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Bedtime with a toddler can be both the best and the worst time of day, and weirdly enough, having a good pair of toddler pajamas on hand can make or break the evening. When things go right, those precious moments before your kiddo drifts off to dreamland are marked with stories and pillow talk, and signify the end of another successful day of parenting in the books. But when things go off the rails…oh boy.
While we can’t promise that every “goodnight” experience will go seamlessly, we can share some of the best toddler pajamas that will help make the process as painless (or at least, as adorable) as possible for everyone involved. Keep scrolling to shop some of our favorite picks from brands like Carter’s, Janie and Jack, and Target. And when things get tough before bed, just remember: You’ve already made it through the newborn phase, so those sleepless nights are officially behind you… and the best is yet to come.
Best Toddler Pajamas at a Glance
Best Overall:Carter’s Just One You, $16
Best Animal Theme:Caden Lane Totally Turtles Two Piece Pajama Set, $36
Best for Cartoon Lovers: Bluey Toddler Snug Fit Two-Piece Sleep Set, $9
Best for Summer:Avauma Snug Fit Ribbed Sleepwear, $17
Best Celebrity Favorite: Little Sleepies Luna Neutral Zippy, $34
Best for Sweaty Sleepers:Carter’s Two-Piece Whale Purely-Soft Pajamas, $17 (originally $28)
Best for Disney Fans: Good Night Pajamas in Disney Mickey Mouse Surf, $30 (originally $48)
Best Organic Cotton:BabyGap Organic Cotton PJ Set, $20 (originally $30)
Best Bamboo:Emerson and Friends Beach Day Bamboo Short Sleeve Kids Pajama Pants Set, $41
Best Footie Pajamas: Leveret Kids Pajamas, $25
Best for Dino-Obsessed Littles: Carter’s Just One You Four-Piece Dino Snore Short Sleeve Pajama Set, $16
Best for Future Space Campers: Gerber Infant & Toddler Boys’ Buttery Soft Snug Fit Pajama Set, $29
Best Luxury:Petite Plume Short Set, $41 (originally $48)
Best Unisex:Unisex Snug-Fit Graphic Pajama Set for Toddler & Baby, $10 (originally $15)
Best for Sensory Issues:Hanna Andersson Print Short John Pajama Set, $22 (originally $44)
What is the best material for PJs for toddlers?
A lightweight, breathable fabric like cotton or bamboo is your best bet for toddler pajamas, as it allows for easy (comfortable!) movement and will prevent hot sleepers from overheating. Keep in mind that these styles should be tight (more on that below), but styles made with polyester or other flame-resistant fabric can have a looser fit.
Should toddler pajamas be tight?
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, “The Standards require that all children’s sleepwear must meet the flammability requirements or be ‘tight-fitting’ sleepwear, as defined by specified dimensions. Children’s sleepwear that is not tight-fitting must be flame resistant; the fabric, prototype seam(s), trim(s), and garments must be tested and meet the specified flammability requirements in accordance with the Standards.” Additionally, “Nightgowns, robes, and traditional-style loose fitting pajamas must be tested to the flammability requirements for children’s sleepwear.”
So if you’re opting for a cotton or bamboo style, which is not flame resistant, a snug fit is a must. If you’re looking for something looser, be sure it’s made with flame-resistant fabric.
How many pairs of pajamas for a 2 year old?
Generally speaking, you should be set with four to seven pairs of toddler pajamas on hand—enough to get you through the week without having to power through a zillion loads of laundry. But with so many great options to choose from, it may be hard to limit yourself. Thankfully, there’s no such thing as “too many.”
Shop the Best Toddler Pajamas
Carter’s Just One You Four-Piece Short Sleeve Pajama Set
Two pajama sets, four outfit combinations. By mixing and matching the top and bottoms of these adorable toddler pjs, which are made entirely of soft-to-the-touch cotton, you can get your price per wear cost down to just pennies. The patterns come in baby, toddler and little kids’ sizes, which is the stuff dreams are made of. (Get it?)
