I started by consulting dozens of parents (in my circle of friends as well as at Wirecutter) and hundreds of customer reviews, to gain a baseline understanding of what brands kids like — and reject — most. To understand common pain points, I perused questions posed by frustrated parents in online forums such as the Official Peloton Mom Facebook group and Parenting subreddit.
After taking in all that underwear intel, I came up with a list of 37 well-liked styles from a total of 15 different brands. I then divided the testing pool into six categories of underwear: girls briefs, hipsters, and legged styles (which are often called boyshorts or shorts), and boys briefs, boxers, and boxer briefs. Note that the majority of brands, including almost all of the ones we tested, separate underwear by gender. In reality, most kids would likely be able to comfortably wear the majority of the pairs we tested, regardless of their anatomy.
Visually, most underwear for kids looks similar. But variations in construction, fabric quality, and trim options can make the experience of wearing different pairs vary dramatically. To cover all of our bases — and behinds — we assembled a panel of seven parents with a total of 11 children (a diverse group between the ages of 4 and 12 and in a variety of shapes and sizes). Many brands of kids underwear are sized by age, though going by age is often not a good way to find the right fit for a given child. We measured each tester and referred to the company’s size chart, if it had one, to choose the best size.
Our panel provided detailed feedback and evaluated each pair on a scale of 1 (“I hate you for making me wear this underwear”) to 5 (“best underwear in the world”). Panel members assessed each pair for several key criteria:
Overall comfort: When choosing what to test, we looked for pairs made of soft, breathable material. Kids let us know if there were itchy tags or trims, irritating seams, rough fabric, or other uncomfortable facets.
Anti-wedgie: Though few pairs were completely wedgie-proof, we worked to pick those that were as butt-picking-resistant as possible.
A range of sizes: We looked for brands with a wide variety of sizing so that favorite styles can be worn from preschool through at least early middle school.
Durability: The best kids underwear should hold up well enough that it can be handed down after a child outgrows it.
Style: We looked for brands whose undies are as cute as our kids, with a diverse selection of colors and patterns that might appeal to the style or interests of a range of children.
To prevent any confusion between discomfort from wearing something new versus discomfort from undies being subpar, each child tested the types of underwear they are used to wearing. For example, kids who love boxers didn’t test briefs. Children wore their test pairs many times over the course of many months. We machine-washed and -dried each pair between wears, paying attention to any shrinkage, fading, or durability concerns.
Of the 15 underwear brands we tested, Hanna Andersson’s high-quality, long-lasting, tag-free undies were deemed the most comfortable by all but one of the 11 kids on our testing panel.
Hanna Andersson’s Classic Briefs are as soft and durable as its Classic Underwear. They come in fun prints and colors and include a functioning fly.
Best for: Kids looking for a full-coverage, wedgie-proof, no-fuss cotton brief that’s durable and cute.
Why they’re great: Hanna Andersson undies are made of soft, organic cotton and have an uncomplicated, full-coverage cut. They’re notably long-lasting, too.
The Classic Underwear and Classic Briefs have a modest cut, which one might expect from a pair of children’s underwear. They are extremely comfortable, high-quality undies made with 100% organic cotton. They are also true to size and mostly wedgie-proof, and mercifully they have no irritating tags or trims. Unlike many pairs of boys underwear we tested, the Classic Briefs have an opening in the front fabric (known as a “functioning fly”).
In our testing, parents of kids who were across the size and age spectrum unanimously loved this brand for being both tween- and toddler-friendly. Hanna Andersson’s cute color and pattern options (including fun characters like Disney princesses and Pokémon creatures) should please most kids.
Parents report that these sturdy undies last through several years of regular wear, so they can be passed down to younger siblings or friends. They retain their shape and color, even after years of weekly wear and accidental high-heat tumble-drying (tumble-drying on low is the manufacturer’s recommendation).
All Hanna Andersson underwear is also Oeko-Tex–certified, meaning the Switzerland-based independent research organization found them to be free of “harmful substances.”
Flaws but not dealbreakers: This underwear can be extremely pricey when it’s not on sale. But it’s almost always being sold at a discount, often up to 40% off.
Though Hanna Andersson briefs generally feel inconspicuous, visibly they can look a bit bulky; this was the main complaint from the sole child tester who didn’t rank any Hanna Andersson underwear as their top choice. In particular, the Classic Underwear have fuller coverage than many competitor brands marketed to girls, and they can extend above the waistband of lower-riding pants. (Hanna Andersson also offers a hipster style that sits very low on the waistline.) Panty lines can also be a problem, especially with leggings or tight pants, since Hanna Andersson undies are constructed with fabric that’s as thick as it is soft.
