Best Toddler Mittens and Gloves: Keep Your Little One’s Hands Warm This Winter [Aug 2022]
If you're looking for toddler mittens or gloves that really work, you're in the right place. We've got a list of our favorites with reviews that detail the ease of putting on, likeliness to stay on, warmth and waterproofing. We'll start with our list of toddler mittens, followed by our list of toddler gloves with fingers. Want to save time and go for the crowd favorite?
Our Top Pick for Toddler Mittens is: N'Ice Caps Kids Easy On Velcro Wrap Waterproof Thinsulate Winter Snow Mitten
Our Top Pick for Toddler Gloves with Fingers is: N’Ice Caps Waterproof Insulated Winter Snow Gloves
For more detailed mitten and glove reviews…
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I have to admit, I think there is nothing quite as cute as little hands in tiny mittens, but finding the right little mittens for toddlers can feel like an epic quest. When my oldest child was a toddler I remember being surprised by the array of option. I assumed I would go to the store and pick out any pair of cute mittens and that would be that. How hard could it be? (Did I mention I grew up in the desert?)
It turns out getting tiny hand into tiny mittens is no small feat, and keeping them on, well, I still don't understand how something so difficult to put on, can come off so easily.
Clearly, I had a thing or two to learn about cold-weather gear! There are a variety of things to consider when buying mittens for small people: How easy will they be to get on and off? Will they stay on (nothing is worse than getting your child all ready to play in the snow only to have them come in five minutes later because their little fingers are painfully cold)? Do they just need to be warm or do they also need to be waterproof?
What's the difference between mittens and gloves?
Mittens are warmer than gloves because they cover more of your hand and allow your fingers to share heat. When it's extremely cold outside, mittens are the better choice. They're also easier to put on toddlers, which is always a bonus. However, if you live in a milder climate or your toddler is constantly losing gloves, then gloves might be the way to go.
Whichever type of winter handwear you choose for your toddler, make sure they fit well and can't be easily pulled off by little hands. And always have a spare pair (or two) on hand, just in case. Happy shopping!
Best Toddler Mittens
After having four toddlers in a cold climate, wrap style mittens are my favorite. The fold over flap is actually a part of the mitten, so when it is undone the mitten opens wide making it easy for a toddler to get their hand inside, and when you wrap the flap closed you create a custom fit.
N'Ice Caps Kids Easy On Velcro Wrap Waterproof Thinsulate Winter Snow Mitten
Easy to put on, Independent with practice, Stay on well, Good for snow play
These mittens have a soft ribbed cuffs that fit under a jacket cuff to keep snow from sneaking in. They have a non slip coating over the palm and thumb to help children grip things. These gloves are waterproof and perfect for playing in cold wet conditions.
Outdoor Research Adrenaline Mitts
Easy to put on with help, Stay on well, Good for snow play
With a zipper that runs almost all the way up the back of the mitten you can open them so that your child can easily put their hand in side and because they zip shut they have a more contoured fit than other mittens. These mittens have a longer elasticized cuff for good fit which creates a barrier against the elements when tucked inside your child’s coat sleeves. They also have both clips for keeping them together as well as loops at the cuff for hanging them.
Veyo Kids – Tiger Paw Mittyz – Waterproof Kids Mittens
Easy to put on with help, Stay on well, Good for snow and wet play
These mittens are not only adorable, they're high quality snow gear. These mittens are waterproof and also boast a breathable liner to help keep hands dry. They have only a single compartment, so they don’t have a thumb which makes them easy to put on, and their adjustable wrist strap means they won't fall off once they are tightened. The long, over-sized gauntlets (sleeve) means they will fit over your child's coat sleeves easily. Did I mention that these are adorable and come not only in tiger paws, but penguins, dragons, and other designs?
SnowStoppers Kids Waterproof Stay On Winter Nylon Mitten
Stay on well, Good for snow play
An extra long knit cuff helps ensure these mittens stay on while playing and creates an extra barrier against the elements when placed under a jacket. The adjustable strap helps keep mittens in place and creates a comfortable fit. A plastic clip helps keep mittens together or clipped to snow pants or backpack while not being worn.
