DEAL OF THE DAY: Here are the 21 best products from Walmart's spring deals
Don't Waste Your Money is supported by our readers. When you purchase an item through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Best Boys’ Shorts Pajamas

Last updated on February 2, 2022

Our Review Process

Don't Waste Your Money is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to. Learn more.

Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in a category.

Bedtime can be an ordeal in some households. If your children resist going to bed, you might find even small steps like changing them into their pajamas are an uphill battle.

But one thing that can help move bedtime along is the right sleepwear. For young boys, that often means patterns that reflect their interests. Your child might be into dinosaurs or cars, for instance, and choosing a pajama set with those patterns will have him looking forward to getting under the covers.

There are some things to consider before shopping for children’s sleepwear, though. The most important is safety. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission requires children’s sleepwear to be either flame-retardant or tight-fitting.

It isn’t uncommon for parents to consider sizing up when ordering snug-fitting garments, to allow your child room to grow. But, if you size up, you risk losing the very feature that made this clothing safer in the first place. When clothing fits close to the skin, it doesn’t ignite as easily, but even if it does catch fire, it’s less likely to burn than looser-fitting garments because it traps less air. Keep this in mind when you’re considering ordering a size larger.

Flammability is only one safety concern. For younger children, fasteners like zippers and snaps can scratch sensitive skin. Any buttons or decorative items can be choking hazards, so make sure they’re securely attached before you leave your toddler or infant unattended in them. Have some thread and a needle handy in case you need to sew something on more tightly.

That said, it’s important that your little one is comfortable, especially since he’ll be wearing his pajamas while sleeping. Cotton is an extremely soft, lightweight fabric that will keep your child cool throughout the night. But this comfort comes at a price. Some cotton PJs require hand-washing, and even if you can machine-wash and tumble-dry your cotton clothing, you risk shrinking and fading.

Our Picks For The Top Boys' Shorts Pajamas

View All Recommendations
Product Overview
Our Take
 Top Pick

Amazon Essentials Cotton Snug-Fitting Boys’ Shorts Pajamas, 4-Piece

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Amazon Essentials

Cotton Snug-Fitting Boys' Shorts Pajamas, 4-Piece

You’ll get soft 100% easy-care cotton with this two-piece pajama set. Choose from a variety of fun, colorful patterns, including dinosaurs and stripes. The snug fit helps keep your little one safe and comfortable throughout the night.

Overall Take

Fun PrintsBrighten up bedtime with these vividly patterned pajama sets, which offer a variety of fun options.

 Runner Up

KikizYe Snug Fit Summer Boys’ Shorts Pajamas, 2-Piece

KikizYe

Snug Fit Summer Boys' Shorts Pajamas, 2-Piece

You’ll get a soft, luxurious feel from this pajama set, which is made from 100% cotton. The hand-washable (preferred) T-shirt with matching sleep bottoms comes in kid-friendly designs like dinosaurs, garbage trucks and sharks.

Overall Take

For the Little AdventurerThe dinosaur motif on this pajama set makes it great for boys who have a true sense of adventure.

 We Also Like

Popshion Lightweight Breathable Boys’ Shorts Pajamas, 2-Piece

Popshion

Lightweight Breathable Boys' Shorts Pajamas, 2-Piece

With fun prints and a variety of color options, this snug-fitting shorts set is great for the boy who wants to express his personal interests. It’s made from 100% cotton for comfort and breathability and is machine-washable, so it's good for daily use.

Overall Take

Versatile OptionAvailable in a variety of styles and sizes from 2T to 10 years, this pajama shorts set will fit your needs.

 Strong Contender

Shelry Wide Neckline Glow In The Dark Boys’ Shorts Pajamas, 4-Piece

Shelry

Wide Neckline Glow In The Dark Boys' Shorts Pajamas, 4-Piece

You’ll get fun matching patterns on both sets of T-shirts and shorts in this 4-piece set. The dinosaur pattern glows in the dark for extra fun, and the shorts have built-in elastic for comfort. The material is 100% natural cotton for a soft, lightweight feel.

Overall Take

Great for SleepoversThis soft and well-designed glow-in-the-dark PJ set will be a hit at your child’s next sleepover.

What to Look For

  • Most older children’s pajama sets are two pieces, making it easy for kids to go to the bathroom.
  • Often a child’s pajama bottoms have elastic around the waistband to provide extra comfort while sleeping. This also gives a little wiggle room when it comes to fit.
  • Some pajamas are sold in multiple sets, so you can buy two or more pairs of pajamas in one go. If you find some PJs your child likes, you might also consider buying them in other prints to give your child plenty of options at bedtime.
  • Don’t forget to check sizing. Some pajama sets are available in sizes for kids up to 10 years of age, so your child can enjoy a favorite pattern for many years if he wants.
  • Pay particular attention to the care instructions for any pajama sets you order. Some are marked hand-wash only, which can make extra work for you.
  • Shorts-style pajamas are typically reserved for warmer weather. They usually have short sleeves and are made from lightweight materials like cotton.
  • Some pajama sets come with fun glow-in-the-dark patterns, which can be especially fun for sleepovers or when you have guests over. Your little one will love showing off their clothing to friends and relatives.
  • Boys grow quickly, so chances are that a pajama set that will hold up for years isn’t your priority. Still, it can help to have PJs that will last at least until the end of the season. Look for quality construction, including seams that will stay put even after numerous washes.

More to Explore

As you prepare your child for bed, you might be curious what sleep time is like for developing young minds. Interestingly, neuroscientists believe that babies don’t dream. For the first year or two of a person’s life, the young brain is too busy developing neural pathways during REM sleep.

Once they do start dreaming, though, those dreams can include some nightmares. Scary dreams are more likely to happen when children are overtired or stressed. Nightmares can start in kids as young as age 3, but chances are, your child will experience at least one nightmare between the ages of 3-6. Nightmare occurrences tend to taper off around the age of 10 and, by the age of 12, girls seem to have more nightmares than boys.

More to explore