Whatever the time of year, an excellent pair of pyjamas is a must-have for kids. Whether it’s a cool design to help convince them it really is bedtime or a snuggly pair for lazy weekend mornings, the perfect children’s pyjamas need to deliver on kid appeal as well as offer great quality and value for money.
Comfort is key, so fabric quality is crucial. Look for softness as well as breathability for all-night cosiness – something like 100 per cent cotton is a great choice for a really comfortable night’s sleep. Ease of washing is also important. Look for pyjamas that can be thrown in the washing machine and come up looking good and feeling soft. We’ve looked at how well all of these pyjamas in the round-up washed and can report minimal to zero shrinkage and, thankfully, no dreaded bobbling.
Depending on the age of your child, you want to think about how easy the pyjamas are to get on and off. We’ve included a mix of pull-on and button-up designs, as well as a specific toddler and preschooler-friendly pair to encourage independent dressing. Versatility is an important consideration, especially when you want to get your money’s worth. Look for gender-neutral designs that can be passed down from sibling to sibling, as well as clever fit touches like foldable cuffs and drawstring waists to grow with your child.
Inevitably, it all comes down to the kids, so design and style are massively important. Bright and colourful prints or cool touches like glow-in-the-dark patterns are always going to score high with younger children.
How we tested
We called in an army of little testers ranging from three to 15 years old to put these pyjamas through their paces over the course of two months. We looked at comfort, softness, fit, how easily and how well they washed, the design, pattern and value for money. The pyjamas that scored highly on these points and got the thumbs up for kid appeal by our testers, made the cut.
Why you can trust us
Sarah Dawson is a parenting writer. With the help of her children, she’s hand-tested a wide range of kid-appropriate gear, including thermals, always making sure to be inclusive of all budgets. For this review, she’s taken into consideration a huge range of factors to make sure the PJs will withstand frequent wear and tear, such as how the fabric feels against the skin and whether they come out well in the wash.
The best kids pyjamas for 2024 are:
Polarn O. Pyret kids pyjamas
It genuinely feels like Polarn O. Pyret has thought of everything when designing these children’s pyjamas. The material – which is cotton with a hint of elastane for a little give – is super soft and stretchy, and was perfect at keeping our tester cosy, without overheating at night.
We really rated the sizing too, with each pair spanning two years in age – this along with foldable cuffs means you can really stretch out the wear. Our eight-year-old tester wore the eight to 10 years set, which provided a great fit with the cuffs turned up, and offered plenty of growing room. A little detail like this adds a serious amount of longevity. It also makes them great value for money, which we love to see.
Buy now £28.00, Polarnopyret.co.uk
Love to Dream kids pyjama set long sleeve
If it’s time to move on from all-in-one babygrows, this cute offering from Love to Dream makes the perfect first pair of pyjamas. Made from stretchy cotton, they are ideal for toddlers and preschoolers who are always on the move. Whether you’re dressing them or encouraging independent dressing, there’s a range of thoughtful design touches that make getting these on and off easy. The fold-over waistband helps to stretch out the longevity of wear here, as do the ankle cuffs which can also be folded over for those on the younger or shorter end of the sizing guide. These are easy to wash and can even be tumble-dried on a low setting.
Buy now £15.99, Lovetodream.co.uk
Sleepy Doe X Selfridges kids classic set in hot pink bows
Declared “the softest pyjamas ever” by our little tester, this stylish pair from Bath-based Sleepy Doe definitely bring a bit of luxury to bedtime. There’s a lot to like about this sustainable sleepwear brand, in particular the use of 100 per cent organic cotton and the family-run factories and businesses in the UK and Spain, all dedicated to fair pay and flexible working, which they use to manufacture the pyjamas.
Above all, it’s the softness and the eternally stylish prints that won us over. Made in small batches and often limited edition, the designs are timeless and, on the whole, gender-neutral. We tested out the Selfridges & Co collab, which features a hot pink bow print our tester was very into.
After multiple washes, they still look great – although due to the untreated nature of the cotton, the brand recommended sizing up in kids’ pyjamas to allow for a little shrinkage.
Buy now £26.00, Sleepydoe.com
Boden snug glow-in-the-dark pyjamas in bluejay unicorn
Glow in the dark pyjamas are a dream come true for kids. Nothing has ever encouraged our five-year-old tester to get ready for bed as quickly as the promise of some glowing unicorns – thanks Boden! While it’s fair to say it’s always worth managing expectations with glow in the dark pyjamas, we were pleasantly surprised with the effectiveness of these. We’ve also tried other designs in the range and can confirm these were even more impressively ‘glowy’.
Slim fit pyjamas are great for active kids who also like to wear their pyjamas around the house. These offered fantastic comfort and stretch, without any restrictions. They are tried-and-tested cartwheels appropriate, FYI.
Sizes range from two years to 14 years, but due to the slim fitting nature of the cut we’d recommend sizing up if your child is at the older end of each age range. You’ll still have that snug fit, but it will stretch out the longevity of wear a bit.