Material: 100% cotton
ColorOptions: 6 prints
Sizes: 5 months-5T
Pros:
Can mix and match tops and bottoms
Comes in baby, toddler and kid sizes
Cons:
Only available online
Totally Turtles Two Piece Pajama Set
Caden Lane is home to some seriously cute — and soft! — kids’ pajamas. One set to grab for your little ones? The Totally Turtles Two-Piece Pajamas. You get a long-sleeve top and bottoms that fit snugly according to standard safety requirements. The pajamas are made with the brand’s bamboo fabric, which is so soft and cool, providing comfort during bedtime for any season.
“I don’t have a toddler, but I do have a newborn on the way, and my number one clothing request on my baby registry is Caden Lane, simply because the fabric is SO soft, and there are so many cute patterns. I can understand why parents to toddlers would love this brand so much,” Gina Vaynshteyn, senior commerce director, says.
Material: 95% bamboo viscose, 5% spandex
Color Options: 1
Sizes: 12 months-10
Pros:
Ships within 2-3 days
True to size
Cons:
Not flame resistant
Bluey Toddler Snug Fit Two-Piece Sleep Set
This Bluey pajamas set is selling like hotcakes at Walmart. Your kid will fall in love with this dream-inducing print and cozy cotton fabric as much as they love the cartoon dog herself.
Material:100% cotton
ColorOptions:3 prints
Sizes:12 months-5T
Pros:
Flame-resistant
Cons:
Some shoppers say they run small
Avauma Snug Fit Ribbed Sleepwear
Are we still doing quiet luxury? Because these Avauma PJs embody the ethos: understated and so buttery soft against your babe’s skin — made of silk-like viscose — that they’ve achieved a 4.8 star rating from thousands of Amazon reviewers. They’re also very lightweight and the perfect set for a sweltering summer night. “These are sooo worth the hype. Super soft and stretchy just like bamboo, and that’s coming from a bamboo snob,” wrote a shopper. All that luxury and they’re so affordable, too.
Material:95% rayon, 5% spandex
ColorOptions:11
Sizes:6 months-10 years
Pros:
Super soft fabric
Affordable
Cons:
Not flame-resistant, so must fit snugly
Little Sleepies Luna Neutral Zippy
Little Sleepies is a brand beloved by Brittany Mahomes and her kiddos. The co-owner of the Kansas City Current eceb shared a photo of her son Bronze rocking this lunar pattern.
Material:Custom-milled Lunaluxe™ Bamboo (95% viscose from bamboo/5% spandex)
ColorOptions:Various
Sizes:Preemie-3T
Pros:
Gentle on sensitive and/or eczema prone skin
Cons:
Not flame-resistant and should fit snugly
Carter’s Toddler Two-Piece Whale Purely-Soft Pajamas
If your kid loves whales, they’ll adore this two-piece set from Carter’s. What’s more, because this set is so affordable (and on sale right now), you can re-stock every time your toddler changes their mind on what they love (which, as any parent knows, tends to be very often).
Material: 86% viscose, 4% elastane jersey
ColorOptions: 2
Sizes: 2T-5T
Pros:
Breathable
Affordable
Cons:
Made with semi-synthetic materials
Good Night Pajamas in Disney Mickey Mouse Surf
Bring Disney to bedtime with this Mickey Mouse surfer-dude set, which comes in light blue and light pink and is a much easier way to give your toddler their Disney World fix than flying to Orlando at Christmastime.
Material: 100% cotton rib
ColorOptions: Light blue
Sizes: 6-12 months-12 years
Pros:
Super-soft fabric
Cons:
Not flame-resistant, so must fit snugly
babyGap Organic Cotton PJ Set
Let your toddler’s star shine (and let them make a wish!) with this printed two-piece babyGap pajamas set. The super-soft look comes in so many different colors and patterns, you’ll have a hard time stopping at just one.
