16 Best Underwear for Kids, According to Real Parents 2024

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As a mom of four under the age of six, I know how tricky it can be to find the best underwear for kids. One chief complaint I hear (from my own kids and commiserating parents) is that they cause wedgies. And it’s not just “mom, can you help me?” Instead, whining, complaining, and sometimes downright melting down. I get it: Nobody wants to be constantly picking a wedgie, even if you’re at the age where nobody is judging you for doing so in public. Plus, every parent’s biggest wish is for their kids to be comfortable and happy.

To find the best underwear for both boys and girls, I polled my network of parents to find out what their kids wear and love, plus researched the top-rated and bestselling styles on the market. I also leaned on my six years of experience dressing little kids, plus had my three boys and one girl try out some new-to-us styles.

Our top pick is Hanna Andersson’s organic cotton underwear. They’re pricey, indeed, but they’re some of the softest and most comfortable. And you can’t beat the fact that they’re hypoallergenic, eczema-friendly, and sensory-friendly (tag-less, encased elastic, and smooth seams for the win!). But if you’re on the hunt for something else, like a budget-friendly option for potty-training toddlers or a moisture-wicking pair for big kids in sports, there are plenty of other solid picks from brands like Old Navy and Reebok.

The best underwear for kids, at a glanceBest Overall: Hanna Andersson Organic Cotton Classic Underwear, $52Best Value: Simple Joys by Carters, $22Best Moisture-Wicking: Uniqlo AIRism Underwear, $13Best Range of Sizes: Primary Kids’ Underwear, $30Best Tagless: Core Pretty, $18Best Overall: Hanna Andersson

Hanna Andersson 5-Pack STAR WARS™ Organic Cotton Boxer Briefs

Hanna Andersson 7-Pack Disney Princess Organic Cotton Classic Underwear

When talking to other parents, Hanna Andersson was hands-down, the top-recommended underwear brand. While the underwear is definitely more expensive than many other picks on our list (about $7 per pair for the girls’ style; $10 for the boys’), moms and dads in the know said the brand’s soft organic cotton briefs and boxers are worth the splurge. Not to mention, Hanna Andersson hosts frequent sales that bring the cost per pair to about $5 for the girls’ style and $7 for the boys’.

“My four-year-old daughter has been wearing these classic briefs since we started potty training. The characters were a huge incentive, but what I like most is that they don’t have restrictive elastic,” says one parent. These scratch-free seams are what make the undies so sensory-friendly, too. Plus, we love the fact that the OEKO-TEX organic combed cotton underwear that Hanna Andersson makes for both girls and boys is not only super soft, but also hypoallergenic and eczema-friendly.

For those drawn to Hanna Andersson for the high-quality materials and sensory-friendly design, but prefer other styles, the retailer offers plenty of options. Choose bikini briefs, hipsters, boy shorts, and training underwear that’s extra-absorbent for toddlers still learning to use the toilet for girls; briefs, boxers, or training underwear for boys. As the parents we spoke to mentioned, most kids love the characters—Disney princesses, Bluey, Star Wars, and more—but Hanna Andersson also has more muted styles like solids and stripes.

Best Value: Simple Joys by Carters

Simple Joys by Carter’s Boys’ 8-Pack Underwear

Simple Joys by Carter’s Girls’ 8-Pack Underwear

The underwear that Simple Joys by Carters makes only comes in sizes up to 8, but the budget-friendly style is perfect for toddlers. The girls’ style is a mix of cotton and spandex that’s ultra lightweight and breathable with a touch of stretch to move with your little one; the boy’s briefs and boxers are 100% cotton, which is also soft and breathable but has a little more structure.

When my twins’ started potty training, I bought a set of the girls’ and boys’ briefs for each of them because of the convenience and overall value. I liked that I could order them on Amazon, have them the next day, and not spend too much on something likely to get soiled and possibly even ruined within a few months. My daughter’s didn’t hold up quite as well as my son’s did—the material is thinner—but my son still regularly wears his more than a year later.

Best Tagless: Core Pretty

Toddler Boxer Briefs Cotton Boys Underwear Kids Underpants Size 3-12Years (Pack of 5)

Girls Cotton Underwear Soft Boy Shorts Kids Boxer Briefs Panties(Pack of 5)

The main complaint we heard from parents of both boys and girls: wedgies. Luckily, Core Pretty offers boys’ boxer briefs and girls’ boy shorts made to eliminate this problem. Both styles are constructed with 95% cotton and 5% elastane, which is more than most of the other underwear we evaluated.