Buy now £27.00, Boden.co.uk
Lola + Blake birthday suit pyjamas
Animals in party hats will always get our vote, and we (and our testers) have been totally won over by this incredible pair of pyjamas from cool British brand Lola + Blake. Featuring a menagerie of party-ready characters, including a giraffe, fox and pterodactyl, these are packed with personality and our little tester was absolutely obsessed with her ’party PJs’.
Made from luxury 200 thread count organic cotton, these lightweight pyjamas have pearlised buttons down the front, turquoise piping and a pocket on the pyjama top. The cut is relaxed, with a drawstring waist (again in turquoise) to make sure you get the perfect fit.
Quality wise, these pyjamas are next level. We have another pair of Lola + Blake pyjamas that are three years old now, have been worn by multiple children, washed a lot, and still look and feel brand new. They are the kind of pyjamas that are designed to be loved and passed down.
Buy now £28.00, Lolaandblake.co.uk
Next cotton woven check pyjamas 2 pack
Even our hard-to-please teen tester was won over by this stylish pyjama set from Next. Featuring a two-pack of mix and match short-sleeve pyjamas, they offer excellent value for money at £26-35 (depending on size). Our tester particularly rated the boxy, oversized t-shirts and jogger-style bottoms in 100 per cent cotton, which gave the pyjamas a relaxed loungewear vibe.
From a practical point of view, these wash very well and have held their shape and softness after a few cycles in the machine. Sizing starts at three years and goes up to 16 years, and it’s available in a monochrome colourway if pink isn’t their thing.
Buy now £26.00, Next.co.uk
M&S cotton rich checked pyjama set two pack
“Very cool” was the verdict of our tween tester on these M&S pyjamas. Similar to the Next designs, they come in a great value two-pack and offer the top quality you’d expect from the high street stalwart. Made from 100 per cent cotton, the set includes two T-shirt tops and two pairs of elasticated and drawstring waist bottoms, which can be interchangeable style-wise. Easy to wash and suitable for tumble drying, they are a no-fuss, great quality and timeless choice that older boys will be more than happy to wear around the house as well as for bed. A special shout out to the pyjama bottoms, which feature pockets – hooray!
Buy now £26.00, Marksandspencer.com
Rosie Dalia green unicorn pyjamas
If you’re looking for a light pair of button-up pyjamas for milder evenings, these beauties from Rosie Dalia fit the bill. Made from the softest 100 per cent cotton, these pyjamas are incredibly lightweight, breathable and comfortable to wear. We love all of the unique unisex prints across their pyjama designs, but it was this quirky green unicorn design that captured our little tester’s attention instantly. Machine washable and suitable for the tumble dryer (on a cool setting) we think these pyjamas look way more expensive that the £25 price tag. We also appreciate the brand’s ethics; they offset their carbon footprint with Ecologi, make all their fully-compostable packaging from waste material and fund skill-building initiatives for women in developing countries.
Buy now £25.00, Rosiedalia.com
Stych rainbow heritage print pyjama set
This super-soft pair is pure joy in pyjama form. Our testers all loved the colourful, busy print, featuring everything from smiley faces and rainbows to mermaids and dinosaurs. Made from 100 per cent brushed cotton, these pyjamas are incredibly cosy and kept our tester nice and warm during chillier nights. Thankfully that softness wasn’t lost after washing. A little note on washing – the label recommended hand washing, whereas on Stych’s website it says they can be machine washed. We double checked with the brand and were told machine washing is fine. We tried it, and there was no obvious shrinkage or bobbling.
We love the little design touches here like the piped edging and ‘smiley’ pocket on the pyjama top. The buttons are covered in matching fabric, which gives these pyjamas a really premium feel, and the relaxed cut felt true to size. These are definitely a birthday or Christmas present-worthy pair of pyjamas that deliver a hefty dose of kid-appeal. Available in sizes three years - four years up to seven - eight years, we only wish they went up a little bigger as our tween testers loved the look of them too.
Buy now £28.00, Stychaccessories.com
Kutti Lulu ‘A fin-tastic dance off’ pyjamas
Slow-fashion brand Kutti Lulu has completely won us over with their range of unique, painterly-style prints featuring everything from dinosaurs to jungle scenes. We tried the ‘Fin-tastic Dance Off’ print, which is a colourful underwater design with sea turtles, coral, jellyfish and more – a huge hit with our marine-mad tester.
We love Kutti Lulu’s approach to sustainability, making each pair of pyjamas in small batches, using organic materials and supporting fair trade practices. They also give back five per cent of profit to children’s charities in India, where the founder, Shreya, grew up. Yes, they are an investment price-wise, however these are pyjamas made to last and made to be passed down and treasured. This, along with the brand’s dedication to sustainability and craftsmanship, really do justify the price tag if your budget can stretch.
The light fabric and loose-fitting cut made these pyjamas very comfy to wear – in fact our tester has declared them the comfiest pyjamas he’s ever worn, which is high praise indeed. The quality, too, is undeniable; from the stylish piped edges to the vibrant print, every little detail has been thought through to create an extra-special pair of pyjamas children of all ages will love.
