Children's Jumpers and Sweaters: How to Choose Knitwear That Lasts

Whether you call it a jumper or a sweater, it is the piece of children's clothing that does the most work for the least attention. Children wear a jumper over a T-shirt on mild days, under a coat on cold ones, and on and off all day in heated classrooms and nurseries. A good one will see a child through a whole size, and often a sibling after that.

It is also one of the best things to buy pre-loved. Well-made knitwear doesn't wear out the way a cotton top does. Children almost always grow out of a good jumper long before it shows its age, and careful washing makes wool and cashmere softer, not tired.

Here is how to choose children's jumpers and sweaters that last.

 

How many jumpers does a child need?

Fewer than most wardrobes hold, but more than one. For a school-age child, two or three jumpers plus one cardigan is enough for most families. That lets one be washed while the others are worn. Babies and toddlers get through more because of spills, so four or five soft knits in rotation is more realistic at that age.

It is worth buying jumpers before a heavy coat. On most days from autumn through spring, the jumper is doing the real work. We explain why in the layer before the coat.

Choosing the fibre

What a jumper is made of decides how warm it is, how it feels against the skin, and how long it lasts.

If your child has refused wool jumpers before, it is usually coarser wool they are reacting to, not wool in general. Merino is a genuinely different experience, and worth trying before writing off the whole category. We look at this and other reasons children refuse clothes in the jumper they won't wear.

Fine fibres are also where buying pre-loved makes the biggest difference. Merino and cashmere are the most expensive knitwear to buy new, and pieces from labels such as Peuterey and Jacadi are typically still excellent after their first child.

 

Knit styles, and how they wear

Fine knit. Smooth, flat and lightweight. The easiest to layer under a coat or a school blazer.

Chunky knit. Thick and very warm. Better on its own than under a coat, where it becomes bulky.

Cable knit. Raised twisted patterns down the front. Sturdy, and the texture disguises light wear well, which makes cable knits a particularly good pre-loved choice.

Ribbed knit. Vertical ridges that stretch. A ribbed jumper or cardigan fits closely and keeps fitting as a child grows.

Pointelle. A delicate knit with small eyelet holes, lovely on baby cardigans. More prone to snagging, so check it closely before buying.

Fair Isle and motif knits. Coloured patterns or pictures knitted in, such as the animals, boats and rockets that brands like Jacadi and Sergent Major are known for. These are warmer than plain knits, because extra yarn runs across the back. Check the inside for loose loops that could catch small fingers.

 

Getting the fit right

Buy the current size. Coats can be bought a size up, but jumpers should not. Sleeves that are too long get in the way of hands, zips, taps and pencils, and a jumper that swamps a child tends to be pushed up, pulled at and eventually left on a peg.

Check the sleeves first. The cuff should sit at the wrist bone. A little length is fine if the cuff can be folded back once. Anything more is too big.

Check the shoulder seam. It should sit roughly at the edge of the shoulder. If it hangs well down the arm, the jumper is too large.

Check the body length. The hem should cover the waistband when your child reaches up. A jumper that rides up at the back when they sit on the floor is a jumper that will be cold.

Sizing varies between brands, and some French labels in particular run small. Our fit guide to brands that run small and our explainer on European children's clothing sizes will help you judge the right size on each label.

 

Necklines and fastenings by age

Babies. Cardigans are usually more practical than jumpers, because nothing has to go over the head. If you do choose a jumper, look for buttons at the shoulder, which make it much easier to get on and off.

Toddlers. A zip cardigan is the easiest thing for nursery staff and for a toddler learning to dress alone. Jumpers should have a generous, stretchy neckline.

School-age children. A crew neck or V-neck jumper is the everyday staple, and in the UK the V-neck is the standard school uniform jumper, as it sits neatly over a collared shirt. Cardigans come into their own in heated classrooms, where layers come off and go back on several times a day. Our school-morning test covers which fastenings children can manage on their own at each age.

What to check when buying jumpers pre-loved

• Pilling. Look under the arms and along the sides, where arms rub against the body.
• Felting. Areas that feel thicker, stiffer or matted, often at the cuffs, are a sign the jumper has been washed too warm.
• Small holes. Hold the knit up to the light, particularly fine wool and cashmere.
• Cuffs, hem and neckline. The ribbing should spring back when gently stretched.
• The inside. On patterned knits, check that the loose strands on the back are intact.
• The care label. Knowing the fibre tells you how to wash it.

At Blueberry, every jumper and cardigan is checked by hand before it is listed and graded on our clothing conditions scale, with any wear or defect noted on the product page. You can see how we do it in how we quality check every item.

Keeping jumpers soft

Most knitwear is ruined in the wash, not in the wearing. A few habits make the difference:

• Wash wool, merino and cashmere on the wool or hand-wash cycle, at 30°C or below, with a detergent made for wool. Many everyday biological detergents contain enzymes that gradually weaken wool fibres.
• Wash inside out, and never with jeans or towels.
• Never tumble dry. Roll the jumper in a towel to remove water, then dry it flat and ease it back into shape while damp.
• Wash less often. Wool resists odour, so airing a jumper overnight is often all it needs between wears.
• Fold, don't hang. Hangers stretch the shoulders out of shape.
• Remove bobbles with a fabric comb or de-bobbler rather than pulling them off by hand.

For more on this, see our care guide to making kids' clothes last longer.

 

Labels worth looking for

Among the knitwear we regularly see at Blueberry:

• Jacadi – classic motif jumpers and fine knits, including cashmere blends. Shop Jacadi
• Petit Bateau – soft, practical cardigans that wash well for years. Shop Petit Bateau
• Peuterey – Italian wool and cashmere-blend jumpers. Shop Peuterey
• Molo – Scandinavian ribbed and pointelle knits, often in organic cotton. Shop Molo
• Hust & Claire – Danish knits in soft natural fibres. Shop Hust & Claire
• Catimini – playful colour and pattern. Shop Catimini
• IKKS – smart knits for older children, including reversible and hooded styles. Shop IKKS

 

When they are outgrown

A jumper that has been washed carefully usually leaves your home in excellent condition. If your child's knitwear is clean, free from holes and stains, and not felted or heavily pilled, it may be ready for its next family. Through our Sellback program, you send us your outgrown pieces and we make you an offer. You can choose a bank transfer or a higher value in store credit.

 

Frequently asked questions

Is a jumper the same as a sweater? Yes. "Jumper" is the word used in the UK and Ireland, while "sweater" is more common in American English. Both describe a knitted top with long sleeves that is pulled over the head.

How many jumpers does a child need? For a school-age child, two or three jumpers and one cardigan is usually enough, so one can be washed while the others are worn. Babies and toddlers need a few more because they get messier.

Should I buy children's jumpers a size up? No, buy knitwear in your child's current size. Sleeves that are too long get in the way, and oversized jumpers tend to be refused. Buying a size up works better for coats, which are worn over other layers.

What is the best jumper for a child with sensitive skin? Merino wool, organic cotton or cashmere. Merino has much finer fibres than ordinary wool, so it feels far softer and less itchy against the skin.

Can I machine wash a child's wool jumper? Usually, yes. Use the wool or hand-wash cycle at 30°C or below, with a low spin and a detergent designed for wool. Then dry the jumper flat. Always check the care label first.

 

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Browse our pre-loved jumpers and cardigans, from baby pointelle cardigans to school-age cable knits, each piece checked and graded by hand. For softer everyday layers, see our sweatshirts and hoodies.