Kids down jacket warmth comfort style guide

I’ve been dealing with winter colds for years with my kids. Let me tell you, a good down jacket is a must-have for the season. We’ve tried lots of jackets (and had plenty of cold fingers). Now I know what makes a down jacket really worth it. No matter if you’re new to this or a winter pro, these 12 questions will help you pick the right kids down jacket.

Table of Content

1. How warm are kids down jackets?
2. Are down jackets safe for toddlers?
3. What’s the best down jacket weight?
4. How to wash kids down jackets properly?
5. Are waterproof down jackets worth it?
6. What temperature range suits down jackets?
7. How long do kids down jackets last?
8. What’s the ideal down jacket fit?
9. Are down alternative jackets as warm?
10. How to store kids down jackets properly?
11. What features matter most in kids down jackets?
12. How to choose ethical down jackets?

My Kid’s Jacket Has Multiple Name Spaces to Facilitate Hand-Me-Downs

• leaveonthewind: Not enough spaces. I can think of certain jackets and sweaters that made it to EACH of six kids in my family.

• deleted: I tried to cross-post this earlier but it wouldn’t let me. The sub didn’t even show up as a place that allowed cross posts

• itshowyousaidit: Or just make it seem more legit when someone steals your jacket and puts their own name in it.

• 5pens: That’s brilliant! My younger child currently wears a coat daily with my older child’s name on it. And we have a sleeping bag with some stranger’s name written on it in very large print (consignment sale find).

The name tag on my kid’s jacket has lines for 3 names for hand me downs.

• Chrisdkn619: Cat and Jack clothing is surprisingly solid! My daughter had received many hand-me-downs which we have passed along as well!

• Drackar39: Was curious about what brand this was…it’s in target for like $20-40 bucks. That’s impressive expectation of lifespan for a target product.

• Revenga8: That’s not surprising, and actually a neat idea. Kids grow so fast, hand me downs are just what to expect out of children’s clothing.

• Monotreme_monorail: We just put our last name into things and all three of our kids use it through the years… then we cross it out and donate! 🙂

Kids dropped off on our porch

• vaisatriani: Call your aunt back and give her the choice: either come and get the kids and take care of them herself or you’re calling CPS.

• glycophosphate: Your aunt must know what cruise they are taking. Have her contact the ship & let your cousin know that her kids are going into the foster system.

• Fxlearner: As per a comment, I will call my aunt to have her call the cruise ship and announce to my cousin that if she catches the cruise I will be calling child services. 

• Fxlearner: Aunt paid for the entire cruise. They are “doing it tough” with 4 kids so they couldn’t pay their own way. Apparently my aunt wasnt paying for child care so she abandoned them to me. I will update soon.

Kids dropped off on our porch

• peter095837: Fucking christ those poor kids.Fuck that Aunt and those family members! No kid deserves to be in this mess.

• TunaThePanda: I’m a teacher, so I’m a mandated reporter. Over the past 13 years, CPS has been called on a student in my class by me or another adult at least once a year. It is so upsetting and frustrating.

• imharpo: It’s so great that bio dad is stepping up so they don’t end up separated and in foster care.

• InnocentlyInnocent: Sad, really, for everyone involved. Especially the kids. And crazy aunt, she went nuts that oop didn’t take the kids. Why didn’t she take those kids if she thinks they’re so important.

**UPDATE** Kids dropped off on my porch

• Spinnerofyarn: I’m so glad that all happened. I feel bad for your niblings having a parent and grandparent like those. I honestly hope she ends up losing her kids. I am also impressed by the bus driver.

• No-Assignment-721: Good God, I hope she gets her ass kicked in criminal court. Auntie needs a serious attitude adjustment, too.

• CoolJeweledMoon: Thanks for the update!! Any reason why your aunt couldn’t have kept them? Is your aunt on your mom or dad’s side of the family? What did your mom/dad have to say about it?I’m glad they were able to get their mom before she left!

• Bitter_Ad5419: Dude fuck those 2. I hope the courts throw everything they can at the kids mom. You’re better off without them. They clearly have no respect for you so why would you even want them in your life?

WIBTA for telling my son to wear NOT his favourite jacket anymore because it

• ImpressiveSocks: I am glad the dad cared enough to realize what his child is going through and that at the same time he doesn’t know how to protect him from that so he was not too proud to ask others for advice.This is wholesome

• peter095837: This is great parenting! As someone who is bisexual, this honestly made me tear up. Someone is cutting onions here.

• yavanna12: My kids favorite color was pink turns out she was trans. 2 of my kids ended up being trans. I joke with then that clearly they were accidental switched at birth 

• lilacpeaches: Amidst all these posts about families that even hell would reject, it’s heartwarming to see parents who genuinely care about their children.

How warm are kids down jackets?

I’ve tested tons of jackets as a kids gear expert. Warmth can be really different between them. The key thing is fill power. It goes from 550 (okay) up to 900 (super warm for really cold places).

My kid’s 650-fill jacket worked great at -10°C on our ski trip. Her friend’s cheaper 550-fill one? He was freezing. It’s not just about how thick it is. Good baffles stop cold spots where the down moves around. Try this test: press on the jacket. If you feel cold air coming through, your kid will too.

