Best Rain Jackets for Toddlers 2026

Sizes: 12M to 4T | Waterproof: Yes (2.5-layer waterproof/breathable shell, fully sealed seams) | Size tested: Oren, age 2, size 2T

Not right for you if: You need warmth on its own. It’s a shell.

It was raining hard at West Thumb Geyser Basin, and our choices were a camper full of restless kids or the boardwalks. We picked the boardwalks. Oren (2) spent the morning in a yellow REI Co-op Rainier, pointing at Bluebell Pool and a steaming hillside geyser while the rain came down sideways. He stayed dry, the hood stayed out of his eyes, and the soft chin guard kept the cold zipper off his face. It’s our favorite toddler rain jacket. The one thing to know before you order: it fits true to size, so size up if you want two seasons out of it.

It isn’t warm. There’s no insulation, so on a cold rainy day you’re layering underneath. The good news is the 2T has room for a puffy jacket. The pockets have no zippers, which makes them great for toy horses and terrible for anything you want to keep. There’s also no elastic at the hem, so wind can sneak in from below (not many have this feature).

We ordered a 2T for Oren at age 2, and it fits like a 2T. It fits nicely, with some extra room in the sleeves and enough space for a big puffy jacket underneath. REI makes it from 12 months to 4T.

If we were ordering it for a 2-year-old again, we’d get the 3T. It would work now with the sleeves rolled, and it would last another season.

The short version: Our top pick. Waterproof, thoughtfully designed, true to size. Size up for a second season.

Sizes: 2T to 4T | Waterproof: Yes (Omni-Tech, fully seam sealed) | Size tested: Oren, age 2, size 2T

Not right for you if: You want a chin guard or warmth on its own.

Some rain jackets crinkle the second you put them on. We all know the feeling, and it’s not great. This one doesn’t (crinkle, or have that feeling). We tested the Columbia Hikebound II on Oren (2) on a rainy day in Colorado, and it was the most comfortable toddler rain jacket in our lineup: soft, cloth-like fabric outside, mesh lining inside, and still fully waterproof. The one thing to know before you order: the zippered pockets are mesh all the way through to the inside, so check them for snacks.

No chin guard. Zipped all the way up, the top of the zipper sits right against his chin. The pockets are the other catch: zippered, which is great, but mesh all the way through, so anything wet or melty ends up inside the jacket. And since it’s a light, mesh-lined shell, it needs a layer underneath when it’s cold.

Oren wore a 2T at age 2. Columbia makes the toddler Hikebound II in 2T, 3T, and 4T only, so it doesn’t cover babies, and older toddlers will move into the kids’ version after 4T.

The short version: The comfiest jacket we tested, and still waterproof. Watch what goes in the pockets.

Sizes: 6-9M to 4T | Waterproof: Water-repellent PU shell (seam sealing not listed) | Size tested: Oren, age 2, size 2T

Not right for you if: You need true waterproofing or your kid runs hot.

Some rainy days in Colorado are really cold days that happen to be wet. That’s where this jacket did its work. The Amazon Essentials toddler rain jacket has a lightly insulated, quilted lining and an insulated hood, so on a raw, drizzly morning Oren (2) was warm, not just covered. It’s also super cute. The one thing to know before you order: Amazon calls the shell water-repellent, not waterproof.

It’s water-repellent, not waterproof, by Amazon’s own description. For cold drizzle that was fine. For a long day in steady rain, it’s not the one. There’s no chin guard, so the coated shell sits right against his face, which isn’t the most comfortable. There’s no elastic at the hem either. And all that warmth cuts both ways: in warm rain, humidity, or any running around, he’ll overheat right away.

Oren wore a 2T at age 2. Amazon sizes it from 6-9 months up to 4T, which makes it one of the few jackets in this guide that also fits babies. Amazon describes the fit as relaxed through the body.

The short version: The warm budget pick for cold, drizzly days. Not for downpours.

Sizes: 18-24M to 12Y | Waterproof: Yes (water column over 10,000 mm, welded seams) | Size tested: Oren, age 2, size 2T

Not right for you if: Your kid needs pockets or wants to zip their own jacket.

We had hit our limit on indoor days. It was raining in Colorado, and we needed to get out of the house anyway. Oren (2) went out in the green Reima Lampi, a single-layer rubber-style rain jacket that feels about as sealed as a raincoat gets. Nothing was getting through it. The one thing to know before you order: it runs big. Our 2T could fit our five-year-old, no problem.