Sizes: XS (18 months, or 20 to 33 pounds) to XL (14-16, or 88 to 110 pounds)
Options: dozens of colors and patterns, including licensed cartoon characters
Care instructions: Wash on warm in regular laundry cycle; tumble-dry on low.
Materials: 100% organic cotton rib knit
These stretchy, tag-free boxer briefs are ideal for active kids who want a little more support in the groin area. They feel smooth and soft under clothes.
Buy from Amazonprice may vary by color or style
Best for: Active kids who would appreciate a smooth, silky boxer brief with flexible groin support.
Why they’re great: Kids who play sports or bounce around a lot are likely to love Reebok’s Performance Boxer Briefs. They don’t bunch up during wear, and the thin, flexible, synthetic fabric is lightweight and extremely comfortable.
The “contour pouch” helps minimize jiggling genitals, and when things get sweaty down there, we found that these boxer briefs do indeed hold up to their promise of being “moisture wicking.” These are tag-free, and seams are carefully positioned in areas that don’t cause chafing or marks on the skin after extended wear.
Our test pairs have withstood being machine-washed on a weekly basis for more than two years with no snags or frays.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: These boxer briefs are made of polyester and spandex, both synthetic fabrics, which are more prone to harboring odors and bacteria than our 100% cotton picks. We haven’t yet had a problem, nor did we notice any customer complaints about this issue.
Unlike our Hanna Andersson picks, these boxer briefs do not have a functional fly, so kids will have to pull down their underwear in order to pee.
Sizes: S (5) to XL (14)
Options: assorted colors or prints in each set
Care instructions: Wash on cold in regular laundry cycle; tumble-dry on low.
Materials: 92% polyester, 8% spandex
Best for: Kids looking for a simple, no-fuss, lower-profile brief.
Why they’re great: Reebok’s Seamless Hipster Briefs are incredibly stretchy, with no capacity to dig into the skin. Combined with the lack of irritating lace or superfluous fabric bows, this stretchiness helps to make them just as comfortable on kids with flat tummies and narrow hips as they are on softer, curvier children. When sized correctly, they don’t cause wedgies during wear, and in our testing the soft, synthetic fabric felt barely there on kids’ bottoms.
These briefs are tag-free and mostly seamless (there is one low-profile seam at the top of the crotch, as seen above). Our test pairs have withstood being machine-washed more than 20 times (so far) with no snags or frays.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: When these briefs are too large, they tend to bunch up, so if your child is on the slimmer side, consider ordering down a size.
They are made of nylon and spandex, both synthetic fabrics, which are more prone to harboring odors and bacteria than our 100% cotton picks. We haven’t yet had a problem, nor did we notice any customer complaints about this issue.
Sizes: S (4) to XL (16)
Options: assorted colors or prints in each set
Care instructions: Wash on cold in regular laundry cycle; tumble-dry on low.
Materials: 92% nylon, 8% spandex
These super-soft, tag-free boyshorts are ideal for leggings lovers because they resist wedgies and visible lines.
$40 from Amazonprice may vary by color or style
Best for: Kids looking for a more-streamlined base layer to wear under leggings or tighter pants.
Link to Liangliang
Why they’re great: Reebok’s silky Seamless Boyshorts are all panty and no lines. For kids who love to wear tight pants and leggings — or simply those who prefer a thinner pair of underwear — these synthetic shorts are a lovely and lightweight base layer. With a stretchy, elastic waistband, they look and feel somewhat like control-top panty hose, but they’re nowhere near as delicate or uncomfortably tight. Like our Seamless Hipster Briefs pick from the same brand, these wedgie-proof boyshorts are tag-free. And the soft fabric isn’t marred by potentially irritating lace, as many others pairs in this style are.
Our test pairs have withstood being machine-washed more than 100 times (so far) with no snags or frays. One child whose behind is notorious for attracting wedgies referred to these undies as “the best underwear in the world,” and they refuse to wear anything else.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Although these undies are marketed as being breathable, they are made mostly of nylon, a synthetic fabric, which is more prone to harboring odors and bacteria than our 100% cotton picks. We haven’t yet had a problem, nor did we notice any customer complaints about this issue.
Unlike our picks from Hanna Andersson, the Reebok Seamless Boyshorts don’t come in sizes for children younger than 5, and they don’t have as many prints or any licensed characters.
