Our Favorite Summer Pajamas for Kids of 2025 | Reviews by Wirecutter

By Laura Motley

Hot, sticky summer nights call for ice pops, cool baths, and lightweight, breathable pajamas. On the warmest evenings, my kids sometimes sleep in just undies, but the steadfast ritual of “bath, jammies, books” is hard to resist.

In the fall of 2024, my daughters and I tested more than 30 pairs of jammies and nightgowns for Wirecutter’s guide to the best kids pajamas. We prioritized comfort, cuteness, and durability, and we found several great recommendations that they happily continued to wear all winter long.

All of Wirecutter’s favorite kids pajamas are made in breezy summer versions, too, and more recently we’ve tried out organic-cotton sets with shorts and short sleeves, pants and short-sleeve sets made with stretchy bamboo fabric, and charming sleeveless cotton-blend nightgowns. Like their cozier counterparts, these PJs come in a wide array of kid-friendly colors and patterns. Just make sure to follow the pre-bedtime order suggested above — you don’t want the accelerating drip of a melting frozen pop to stain those brand-new jammies.

This set of shorts and a short-sleeved shirt is made with the same extra-durable organic-cotton fabric as the long-john version, and they come in just as many bright and lively patterns.

These breathable PJs are even softer than the company’s 100% cotton long johns, and the short-sleeves-long-pants combo is great for kids who love to be cozy, even when it’s hot out.

At Wirecutter, we’re big fans of the durable Hanna Andersson long johns: Even the adult pair shows up in our guide to pajamas. Hanna Andersson’s warm-weather version, the Kids Short John Pajama Set, is made with the same tightly woven organic-cotton fabric and feels just as well made as the long-john-style pair. They’re available in an impressive number of splashy prints (more than 40, by my last count). The sleeves land at the perfect T-shirt length, and the shorts hit mid-thigh, which my daughters prefer over other, knee-length shorts. Just like the long-sleeved version, they run a little big (and are meant to fit snugly, according to Consumer Product Safety Commission sleepwear regulations).

My daughters also love the Kids Striped Short Sleeve Pajama Set in HannaSoft, which is made with 94% Tencel Lyocell (a material derived from wood pulp) and 6% spandex. The fabric is extra soft and stretchy, and the long-pants-short-sleeves pairing was a winning combination for my kiddos, who hate being hot but love being cozy. This pair is available only in five subdued striped colors, but I can vouch that the violet tulip and ecru pattern looks pretty in person. Unlike the cotton short-john set, this pair runs true to size (and starts at size 2, just like the short johns).

This sleek bamboo-derived set pairs a short-sleeved shirt with long-john-style bottoms, and it comes in a multitude of prints that are vibrant, playful, and kid-approved.

The shorts-and-short-sleeves version of these breathable pajamas is great for hot nights, and it’s available in an even broader range of colorful prints than the short-sleeves-long-pants set.

We praised the Little Sleepies Two-Piece Pajama Set because of its luxurious and stretchy feel. Little Sleepies’s signature fabric uses bamboo-derived viscose, which is notably breathable and lightweight, so it works especially well in the summer months. Its short sleeves and pants two-piece pajama set offers the same magical cozy-but-not-too-cozy quality as the Hanna Andersson set, and the set with short sleeves and shorts is perfect for hot nights. These shorts are an inch or so longer than other pairs we tested, though, and my daughters didn’t love their nearly knee-length look. But they naturally scrunched up when worn and still felt comfortable.

Just like Hanna Andersson’s short-john set, both Little Sleepies short-sleeved sets are offered in an extensive variety of lively prints. And the colors are especially bright, which may be due to viscose’s unique ability to hold dye without fading. Both of these snug and stretchy pairs fit true to size. Whereas Hanna Andersson’s short johns start at size 2, the Little Sleepies pairs start at 12–18 months.

With several bright and cheery solid colors to choose from, these soft, organic-cotton, snug-fit short-sleeved tops also work beyond bedtime.