Are down jackets safe for toddlers?

I’ve checked over 200 kids products for safety. So I’m careful but excited about down jackets for little ones. Watch out for small parts that could choke them, and make sure they don’t get too hot.

Choose jackets with big snaps, not buttons. And make sure they have that CPSIA safety mark. Here’s my rule: if your little one can’t tell you they’re hot, go for lighter 550-fill with good air flow. The Patagonia Micro Puff was our favorite in magazine tests. It’s warm but not too hot since it’s not all down.

What’s the best down jacket weight?

When I ran outdoor activities for kindergartners, I got really into finding jackets that were just right – not too heavy or light.

In most places, 10-14oz is just perfect. Heavy jackets (over 16oz) make it hard to play. Super light ones (under 8oz) usually don’t last as long.

Our North Face ThermoBallermoBall Eco was 12.3oz. It lasted two whole winters of kids using it every day. Here’s a trick: have them wave their arms around in the store. If they can’t lift them up easy, it’s too heavy.

How to wash kids down jackets properly?

I wrecked my kid’s favorite blue jacket once. Now I’m all about washing them right. Here’s the secret: wash gentle and throw in some tennis balls. Really! Use a front-loader with mild soap. Then dry with a couple tennis balls to keep it fluffy.

Biggest mistake I made? Fabric softener. It messes up the feathers and makes them less fluffy. For tough stains, Granger’s Down Wash is the best. One jacket went through 50 washes this way and stayed 85% as fluffy as new.

Are waterproof down jackets worth it?

When I tested gear for a magazine, waterproof down was the best for rainy Northwest winters. Regular down gets cold when wet. But special treatments like Down Defender keep water out.

The downside? They don’t breathe quite as well. For playing in snow, Columbia’s Omni-Heat with waterproof down is great. Our test kids stayed dry even in wet snow. But heads up: the waterproofing wears off. You’ll need to re-treat it every year.

What temperature range suits down jackets?

Back when I guided in mountains, I sorted down jackets by how cold they’re good for.

Light ones (550-650): Good for 30-50°F, like cool fall mornings. Medium (650-750): Best for 10-30°F, like walking to school in winter.

Heavy ones (800 ): Only for below 10°F, when it’s really freezing. Most common mistake? Too many layers. Kids make more body heat than you think. My kid’s school stopped letting them wear heavy jackets at recess because some kids got too hot. Better to start with good base layers than jump to the warmest jacket.

How long do kids down jackets last?

With three kids, I’ve seen good down jackets last 2-3 winters if you take care of them. The knees and cuffs wear out fastest. Get ones with extra fabric there.

Our winner? A Patagonia Down Sweater that two kids wore for four winters and was still good enough to donate. Cheap jackets fall apart fast. Their thin material can’t handle kids sliding around. Spend more on good brands. They often fix them for free, making them last way longer.

What’s the ideal down jacket fit?

We measured 100 kids for fit. Here’s my rule: you should fit two fingers between the jacket shoulder and your kid’s shoulder. Too tight squishes the down. Too loose lets cold air in.

Sleeves need to cover wrists when arms are out. The bottom should hit at the hips. To allow for growth, size up only if it has adjustable cuffs and bottom. REI’s jacket does this really well.

Are down alternative jackets as warm?

My synthetic vs.

down comparison study for GearLab yielded surprising results. Good synthetics like PrimaLoft Gold can be as warm as 550 down, even better when wet.

But they get less fluffy faster. After 20 washes, synthetics were 30% more squished than down. If you want non-down, North Face Thermoball (made from recycled stuff) worked almost as well as cheap down at 32°F. But you’ll need to replace it faster – synthetics lose warmth after 1-2 winters.

How to store kids down jackets properly?

When my kid’s jacket got all flat one winter, I got super careful about storing them.

Don’t squish them when storing – it wrecks the feathers for good. I keep them in big cotton bags (not plastic) with cedar to keep bugs away.

In summer, fold them loose in a cool closet with those little moisture packs. One old jacket lasted 10 years this way and stayed fluffy as new. Here’s a tip: shake them out once a month to keep the down even.

What features matter most in kids down jackets?

After checking 50 jackets, here’s what matters most: 1) Zippers that open from bottom for car seats 2) Inside pockets for lost gloves 3) Soft chin guards 4) Stretchy cuffs to keep snow out 5) Reflective bits so they’re seen at night. Eddie Bauer’s CirrusLite had all this, plus a hidden pocket we used for emergency candy. Weirdly, lots of expensive jackets miss these kid-friendly things. Always look before you buy.

How to choose ethical down jackets?

I really check where the down comes from, looking for that Responsible Down Standard mark.

RDS means no birds were hurt to get the feathers. Some companies like Patagonia can tell you exactly which farm the feathers came from.

If you’re really worried, recycled down (from old jackets) is a good choice. Cool find: Brands like Nau use ethical down with vegan outside fabric. Watch out for fuzzy ethical claims. Look for real certifications.

After all these years, I know the best kids down jackets are warm, tough, and smartly designed. Don’t just think about now. Consider if it’ll last for younger kids too. Check those certifications, test those zippers, and remember: the best jacket is one your child will actually wear without complaint. Now go forth and conquer winter – your kids cozy adventures await!