Children with narrower hips may discover that these undies bunch up, as one of our testers found. Sizing down may help.
Sizes: S (5) to XL (16)
Options: assorted colors or prints in each set
Care instructions: Wash on cold in regular laundry cycle; tumble-dry on low.
Materials: 92% nylon, 8% spandex
Best for: Kids who want a looser-fitting base layer to wear under clothes or to use as sleepwear (or both).
Why they’re great: Lucky & Me’s knit Noah Boxer Shorts are a comfortable, high-quality choice for kids who like to “hang loose.” Made from 100% cotton, they are tag-free and “the softest boxers I’ve ever worn,” said one 10-year-old tester. The fabric-covered waistband is a tremendous benefit: Little ones won’t complain about chafing from scratchy elastic trims, which we found to be common on other models of this style. These undies also come in a variety of patterns and colors, and they’re great for lounging or sleeping, as well as wearing under clothes.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: These boxers could be considered a bit pricey. And though the quality is nice and the material soft, they aren’t as soft or as well constructed as underwear from Hanna Andersson (which does not sell loose boxers).
We’ve found that the Lucky & Me boxers do fade slightly after a few wears, but they still look fine and feel great. Their seam runs down the butt crack (versus across the buttocks), thus heightening the probability of a wedgie (though in our testing, there were no reports of wedgies with these).
The fly on the Lucky & Me boxers is not functional; the buttons sewn onto the fly are merely decorative. Like all loose boxers, these aren’t meant for wear under tight pants because they would bunch up conspicuously. Unlike our picks from Hanna Andersson, these boxers don’t come in sizes for children younger than 5, and there aren’t many color or pattern options.
Sizes: 4-5 to 9-10
Options: assorted colors and patterns in each set of five
Care instructions: Wash on cold in regular laundry cycle; tumble-dry on low.
Materials: 100% cotton
If you’re interested in “training” underwear, with extra padding built into the crotch to absorb pee accidents: Consider Hanna Andersson’s Training Underwear. They’re very similar to the brand’s Classic Underwear but come only in smaller sizes (and with that extra padding).
If you’re looking for traditional girls underwear with an under-belly-button slimmer cut: Hanna Andersson also makes girls Hipster Underwear. Like our picks from the brand, they come in a wide range of sizes from XS (18 months, or 20 to 33 pounds) to XL (14-16, or 88 to 110 pounds). Children who don’t like their underwear close to their navel may prefer the hipsters, which sit much lower on the torso than the granny panty–esque Classic Underwear.
If you’re looking for exceedingly inexpensive girls briefs that are still comfortable: Consider Hanes 100% Cotton Girls Briefs. They were the least expensive briefs we tested. And they were much more comfortable than one might expect for that price — there’s no irritating tag, lace, or bow. Although these Hanes briefs didn’t compare in quality or softness to the Hanna Andersson underwear, they are a solid and inexpensive option.
If you’re looking for cute and comfortable cotton boxer briefs that cost less: Consider Target’s Cat & Jack Boxer Briefs or Children’s Place Boxer Briefs. These undies both have a functional fly and were well liked by the testing panel. Though when it comes to durability and softness, the Boxer Briefs from Hanna Andersson edge them out.
If your kid wants underwear that’s as wild as they are: Ethika boxer briefs have the craziest patterns and prints we’ve ever seen on kid underwear. Our kid testers found them comfortable and thought they fit similarly to our Boxer Briefs pick from Reebok, though they land farther down the leg. Like our pick from Reebok, these have held up well through many washes, but they’re much more expensive and are sold only in single pairs.
If you’re looking for more-affordable “packs” of boxers: These Fruit of the Loom Assorted Plaid Boxers have proved to be durable. They’re thin to the point of being almost sheer, but for some kids that’s a positive. Their thinness doesn’t negate quality. One parent on our panel swears their child has happily worn the same dozen pairs of hand-me-downs for the past couple of years, with no fraying, fading, or loss of waistband elasticity.
The cute Boxer Briefs, Classic Briefs, and Bikinis from Primary were comfortable, but not as comfortable as similarly priced and styled pairs from Hanna Andersson, our testers found. Primary also offers fewer color and style options.
Testers disliked the “plumber butt” situation caused by the low-cut briefs from Tucker + Tate and Boden.