N'Ice Caps Little Kids and Baby Easy-On Sherpa Lined Fleece Mittens 2-pack
Easy to put on with help, Machine washable
This pack comes with two pairs of these mittens so you can keep a pair in the car or at daycare. The adjustable strap to makes them easy to put on and the soft fleece will keep tiny hands cozy during play and travel.If you don’t need to worry about keeping hands dry then these might be just what you are looking for. Fleece is light weight and washable.
Our Favorite Toddler Gloves with Fingers
Some toddlers really don’t like not being able to use their hands and fingers freely and need an alternative to the traditional snow mittens for toddlers. That’s where toddler gloves with fingers can save the day and keep your little one’s hands warm and protected while your toddler retains full use of their fingers. Check out the toddler gloves with fingers that we think are the best below!
N’Ice Caps Waterproof Insulated Winter Snow Gloves
Waterproof, grippy palms and fingers, warm without being bulky
These gloves with fingers for toddlers are the best available. The N’Ice Caps gloves are for children age three and up and are water and snow proof. They are also exceptionally warm due to the Thinsulate material that keeps hands toasty warm without making the gloves bulky. The gloves have grippy palms and fingers, making them perfect for enjoying snowy days. The elastic in the wrist area also makes them adjustable, so you never have to worry about snow slipping into the gloves. N’Ice Caps gloves for toddlers also have nine different patterns to choose from!
N’Ice Caps Converter Fingerless Gloves to Mittens
Convertable, good for quick trips
You really can’t beat the N’Ice Caps brand that makes some of the best outdoor recreation gear available for cold weather and snow. The convertible gloves to mittens come in three different colors for toddlers—black, fuchsia, and navy blue, and have a plush microfleece exterior and Thinsulate interior. The finger openings feature elastic bands so that snow can’t get into the holes when you have the mittens pulled back and the fingers free. We love this option for trips to the grocery store and other places in the winter where we want the toddler’s hands to stay warm, but their fingers to be free to help.
EvridWear Stretch Gripper Gloves
Great for cold dry days, grippy palms and fingers, come in a 3-pack
If you’re looking for toddler gloves with fingers that will keep their hands warm on the playground, school bus, car, or any time they aren’t playing in the snow, stretching winter gloves like EvridWear’s are always a good choice. This particular brand has grippy palms, fingers, and thumbs, which means they are perfect for playing outside; however, they are made from acrylic and spandex, so they are not waterproof or snow proof. We love that these come in a three-pack though because if your child is anything like ours, gloves can frequently get lost in your house.
Lullaby Kids Thinsulate Cotton Ski Gloves
Waterproof, durable, start at size 4
You don’t have to go skiing to get the full benefits of these snow gloves for toddlers even though they are designed with winter sports in mind. The 3M Thinsulate insert that the gloves come which makes them versatile and the fact that they are waterproof and snow proof; yet breathable, makes them super comfortable for active kids. They also feature a reinforced thumb and palm to increase your toddler’s gripping ability. These gloves start at a size four in kids and come in over a dozen different design variations.
Keep track of those mitts!
N'Ice Caps Baby and Kids Strong Stainless Steel Mitten Clips are a great way to keep mittens or gloves attached to jackets. If your child goes to child care, or will be taking their snow gear on and off while out and about these little clips are great for keeping mittens attached to your child’s coat.
All this talk about cold whether and cozy mittens has me thinking it's time to want to snuggle up on the couch with my youngest to read The Mitten by Jan Brett!
If you are looking for more cold-weather gear for toddlers and preschoolers you might also enjoy:
Alissa Zorn is an author, and founder of the website Overthought This. She's a coach and cartoonist passionate about helping people overcome perfectionism and shame to build authentic, joyful lives. Alissa is certified through the International Coach Federation and got her Trauma-Informed Coaching certification from Moving the Human Spirit. She wrote Bounceback Parenting: A Field Guide for Creating Connection, Not Perfection, and is always following curiosity to find her next creative endeavor.