0026fm=jpg\u0026w=620\u0026h=620","price":"$149.00","title":"Patagonia Baby Hi-Loft Down Sweater Hoody","url":"https://www.patagonia.com/product/baby-hi-loft-down-sweater-hoody/60494.html?dwvar_60494_color=WAVB\u0026cgid=kids-babies-toddlers-jackets-vests","source":"hello_baby"});){kind=link}
![Add to Babylist](javascript: bl.addToRegistry({"images":"https://images.ctfassets.net/50gzycvace50/37JYokTfOl7EsuIaX0pZn0/92f9a3a5131380fe8fee6a130ee07509/cn54088137.jpg?fit=pad\u0026fl=progressive\u0026fm=jpg\u0026w=620\u0026h=620","price":"$23.99","title":"Old Navy Hooded Zip-Front Water-Resistant Jacket for Toddler ","url":"https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=807957012#pdp-page-content","source":"hello_baby"});){kind=link}
![Add to Babylist](javascript: bl.addToRegistry({"images":"https://images.ctfassets.net/50gzycvace50/4ekG0ibsOLSq6yfqIMMTQZ/8f57f50e2f9d04dbbb2c0143b248131f/910NIEWEPGL._AC_SX522_.jpg?fit=pad\u0026fl=progressive\u0026fm=jpg\u0026w=620\u0026h=620","price":"$59.99","title":"Buckle Me Baby Winter Coat","url":"https://www.amazon.com/Buckle-Me-Baby-newborn-toddler/dp/B0CGFZC8F4","source":"hello_baby"});){kind=link}
![Add to Babylist](javascript: bl.addToRegistry({"images":"https://images.ctfassets.net/50gzycvace50/5DwcQfOcICtqdr8OL7UhKn/9057cc6985beb2bf1de3cb8e9035cd8f/23bxms_b2541_blu.jpg?fit=pad\u0026fl=progressive\u0026fm=jpg\u0026w=620\u0026h=620","price":"$94.00","title":"Boden Appliqué Padded Coat","url":"https://www.bodenusa.com/en-us/applique-padded-coat-college-navy/sty-b2541-blu?cat=C1_S15_G2","source":"hello_baby"});){kind=link}
![Add to Babylist](javascript: bl.addToRegistry({"images":"https://images.ctfassets.net/50gzycvace50/2CugEEYw6uoifE7kjzkiFC/3f4248504032f7da27c70fb449b6f070/2O123810.jpg?fit=pad\u0026fl=progressive\u0026fm=jpg\u0026w=620\u0026h=620","price":"$51.95","title":"Carter\\'s Toddler Recycled Puffer Jacket","url":"https://www.carters.com/-/V_2O123810.html","source":"hello_baby"});){kind=link}