Most of what gets sold as kids winter clothes is outerwear. The coat matters for twenty minutes a day. What a kid actually spends winter in is the layer underneath, worn from breakfast through a classroom, a car seat and a living room floor.
That layer is what Firebird makes. Organic cotton knits, fleece and denim, sized 2-3T through 12-13 and made in small batches in New York City, from $60 to $118.
What’s In The Kids Winter Clothes Collection
Three groups, and they do different jobs.
The knits are the dressed half of winter. Striped crewnecks, chunky knits, and the Snake and Tree intarsia sweaters, with the motif knit into the fabric rather than printed on. These are what goes on for school photos, a holiday dinner, or any day someone is taking pictures. The cotton-cashmere hoodie sweater sits in the same group with a hood on it.
The fleece and French terry are the everyday half. Zip hoodies, the mockneck half-zip and graphic sweatshirts, which handle mud and recess better than a knit does and come off without help.
Under both, The Studio Denim Pant in organic Japanese cotton and the fleece joggers, both with a drawstring waist.
If you are buying one piece, make it a zip. A kid who can open their own collar when the classroom warms up keeps the layer on instead of losing it.
The Layer Under The Coat
Winter dressing fails in the middle layer, not the outer one. A kid in a good coat and a synthetic base still ends up damp and cold, because the fabric closest to the skin is the one doing the work.
Organic cotton knit holds warmth without trapping sweat the way polyester fleece does, and it keeps working when a kid comes indoors and the coat comes off. That is the practical case for cotton in winter, and it is the reason this collection is built around sweaters and French terry rather than shells and puffers. Our guide to layering kids’ clothes for winter sets out the full system.
Worth knowing: nothing here carries flame retardants, phthalates, synthetic coatings or PFAS, which turn up in children’s clothing sold as stain-resistant.
Building A Winter Outfit
A long-sleeve tee against the skin, a knit or a fleece over it, and a coat on top covers most of the season.
Knit and fleece do different jobs. A knit breathes and sits flat under a coat, so it works for a day that moves between a cold walk and a warm classroom, and it holds up for anything with photographs in it. Fleece and French terry are warmer and more forgiving, which makes them the better call for snow, mud and recess. Half-zips and zip hoodies split the difference, since a kid can open the neck without taking anything off.
Drawstring denim rather than leggings on the bottom half, with the fleece joggers for weekends. Our cold-weather clothing guide covers how many of each a winter actually takes.
Sizing Through The Season
Toddler sizes are 2-3T and 4-5T, then 6-7, 8-9, 10-11 and 12-13. The size guide lists height and weight for each.
Winter is the hardest buying moment of the year, because anything bought in November has to still fit in March. Size up on knits and sweatshirts, where the extra room is a layering advantage. Stay true to size on denim, since a long hem picks up slush. Check sleeve length first on everything, because that is where a growth spurt shows before height does.
Washing Winter Clothes
- Wash cold on a gentle cycle, inside out on anything with a graphic.
- Skip fabric softener. It coats the fiber and cuts the breathability that makes cotton work in the first place.
- Tumble dry low on fleece and denim. Lay knits flat to dry.
- Fold knits to store, and give them a pass with a sweater comb at the end of the season before they go in a box.
When a size is done, Pass It On resells the piece to another family. Winter pieces get fewer wears per season than tees do, which is why they tend to pass on in good shape.
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Kids Winter Clothes FAQs
What Should Kids Wear Under A Winter Coat?
A long-sleeve cotton tee, then a knit sweater or a fleece. Cotton next to the skin stays comfortable when a kid warms up indoors and the coat comes off.
Is Cotton Warm Enough For Winter?
Yes, in the right weight. A chunky knit or the cotton-cashmere hoodie sweater holds real warmth under a coat, and fleece and French terry are warmer still.
What Are These Winter Clothes Made Of?
The knits are GOTS-certified organic cotton, the fleece and French terry are organic cotton, and the denim is organic Japanese cotton. The hoodie sweater is a separate blend of 85% Egyptian Giza cotton and 15% cashmere.
Do You Have Winter Clothes For Toddlers?
Yes. Toddler sizes are 2-3T and 4-5T across knits, fleece and denim.
Are These Winter Clothes For Boys Or Girls?
Both. The cuts and graphics are unisex, which keeps them in the family for a second and third winter.
Sweater Or Sweatshirt For Winter?
A knit layers flatter under a coat and reads dressier. Fleece is warmer and handles rough play better. Most winters call for both.