No pockets at all. Both a pro and a con. If you forgot gloves on a cold rainy day and their hands are suffering, or they find gems and treasures, there’s nowhere to put either except your own pockets. There’s also no chin guard, so the coated fabric goes right up against his face. We’ve already found food on the inside of the collar where it sits against his mouth. The zipper has no pull, and there’s no elastic at the hem.

We ordered a 2T for Oren at age 2, and it’s very, very large. It’s basically a dress on him. On the plus side, it fully covers his bottom, so he stays protected when he sits in a puddle.

Reima says its sizes run about one size larger than US sizes and build in 2 to 3 inches of room to grow. They recommend buying the size that matches your child’s age and sizing down if your kid is small for their age. We agree. No need to size up. Sizes run from 18-24 months all the way to 12Y, and whatever you buy will fit for a long time.

The short version: The most waterproof-feeling jacket we tested. No pockets, and order true to age.

Sizes: 2T to 4T | Waterproof: Yes (waterproof/breathable, StormRepel DWR; seam sealing not listed) | Size tested: Oren, age 2, size 2T

Not right for you if: You need an adjustable hood or all-day storm protection.

Every family needs a jacket that lives in the bottom of the backpack. This is ours. The Eddie Bauer Toddler Rain Jacket weighs next to nothing, rolls into a ball, and comes out when the sky gets grumpy and we thought we forgot a jacket. But we didn’t! It’s stuffed in the bottom of the bag! We tested it on Oren (2) on a cold, wet walk along the water, and the highlighter hood made him impossible to lose. The one thing to know before you order: it’s a simple shell with a simple hood, built for grab-and-go, not all-day downpours.

The hood is about as basic as hoods get. No elastic, no Velcro tab, no way to adjust it, so there’s nothing to snug down when the wind picks up. Eddie Bauer doesn’t mention sealed seams either, so we wouldn’t count on it for a long day in steady rain. It’s a stasher, not a storm jacket.

We ordered a 2T for Oren at age 2, and it fit him well. Eddie Bauer makes it in 2T, 3T, and 4T. If you want it to last more than one season, size up.

The short version: The best just-in-case jacket. Keep it in the backpack.

Sizes: XS–XXL (fits approx. ages 5–18) | Waterproof: Yes — H2No 3L, PFAS-free DWR, Fair Trade Certified | Size tested: XS 

Not right for you if: You’re buying for one season or one kid. The value is in longevity and hand-me-down potential. If that’s not the plan, other jackets in this guide give you strong performance for significantly less.

We tested this in actual graupel on a nature walk in Colorado — where the sky is doing both rain and snow and has committed to neither. Out for about an hour before the graupel made the decision for us. XS was available (XXS wasn’t) and it was big — sleeves dangled because they were refused to be Velcroed. Kid looked like a very nice blue bag. Completely dry. He’ll likely wear this until age 6 or 7, which is entirely the point.

The 3-layer construction — ECONYL recycled nylon face fabric, polycarbonate PU membrane, tricot backer, all bonded together — is more durable and more waterproof over time than the 2-layer shells most kids’ jackets use. PFAS-free DWR. Fair Trade Certified factory. If you care about what goes into your kid’s gear and where it comes from, this is the jacket. We have complicated feelings about Patagonia: we love the ethos, love Worn Wear, love that environmental accountability is built into how they operate. We also acknowledge you’re paying for social clout alongside genuine quality. Check Worn Wear before buying new — used Torrentshells hold up exactly as advertised.

Heavier than shell-only jackets, which means less breathability. Layer management matters more here. No chin guard — zipper end sits against the face when fully zipped.

The short version: The most serious kids’ waterproof jacket we tested. Expensive, heavy-duty, built to outlast your kids’ childhood. Worth it if you’re buying for the long game.

Sizes: XS–XXL (fits approx. ages 4–16) | Waterproof: Yes — DryVent 2L, seam sealed, non-PFC DWR | Size tested: 4

Not right for you if: Your child is young enough to need a proper zipper pull — this jacket doesn’t have one and it will frustrate small hands every single time.

Cincinnati river park, rainy Tuesday, .8-mile paved loop with puddles and wet leaves. The camo colorway does exactly what camo is supposed to do — disappears into the landscape, which is perfect for a 4-year-old who loves to hide. (If visibility matters to you, pick a different colorway.) This has become one of the most-reached-for jackets since testing. It gets asked for, it’s stuffed in our school bag. 