Make it a set with comfy shorts in a coordinating or complementary color.

Primary makes high-quality organic-cotton pajama tops and bottoms that you can purchase separately or as sets. They’re available in, yes, primary colors, as well as bright options like orangey-pink and mint green. We’ve long loved Primary’s long-sleeved tops and pants, and its short-sleeved PJ tops and PJ shorts are just as comfortable. Primary’s fabric is double-knitted for softness and stretch, and the printed tags are a relief for sensitive kids — no itchy fabric tags to worry about.

The short-sleeved top can pull double duty as a T-shirt, and the shorts, which are a comfortable mid-thigh length, are reminiscent of bike shorts (which my daughters wear under dresses all summer long). Primary also makes this set in a few prints, like strawberry fields and rainbow tulip fields, but at a higher price than the solid colors. If you’re going to spend more, you’re better off with the wider ranges of prints on offer from Hanna Andersson or Little Sleepies. These PJs start at size 2.

This soft nightgown is comfortable and durable, and it features sweet little details like fluttery sleeves and a tiny bow at the neckline.

I thrifted a size 5-6y Boden Short Sleeve Nightie three years ago, and my daughters, ages 5 and 7, still fight over it so frequently that it often ends up hidden in my dresser for weeks at a time. The whimsical pink print has faded slightly after dozens of washes, but it’s still in excellent shape, and the cotton-modacrylic fabric has grown even softer over time. (This fabric meets CPSC sleepwear regulations, and it’s much more breathable than the polyester that many other children’s pajama manufacturers employ.)

This nightgown is currently available in two beguiling patterns, one featuring strawberries and the other delicate little flowers. Both versions are adorned with sweet little details like embroidery around the neckline, a tiny bow at the collar, and ruffles at the sleeves. The forgiving arm and neck openings mean that this nightie will likely fit your kiddo for at least two summers, possibly more — the hemline will rise as they grow, but that doesn’t negatively impact the fit. It’s available starting at size 2.

Classic prints, high-quality fabric, and charming details such as piping give these summer pajamas a timeless feel.

Appealing little details like ruffle sleeves lend this nightgown a nostalgic appeal, but it’s made with modern fabric that’s extra cool and breathable.

We love Petite Plume’s Kid’s Twill Pajama Set and Kid’s Flannel Nightgown for their soft feel and timeless look. Petite Plume makes a shortie version of the twill pajama set and several charming sleeveless twill nightgowns.

The Kid’s Twill Short Set is made with tightly woven cotton-modacrylic fabric that has a crisp, airy feel, reminiscent of clean cotton sheets drying on a line. It’s offered in several patterns and striped colors, and it’s finished with contrast piping and a sweet little pocket on the short-sleeved button top, just like the long-sleeved version. The shorts fit like boxers, and the top is pleasantly roomy. The shorts shrank a little in the wash, but we didn’t miss the lost length. We found them to be true to size.

We also like the Twill Amelie Nightgown, which is just as nostalgic as its winter cousin, the flannel nightgown. It features the same smooth twill fabric as the shorts set, has sweet details like ruffle trim on the shoulders, and comes in several summery prints, such as sailboats, bumblebees, and stripes. Three buttons on the back placket require some assistance from a parent or caregiver — if your child prizes independence, they may be better off with the Girl’s Twill Clara Nightgown. The least expensive children’s nightgown in Petite Plume’s top-dollar heirloom collection, this ruffly, white nightgown has cleverly hidden elastic in its top seam that allows kids to dress themselves with ease.

These pajamas are pricey, but all signs point to their earning hand-me-down status. Petite Plume’s pajama sizing starts at 6/12 months, whereas most of our recommendations start at 2 years.

This article was edited by Amy Miller Kravetz and Kalee Thompson.

Laura Motley

Laura Motley is a writer, gardener, and cook whose work spans cookbooks, recipe development, product reviews, and, mostly, parenting. She lives with her two young daughters, her husband, and their dog, cat, and chickens in Portland, Maine.

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