Buy now £49.00, Kiddykind.com
My 1st Years personalised red check pyjamas
The traditional red tartan design of these pyjamas really appealed to us (serious nostalgic, festive vibes), but our toddler tester was most impressed by the fact they had her name on them. You can choose to have up to 12 characters embroidered in white onto the pyjama top, for free, making these an excellent, personalised Christmas present, from 6-month-olds and up.
Although these are button-down PJs, you don’t have to worry about faffing about with doing these up when getting your youngest dressed – we found the top easy to slip over our tester’s head with just the top button undone, thanks to the loose-fitting cut. The elasticated waist of the trousers gives a comfortable fit, and the 100 per cent cotton fabric is delightfully soft.
We were pleased that these didn’t lose any of their initial softness after washing (you can machine wash at 40 degrees), in fact, the only downside is that these stop at size 5-6 years.
Buy now £24.30, My1styears.com
Annafie horse carousel pyjamas
These Annafie children’s pyjamas really are a thing of beauty. From the classic cut and 100 per cent fine cotton fabric, down to the exquisite hand-embroidered carousel design, these are pyjamas you’ll want the kids to show off.
We really love Annafie’s approach to sustainability, making everything in small batches, with the smocking and embroidery all done by hand by Madagascan craftswomen, and – in their own words – “with longevity at the core of the designs and materials”. There’s no doubt that these are pyjamas made to last and to be passed down. The quality is undeniable and the care that’s gone into every little detail, like the fabric covered buttons and piped edges, is clear.
The loose-fitting style and light fabric made these PJs super-comfy to wear. Our little testers loved the cute carousel detail, but it was the fact these pyjamas have pockets that really gave them hero status – every toddler needs pockets to carry random objects around in, even at bedtime.
Buy now £29.00, Annafie.com
Mori snoozy pyjamas
Quite possibly the softest pyjamas in the world, this snuggly pair from Mori are exactly the kind of thing you want next to your baby or toddler’s sensitive skin. The fabric is the brand’s signature mix of organic cotton and bamboo, which is naturally breathable and helps to regulate your child’s temperature as they sleep, making them a great choice whatever the time of year.
With sizes going from newborn up to six years, these are really designed with babies and toddlers in mind and include poppers around the neck in designs up to two years. Oddly we did find it a little tricky to pop our two-and-a-half-year-old tester’s head through the normal 3-4 years size, which we felt was a little small, but apart from that the fit was perfect, with plenty of growing room.
Our little tester thought the design on the PJ top was very cute and she loved wearing these to bed each night – there was a lot of stroking of pyjamas and “sooo soft” from our toddler, so they definitely get the thumbs up when it comes to comfort.
Mori also offers a sleep club subscription service, where you can receive new sleepwear each month, tailored to your kid’s age and size. A great gift idea for new parents who have enough to think about!
Buy now £27.60, Babymori.com
MarMar Copenhagen sleepwear set
The perfect antidote to the many heavily-gendered kids’ pyjamas on sale, this offering from cool Danish label, MarMar Copenhagen are a fantastic bedtime staple.
Made from Oeko-Tex certified material (so you know they’re free from any nasties and produced sustainably), these modal and cotton pyjamas are incredibly soft to touch, as well as managing to feel lightweight and cosy at the same time.
We loved the simple, pared-back ribbed design, which would work well for kids of all ages. Our five-year-old loved the feel of these and even used them as thermal layers under his clothes on a snow day. In all honesty, these could quite easily work as daytime basics too, as they don’t look overly like pyjamas, making them a handy multi-use addition to your child’s wardrobe. We wouldn’t mind a pair ourselves.
Buy now £28.50, Smallsmart.co.uk
Lola & Blake floral disco classic pyjamas
Have you ever seen a cooler pair of kids’ pyjamas? Lola & Blake is all about designing colourful and creative gender-neutral nightwear for children (and adults), that are to be worn, loved and passed down – and we are obsessed!
The hand-illustrated print on these floral disco pyjamas is something else; packed full of intricate detail, it manages to seamlessly combine all kinds of flowers, in a riot of colour, with butterflies, bugs and sparkly disco balls. Our two-and-a-half-year-old had a great time pointing out all the things she could find each time she wore these. We can also confirm that, crucially, they did not restrict our toddler’s moves during a kitchen disco.
Made from pure cotton, these lightweight pyjamas have pearlized buttons down the front, electric blue piping and a pocket on the PJ top (hooray). The cut is relaxed, with a drawstring waist to make sure you get the perfect fit.
You can buy matching adult pyjamas, as well as some gorgeous quilts if you want to go all out with your coordination at bedtime. There’s also the option of getting your pyjamas personalised with embroidery.
Buy now £21.00, Lolaandblake.co.uk
The verdict: Kids’ pyjamas
It was hard to pick an overall winner from such a fantastic selection of high-quality children’s PJs, however, thanks to the clever fit, soft organic material and changing choice of designs, PO. P has to take the top spot. We also love Lola + Blake’s cool and quirky button-down PJs for kids, which are well worth the money.
Keep little ones cosy all season long with our review of the best kids thermals
