When it comes to dressing babies and toddlers for cold weather, there are a few safety measures to keep in mind. For example, young children should not wear a bulky coat while riding in a car seat, as it could make them vulnerable to injury in the event of a car crash. Moreover, overheating is one of the leading risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), so it’s important to not overdress your baby. To select the best winter coats for kids, we consulted with a pediatrician and a merchandising professional within the apparel industry. Our list of coats ranges in price from $25 to $189, with the majority costing less than $100. With the price of apparel increasing by more than 5 percent over the past year, we opted to establish a collection of winter coats that fit within a variety of budgets.  Here are the best winter coats for kids. This coat has two snap-closure hand pockets, a three-piece hood, and elastic bindings on the hem to keep the cold air out. Inside the jacket, you’ll find a personalized ID badge and a handy chin guard on the outside to protect your little one from cold air.  This coat is covered under the North Face Lifetime Guarantee and can be returned whether it’s purchased online or in-store. If you purchase this coat at Nordstrom, you can expect a friendly return policy.  Price at time of publication: $99 To keep your child dry, this puffer has a water-resistant coating, elastic ribbed cuffs, and a rounded hood. Although it’s lightweight, it contains a durable, synthetic insulation to keep your child warm all day long.  Price at time of publication: $50 Price at time of publication: $46+
Price at time of publication: $86+ Another great feature of this coat is that it’s lined with PrimaLoft Gold Insulation, often referred to as one of the best synthetic insulators on the market. It has a full-length zipper, zippered pockets, and Spandex binding at the sleeves for a secure fit. It also has a “zipper garage,” which is a small piece of fabric sewn on the top end of the zipper to protect your toddler’s chin.  The one thing it doesn’t have is a hood, so you’ll likely need to dress your toddler in a beanie or earmuffs, depending on the weather. This coat is covered under Patagonia’s Ironclad Guarantee, which allows you to return it for a replacement or refund at no charge.  Price at time of publication: $89 In addition to a drop-tail hem, fitted hood, and ribbed cuffs, this parka has a full-length zipper enclosed by snaps to create a barrier from the cold air. As a bonus, it has an extra pocket at the chest to store goggles, gloves, or other small items.  L.L. Bean offers a generous return policy, granting a full refund within one year of purchase.  Price at time of publication: $139 In addition to keeping your child dry, this coat will also keep them warm. It’s lined with fleece and has an adjustable, wide-brimmed hood that will stay on while playing in the snow. It also has two large pockets in the front and snaps that conceal its full-length zipper.  Price at time of publication: $57 This medium-weight coat features a full-length zipper and hooded neckline to keep the wind and rain out. It has a straight fit and lands at the hip, and it can be tossed in the washing machine when needed.  It’s important to note that Gap’s return policy requires items to be unwashed and unworn in order to be eligible for a return or refund. Price at time of publication: $70 Price at time of publication: $42 This coat is easy for kids to put on and take off, with its full-length zipper and hook-and-loop enclosures. Best of all, it contains an extra fleece-lined inner jacket and heavyweight insulation to keep your child warm and cozy.   Price at time of publication: $60 Although it’s called a “sweater,” this winter coat has all the bells and whistles needed to keep your child warm in the winter. From a full-length zipper and an insulated hood to zippered pockets, this coat was carefully designed to keep the cold air out. It also has spandex binding along the sides to give it a secure fit and cuffed sleeves to prevent a draft from entering through the arms.  This coat is covered under Patagonia’s Ironclad Guarantee, which allows you to return it for a replacement or refund at no charge. Price at time of publication: $189 To protect your child from the crisp winter air, this coat has an attached hood, cuffed sleeves, and extends past the waist for extra coverage. It’s also lined with a cozy fleece, and it has a full-length zipper to make it easy to put on and take off.  Price at time of publication: $42 Inside the coat, you’ll find a laminate lining that provides even more protection from moisture. There’s also a storm flap across the back to further protect your child from the rain, as well as a full-length zipper, a hood, and cuffed sleeves to keep the cold air out.  L.L. Bean offers a generous return policy, granting a full refund within one year of purchase.  Price at time of publication: $79 In addition to a full-length zipper enclosed by snaps, this coat has two zippered front pockets to keep your child’s phone, gloves, and other essentials safe. Although puffer jackets can be bulky, this coat is lightweight enough to allow kids to move freely throughout their day.  Price at time of publication: $34 This coat is both wind- and water-resistant, and its interior is lined with mesh to allow proper ventilation. Since it’s part of Target’s activewear collection, kids can comfortably run, jump, and play while wearing it. If needed, this coat can be returned to Target within 365 days of purchase (or within 90 days if bought using SNAP EBT).  Price at time of publication: $25 We also consulted with Dionne Smith, MD, a pediatrician at Carle Clinic in Urbana, Illinois (where the winter months can be brutally cold). Dr. Smith educated us on a variety of factors, including specific features a winter coat should have, how to dress your child for cold weather, and how to prevent infants from overheating—a top risk factor for SIDS.  When researching the different types of winter coats on the market, we spent nearly two weeks reviewing a variety of top brands and products. In doing so, we examined dozens of different coats before selecting those on this list. Ultimately, we chose durable, well-insulated, and machine-washable coats. We also prioritized coats that are waterproof or water-resistant and have extra features to keep kids warm and dry, like hoods, snow skirts, drop-tail hems, and fleece lining.