The DryVent 2L shell is seam-sealed and feels more substantial than comparable kids’ options — you notice it while handling it. The hood uses an interior elasticated tunnel that sits against the head and keeps fit without any side cinches or back adjustment. It stays put in wind and rain. Two zippered pockets with rain flaps and soft interiors keep valuables secure and hands warm. A half-eaten lollipop is safe in here. 

The zipper tab is small. It can be operated by a 4-year-old but takes a few tries. A proper pull would make a real difference. Size 4 fit well as-is with not much room to grow — size up if you’re buying to last more than one season.

The short version: Great construction, genuinely waterproof, and kids gravitate toward it. The zipper situation is a real consideration for younger kids.

Sizes: 4–18 (fits approx. ages 4–16) | Waterproof: Yes — 2.5-layer TEK shell, fully taped seams | Size tested: 4

Not right for you if: You need a packable car-stash jacket. The Trail Model is a more substantial build — it’s your planned rain jacket, not your emergency one.

A rainy Cincinnati afternoon, bare trees, wet pavement — the kind of grey day where you go outside more out of principle than enthusiasm, but it’s still worth it. The chest pocket was located within twenty seconds of putting the jacket on. The rest of the walk was pine cone collection. The Trail Model is a good-looking jacket — two-tone colorblock, classic but relaxed — and it looks like something a kid actually wants to wear, which is half the battle.

The 2.5-layer TEK shell with fully taped seams is extremely well sealed, and the zipper pull is the longest we encountered in any kids’ rain jacket — genuinely easy for small hands to operate without help. Storm flap with Velcro runs up the full length, plus soft fabric lining the top few inches of the zipper inside for partial chin protection. Hood has elastic on the sides. Two large side pockets with tight mesh interiors keep the pine cones safe. Chest pocket is an immediate hit with kids. Two interior pockets discovered mid-test add bonus dry storage.

We ordered size 4 and the sleeves ran long. Room to grow, which is exactly what you want from a kids’ jacket.

The short version: The most pockets of any jacket we tested, extremely well sealed, and easy for kids to zip themselves. The chest pocket is perfect for treasures.

Sizes: 2T-4T | Waterproof: Water-resistant fabric only (no membrane, no seam sealing) | Size tested: Cy, age 4

Not right for you if: You’re planning camping, hiking, outdoor school, or any sustained time in real rain.

The Glennaker is not a seam-sealed waterproof jacket. Columbia makes it with waterproof fabric (the fabric resists water), but there’s no membrane and no seam sealing. In light rain that’s fine. In a sustained downpour, eventually you’ll have a wet kid. Know that going in and this jacket will never disappoint you.

We were out in the Colorado foothills for about two hours in early spring, one of those field romps where you need to be outside even though it’s cold and drizzling. Dry for the walk. Cold, because the Glennaker is a single clean layer with nothing behind it. In light rain and mild temps: fine. In a cold rain: need something underneath.

Light and packable. The jacket you grab on the way out the door when the weather looks iffy.

The short version: Not a serious waterproof jacket, and doesn’t pretend to be. The best grab-and-go car-stash toddler jacket in this lineup.

Sizes: 12M-5T | Waterproof: Water-resistant (100% recycled polyester interlock) | Size tested: Cy, age 4, size 4T/5T

Not right for you if: You’re in a high-rain climate or need a jacket for sustained outdoor activities.

That bright yellow. Classic rain jacket energy, the kind that makes a toddler look like a tiny fisherman who is extremely serious about the work. Easy to spot in a crowd, which matters more than you’d think when it’s raining.

The Cat & Jack is water-resistant, not waterproof. The 100% recycled polyester interlock handles drizzle and moderate rain well, then gives up in a real downpour.

Here’s a surprise: the full recycled polyester lining makes this warmer than most shells in this lineup. On a cold drizzly morning, genuinely useful. That warmth also means zero breathability.

The toddler sizing starts at 12M, which is a real advantage over the kids’ sizes that start at 4. It’s an easy pick for a backup jacket, a grandparent’s house jacket, or a car jacket.

Runs large. Size down from your usual Cat & Jack sizing.

The short version: Genuinely warm in cold drizzle, easy to spot, recycled materials. A solid backup for light-rain days.