These $20 Toddler Coats Have a Secret Hack That’ll Get You Two Seasons of Wear

09/19/2023

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Any parent is familiar with the hustle and bustle of buying clothes for a kid who seems to be growing like a weed. Wouldn’t it be amazing if their clothes could actually grow with them? What a concept, huh? Well, Target’s in-house kids’ brand, Cat & Jack, is one step ahead of you. The brand that brings us the coolest, most affordable threads and a return policy that’s beyond generous has managed to outdo itself with this secret hack.

It turns out there’s a $20 Cat & Jack Puffer Jacket for toddlers with a trick up its sleeve, quite literally: its sleeves are designed to extend after your child has outgrown the coat, so you can get another full season of use out of the jacket before it gets tossed in the giveaway pile.

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It’s the simplest trick and it’ll save you time and money (how’s that for a love language?). Check out the hack in action: this TikTok mom not only explains this hidden phenomenon, but she also visually demonstrates it.

The Target Cat and Jack toddler coats do extend the sleeves! #parenthack #momhacks #millenialmom #target #catandjacktarget #catandjack #toddlercoathack

While holding up a size 2T jacket — and specifically the sleeves that have gotten just a tad bit short for her 3T daughter — this resourceful parent reveals, “there’s a string in here that will let you extend it.” She then flips the sleeve inside out to reveal a row of stitching in red thread. “So we’re gonna give it a try and see if we can’t get another year out of this coat.” Then she grabs a pair of scissors and gets to work snipping away at the string, then unraveling it to reveal the extra fabric that was sewn down.

In less than a minute, the entire string is gone, and this clever mom holds up the sleeve to reveal at least a couple of inches more in length. “So now we have a whole cuff,” she notes, as the extension trick reveals more of the elasticized wrist cuff. “Should be able to get another season out of it — thank you, Cat & Jack!”.