Kid's Sweatshirt & Hoodie (Tops)

Underneath every sweatshirt is a looped or brushed inner face, and that surface is what makes the garment warm. Air gets caught in the loops and held against the body. A hood adds a second layer over the head and neck, which is where a child loses heat fastest once wind picks up.

Inner faces come in two forms. French terry leaves the loops uncut, so it stays light, dries quickly and suits indoor wear or spring mornings. Brushed fleece has those loops sheared and raised into a soft nap, which holds far more air and far more warmth, then pills where arms rub the body. Weights run roughly 8 to 12 ounces per square yard. The heavy end is a real winter layer; the light end stands in for a jacket on 55 degree days.

Children's hooded tops sold in the United States in sizes 2T through 12 are made without drawstrings through the hood or neck, because cords there can catch on playground equipment and bus doors. Waist cords, where they exist, are short and sewn down at the center. Ribbing at the cuffs and hem does the sealing instead, and ribbing that has lost its snap turns the whole sweatshirt into a draft.

Pullover and zip-front versions behave differently in practice. A pullover keeps the chest unbroken and warmer. A zip comes off without dragging over glasses, hair or a wet face, and it vents when a child overheats mid-game. Against a tee, a sweatshirt is roughly three times the fabric weight. Against a puffer or a fleece jacket, it has no wind resistance at all, so it belongs under outerwear rather than instead of it.

Recess between about 40 and 60 degrees is the sweet spot, along with school runs and car trips where a layer goes on and off all day. Overheated classrooms are where sweatshirts get carried, dropped and lost, so lighter terry works best there. Bar tacks at the pocket corners, the short dense stitch that stops the kangaroo pouch tearing away, are worth confirming, since that corner takes the hardest pull. Fabric softener mats the fleece and kills the loft, so leave it out and dry on low.