What to Look for in Winter Coats for Kids

“When purchasing a children’s coat, the top attributes to look for are comfort, warmth, versatility, and price point,” says Peck. “I also love a stylish jacket that keeps kiddos warm yet can be worn for multiple looks."  In terms of functionality, Dr. Smith recommends that parents choose a winter coat with a hood. “A coat should also extend just beyond the wrist to the base of the hand and well past the waistline to prevent gapping,” she says.  

Materials

The majority of coats on this list are made from polyester. Some brands, like Patagonia, go a step further to use recycled polyester, a fabric that is known for being durable yet lightweight and is much warmer than breathable materials like cotton. It’s also moisture-wicking and soft, which is why fleece tends to be made from polyester. The second most-used material is nylon. Patagonia also utilizes recycled nylon made from fish nets, to help reduce ocean waste. Like polyester, nylon is also durable and is commonly used in outer layers. When wet, nylon dries rather quickly, which makes it a good material for rain or snow jackets. Several coats on this list, like our top pick, The North Face Kids’ ThermoBall Hooded Jacket, are actually made from a polyester-nylon blend.  When it comes to insulation, down is by far the best. It’s lighter and lasts longer than synthetic insulation, and it has a high level of thermal insulation─even at temperatures below freezing. However, down insulation is not waterproof and doesn’t hold up as well when wet. When researching coats, we only chose those that utilize responsibly sourced down. Some brands, like Patagonia, include specifics about the down’s quality. For example, the Patagonia Kids’ Hi-Loft Down Sweater Hoody is insulated with 700-fill-power down, which is relatively high on the insulation scale.  Synthetic insulation (like polyester) is heavier and less durable than down. However, you’ll find that coats with synthetic insulation tend to be less expensive than those filled with down. Synthetic insulation also works better than down when wet. 

Comfort

Of course, comfort is an important factor when choosing a winter coat. By and large, insulation and material are what determine a coat’s comfort. While polyester coats are more water-resistant, nylon coats may feel softer, as nylon is often used as an alternative to silk. In terms of insulation, a down coat will almost always feel more plush and cozy, although it’s not waterproof or hypoallergenic. What’s more, coats that are lined with fleece have the ultimate comfort factor, as this material is soft to the touch and will keep your child extra warm.   Another factor that determines comfort is a zipper garage. This small piece of fabric serves a big purpose in that it protects your child’s chin from being bothered by the zipper. Our best for toddlers pick, the Patagonia Baby Nano Puff Jacket, is a great example of a coat that utilizes a zipper garage. 

Care Instructions

When buying any piece of clothing for a child, it’s important to consider how easy it is to clean. Choosing a winter coat that can be thrown in the washing machine after a day outdoors is not only practical for everyday life, it will save you money on dry cleaning. With the exception of the Rokka&Rolla Reversible Puffer Jacket (which should be hand-washed), every coat on our list can be cleaned in the washing machine in cold water and placed in the dryer on the “tumble dry low” setting.

Why Trust VeryWell Family

Laura Lu is an experienced health writer who has a master of science degree in health communication. Her work has appeared in publications like the New York Times, Media Psychology, Brit+Co, and Parents.com, to name a few. She’s also a mother of two young children who love to play outside 365 days a year, so quality coats are must-haves in her family. “Generally speaking, I recommend parents dress their infant or toddler in as many layers as it would take for them to be comfortable,” says Dr. Smith. “This should also be based on activity, so if a toddler is going outside to play, he or she will need extra layers of clothing.” Even though the old myth still remains, it is important to remember that kids can’t catch a cold by simply being outside in cold weather. However, they would be at risk of hypothermia if exposed to very cold temperatures for too long. In fact, hypothermia can occur even in temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit if a person becomes chilled from rain or sweat, or is submerged in cold water. In terms of versatility, the Columbia Boys Bugaboo II is a great option, because it’s like having three coats in one. It has a durable, waterproof exterior and a fleece inner layer, which can be worn separately or together in three different configurations. It even has a removable hood, so your child can dress down when needed. At a lower price point, you can expect to find a lightweight coat like the All in Motion Girls’ Solid Windbreaker Jacket from Target. Although it is our best budget pick, this coat is both stylish and functional. In addition to being water- and wind-resistant, it has a hood to protect your child from the wind, and broad pockets to warm their hands or stash their essentials.  At a higher price point, you can expect to find coats like the Patagonia Kids’ Hi-Loft Down Sweater Hoody. This warm winter coat is insulated with 700-fill responsibly sourced down, which largely contributes to its expensive price tag. That feature alone not only makes this coat comfortable to wear, but it also makes it very warm. This coat has an insulated hood, spandex binding along the sides, and cuffed sleeves to prevent a draft from entering through the arms.