Boden’s Briefs and Boxers (which are more like boxer briefs) were extremely soft and well made. However, they are constructed with a very thick fabric that some testers found overwhelming, and they have an irritating back tag (which most testers had to cut out). Also, they are available in fewer pattern and color choices than the Hanna Anderssons.
Neither the Boden Shorties (currently unavailable) nor the Children’s Place Shorts were wedgie-proof; we found our kindergarten through fifth-grade testers picking them out of their behinds.
We tried multiple styles from Fruit of the Loom, including its Boxer Briefs, Briefs, Breathable Micro-Mesh Briefs, Seamless Hipsters, and Classic Briefs; none of them outshone our picks in terms of softness and style.
Neither H&M’s Cotton Hipster Briefs nor its Boxer Briefs were as soft or comfortable as our picks.
Carter’s Cotton Undies and Children’s Place Day of the Week Briefs weren’t as comfortable or as wedgie-proof as our picks.
Maidenform Briefs and Walmart’s Wonder Nation Boxer Briefs were polarizing — some kids said they loved how comfortable they were, while others despised them for causing wedgies and discomfort.
Our testers tried the Under Armour HeatGear Middy Shorts as a base layer under dresses. They deemed them to be “too much” in terms of length and fabric.
Cadidi Dinos Briefs were disliked by testers for having extremely tight leg holes.
This article was edited by Kalee Thompson.
Finding the right underwear size for your child can feel surprisingly tricky. With kids growing so fast, it’s easy to wonder what will fit best. But don’t worry—we’re here to make it simple! In this quick guide, we’ll walk you through our sizing to help you find the perfect fit for your little one.
Kids' underwear sizes typically range from toddler sizes all the way up to youth sizes, covering a wide selection of age groups and body types. When it comes to finding the right size, it's essential to consider factors such as your child's waist measurement, height range, and their individual preferences.
Many brands provide sizing charts to help you find the right fit for your child. Look at it as the general guide on what size underwear your child may need. These charts typically include waist measurements, height ranges, and sometimes even weight guidelines to ensure a proper fit. Take advantage of these resources to make informed decisions and avoid the hassle of returns or exchanges. The underwear size chart can be pretty helpful!
Finding the right size of underwear for your child is important for comfort and confidence. Ill-fitting underwear can lead to discomfort, skin irritation, and even embarrassment, especially during active play or the potty training phase. That's why it's essential to ensure that your child's underwear provides the perfect fit and maximum comfort, allowing them to move freely and confidently throughout the day.
To accurately determine your child's underwear size, you'll need a few essential tools: a measuring tape and, of course, your child! Here's a step-by-step guide to finding the perfect size:
Step 1 - Waist Measurement: Start by measuring around your child's natural waistline, typically located above the belly button. Many people think the waistline is the widest part of your hips. But it is not correct! This measurement will help you determine their waistband measurement, which is crucial for finding the right size of underwear.
Step 2 - Height Range: When selecting kids' underwear sizes, consider your child's height range. Some brands provide size charts correlating waist measurements with specific height ranges to ensure the best fit.
Step 3 - Fullest Part of the Child: When choosing underwear sizes, consider the fullest part of your child's hips or bottom. You want to ensure that the underwear provides enough coverage and stays in place comfortably. Tiny underwear will definitely cause some uncomfortable moments!
Step 4 - Child Standing: It's best to take measurements while your child is standing upright for a more accurate assessment of their size.
The style of underwear largely depends on your child's preferences, comfort level, and activities. For boys, options like boys boxers, boys briefs, and boys boxer briefs offer different levels of coverage and support. Boxers provide a loose fit with full coverage, while briefs offer a snug fit with ample support. Boxer briefs combine the best of both worlds, offering support with a bit more coverage.
For girls, styles range from traditional briefs/high-cut briefs to boyshorts and bikini cuts. Boyshorts provide extra coverage and are great for active play, while high-cut briefs offer a sleeker silhouette under clothing. Consider your child's preferences and activities when selecting the style of underwear to ensure they feel comfortable and confident throughout the day.
When it comes to kids' underwear, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Every child is unique, with different body shapes, preferences, and needs. By following these tips and utilizing sizing charts, you can confidently choose the best underwear for your little one, ensuring maximum comfort and a great fit every time.
Finding the right size of underwear for your child doesn't have to be a miserable task. With the proper measurements, guidance, and some trial and error, you can ensure that your child stays comfortable and confident in their underwear all day. Remember to consider their preferences, explore different styles, and prioritize comfort above all else. Happy shopping, and here's to finding the perfect fit for your little ones!
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