I like the three in one type of coat for my DD. I can use the pieces alone when it is warmer or when I need to put her in the car seat without it being too bulky for her straps. Then when we get where we are going, it is simple to put the second part of the coat on for additional warmth. I usually get this kind of coat from Target, but I was wondering where other people have found this kind of coat, preferably not for $100. That is out of our budget. I also do not want a "puffer" type coat, which is all I find at some stores. A bulky coat is unsafe for the car.
Where do you get your kid's winter coat?
Over Labor Day weekend, we found an online sale. Carter's/Oshkosh was selling a girl's 4 in 1 coat. While it was more than Target, it was less than Columbia and the right size to last her a while. I also know that Oshkosh tends to be good quality, too.
I always got my daughter's coat at JC Penny. Usually you can get actual Columbia Jackets for around $80.
My daughter ALWAYS removed her coat before getting in the car. Otherwise she gets too hot. We always took a thin throw to use until the heater kicked in.... until I started warming up the car 10 minutes before we left.
Costco, and they were between $20-$30. But I don't put anything but fleece on my kids in carseats or the shirt they are wearing. The jacket goes over them once they are buckled in like a blanket so thickness doesn't matter.
In addition to the standard stores already recommend, perhaps check out a children's consignment shop, Ebay, Craigslist and your local thrift shops, considering you mention budget constraints.
Also, tell your friends and family that you are looking for such a coat and perhaps they have one to swap, donate, pass along.
I love them for my kids too. I always buy them from either Children's Place or OshKosh.
Walmart, Kmart, Target, Kohl's, Boscovs, Sears
I love this kind of coat too, and I find great quality ones at a second-hand store for about $25.
I like Once Upon a Child, you may have one in your area, or other stores that specialize in gently worn kids clothes.
I've got one at Costco.
Burlington Coat Factory, Kohl's, LL Bean or Land's End (on sale)
The only place I ever see the 3 in 1s (which I love for the same reasons you mentioned), is at Old Navy. I went EVERYWHERE one year and was so exasperated, and someone mentioned Old Navy. I had no idea they would sell a 2T or 4T coat, but there they were! I think I probably paid $35-45 for them, but not sure about that. Pretty sure I wouldn't have paid more than that. And they were good enough to hand down to my younger son after my older son outgrew them, and even then they were STILL nice enough to hand down to a friend after that.
I bought my daughter's at Sam's Club at the end of the season. Both Sam's and CostCo in our area have the coats out now and are about $30-$40. I have loved the one I got for her. It is an Arctic Zone (i think)
I am odd man out. I hate them. It seems like every time my child takes his/her arms out of the coat sleeve I am forced to shove my hand down the sleeve and put it back together. After buying two of the 3 in 1 coats I refuse to do it any longer. I simply look for a nice jacket and a nice heavy thinner winter coat. We never wear our coats in the car with the car seats. I don't believe it is recommended and my kids are all hot boxes and would be drenched with sweat before we even got where we are going.
Updated
I am odd man out. I hate them. It seems like every time my child takes his/her arms out of the coat sleeve I am forced to shove my hand down the sleeve and put it back together. After buying two of the 3 in 1 coats I refuse to do it any longer. I simply look for a nice jacket and a nice heavy thinner winter coat. We never wear our coats in the car with the car seats. I don't believe it is recommended and my kids are all hot boxes and would be drenched with sweat before we even got where we are going.
We do fleece. I have blankets to put over them, but we don't allow big winter coats on in the car.
The Northface Moondoggy (though pricey if not on sale) have been suggested specifically for being super warm yet not interfering with straps. They look like puffer kind (they are full of down) yet truly wear like fleece in a carseat. Pretty amazing and worth trying.
Childrens place has them
Childrens Place and Lands End usually have the three-in-one type coats. Lands End is more expensive, but they have great sales and the quality can't be beat.
Burlington Coat Factory.
You've been given great places to find a coat so far. I want to add that of course a bulky coat isn't safe whilst buckled in the car so remove it right before getting in and put it on once at your destination.
I was at Costco yesterday and saw a bunch of kids coats there. It's still nearly 100 degrees in AZ so I only briefly saw them as I was walking by, but they looked nice. You might see what they have.
L.L. Bean or Lands End
I buy my kids their 3-in-1 coats from Lands End. I buy them on sale or when on clearance for about 50 bucks. They have extend a length adjustments, so I get at least two seasons out of them. Also, they are of great quality, so they can be passed down.
lands end also sells great 30 degree sweatsuit coats. They are super lightweight but warm down to 30 degrees. Terrific for the car! I usually get them on clearance or on sale at a very reasonable price.