Material: 100% organically grown cotton
ColorOptions: 3 prints
Sizes: 12-18 months-6 years
Pros:
Super-soft fabric
Cons:
Not flame resistant, so must fit snugly
Emerson and Friends Beach Day Bamboo Short Sleeve Kids Pajama Pants Set
Let your toddler (or preteen!) build sandcastles in their dreams with this beach-inspired matching set from Emerson and Friends. It’s made almost entirely from bamboo, a renewable resource that produces the most silky soft, breathable viscose fabric that’ll lull your little one to sleep in luxury.
Material: 95% viscose from bamboo, 5% lycra
ColorOptions: Pictured
Sizes: 2Y-12Y
Pros:
Super soft eco-friendly
Cons:
Pricey
Leveret Kids Footie Pajamas
Not only do these footie pajamas come in every print you could possibly imagine (how cute are these koalas?!), but they’ve also got skid-preventing dots that will help keep even the newest walkers cruising in style.
Material: 100% cotton
ColorOptions: 20+
Sizes: Newborn-5T
Pros:
Zip closure
Cons:
Not flame-resistant, so must fit snugly
Carter’s Just One You Four-Piece Dino Snore Short Sleeve Pajama Set
Got a dino-obsessed little one? This Carter’s four-piece pj set will encourage any stegosaurus enthusiast to get ready for bed without pulling out all the classic delaying techniques. Just prepare yourself for dinosaur-themed pillow talk during the bedtime routine.
Material: 100% cotton
ColorOptions: 6 prints
Sizes: 12 months-5T
Pros:
Won’t irritate sensitive skin
Breathable fabric will keep toddlers from overheating
Cons:
Not flame-resistant, so must fit snugly
Gerber Infant & Toddler Boys’ Buttery Soft Snug Fit Pajama Set
Little learners can ponder the universe as they drift off to dreamland in these lightweight and breathable “Outer Space” pajamas by Gerber. They’re basically an adorable little stepping stone to being the first astronaut to make it to Mars, ya know?!
Material: 95% viscose, 5% spandex
ColorOptions: 5 fun prints
Sizes: 12 months-5T
Pros:
Lightweight
Machine-washable
Cons:
Not flame-resistant, so must fit snugly
Petite Plume, Short Set
This Petite Plume set boasts a more traditional type of pajamas look, and chic toddler with an affinity for horses will love the hand-drawn equestrian print and never want to take off. The sizes are so inclusive, they go from age one to 14!
Material: 50% cotton/ 50% modacrylic
ColorOptions: Various
Sizes: 12/18 months-14 years
Pros:
Flame-retardant
Monogrammable
Cons:
Pricey
Unisex Snug-Fit Graphic Pajama Set for Toddler & Baby
C’mon. Who can resist a good pun? You’ll want to *ahem* eat your little ones up when you see how cute they look in these egg-cellent jammies. Bonus: They’re just 10 bucks!
Material: 100% cotton
Color Options: Pictured
Sizes: 6-12 months-6T
Pros:
Cute pattern and rib knit
Cons:
Not flame-resistant and should fit snugly
Hanna Andersson Print Short John Pajama Set
Hold onto your seats! These Hanna Andersson PJ sets come in a whopping 25 different patterns. This flamingo one happens to be our favorite, and will bring out the playful side of any toddler, especially those with sensory issues.
Material: 100% organic combed cotton rib knit
ColorOptions: 25
Sizes: 2-14/16
Pros:
Flatlock seams
Eczema-friendly fabric
GOTS certified
Cons:
Not flame-resistant, so must fit snugly
Petite Plume, Short Set
This Petite Plume set boasts a more traditional type of pajamas look, and chic toddler with an affinity for horses will love the hand-drawn equestrian print and never want to take off. The sizes are so inclusive, they go from age one to 14!
Material: 50% cotton/ 50% modacrylic
ColorOptions: Various
Sizes: 12/18 months-14 years
Pros:
Flame-retardant
Monogrammable
Cons:
Pricey
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