“I like the coverage the boy shorts provide,” one parent said. “My daughter is always flipping around on the playground and rolling down hills—all of the things active toddlers do—and these eliminate the need to wear shorts over her underwear when she has a dress on.” As far as the boys’ style goes, parents love the roomier fit and the tagless design. “My son is very picky about what he’ll wear—everything is ‘scratchy’—but he wears these without complaint.”

During evaluations, we did notice that, while the underwear from Core Pretty seems to run true to size, it does have a tendency to shrink in the wash. Consider sizing up if your child is between sizes.

Best Coverage: H&M Boxer BriefsH&M 7-Pack Printed Briefs

H&M 10-pack Cotton Boxer Briefs

While H&M also makes boys’ and girls’ briefs, we found the boxer brief styles for both sexes to be more comfortable overall. Both of the boxer briefs are made of soft jersey cotton fabric that is soft, stretchy, and not at all scratchy. During wear tests, both the boys’ and girls’ stayed in place—they didn’t ride up or cause issues with chafing. We also liked that the girls’ cotton boxer briefs offered more coverage under dresses.

Sizing was slightly inconsistent, as the boys underwear seems to run on the smaller side, while the girls style skews a little large, so keep that in mind while shopping. And note that, although we didn’t experience any issues with the elastic waistbands digging in, we were disappointed by the long tag inside the underwear. Most kids, particularly those with sensitive skin and sensory issues, will be more comfortable if you snip those off before your kiddos wear them.

Best Range of Sizes: Primary Kids’ Underwear

Primary Boxer Brief 3-Pack

Primary Bikini 3-pack

A lot of kids’ underwear is designed for toddlers or bigger kids, but what we like about Primary is that you can find sizes 2-3 through 14 in all of the brand’s styles. This way, if you find something your child likes, they can ride the wave through their teen years—no need for continual experimentation.

We found the underwear to be supremely comfortable. A finicky five-year-old who tested the boxer shorts never once complained about bunching or tightness. We attribute it to the 95% cotton and 5% elastane construction that includes flat seams and a softer, no-roll waistband.

The girls’ style we tested, the classic bikini, was also met with rave reviews from kids and parents alike. “It runs a tad bit big, but I love that it offers a little more coverage than your average bikini, so even the most active won’t get constant wedgies,” one parent said. “I like the prints and colors as opposed to characters, too. These can better grow with my girl.”

Best Stretchy: Reebok UnderwearReebok Boys Underwear Performance Boxer Briefs, Large, 5-Pack

Reebok Girls Boyshorts Underwear, 5-Pack

For just about the same price as our top value pick, Reebok makes underwear that’s so stretchy and comfortable it’s basically performance wear. The girls’ hipster underwear, which is made of 100% nylon for optimal stretch, is one of the brand’s top-rated picks. They’re seamless and tag-free—ideal for anyone with sensitive skin. We also like that the longer leg is intended to help prevent chafing. Overall, this comfortable underwear is a great pick for all-day wear or something specific like athletic practices.

The boys style that made our list is arguably even more popular, largely because of its breathability. The pair is made of 92% polyester and 8% spandex and is one of the lightest styles I’ve held in my hands. Still, it offers enough compression to keep your little guy comfortable even at his most active. My six-year-old son has a set of these and a 100% cotton pair that fits more loosely, but reaches for these every time because they’re “less scratchy.” I love that they seem to hold up very well in the wash, too. We’ve had them for well over a year, and no holes or stretching yet.

Best for Older Kids: Old Navy UnderwearOld Navy Boxer-Briefs Underwear 7-Pack for Boys

Old Navy Hipster Underwear 7-Pack for Girls

When shopping for kids and baby clothes, you probably already know Old Navy is a great one-stop-shop for affordable basics—and that includes underwear. Both styles we cherry-picked based on parent reviews are made of a soft-washed cotton blend jersey that moves with the body. The elasticized waist on both pairs ensures there’s no rolling, but wearers don’t have any complaints about it digging in, either.

My older two boys have had these Old Navy Boxer Briefs for longer than I’d like to admit—probably two years or so—and they’ve held up incredibly well in the wash. Through the years of heavy wear and wash cycles, I’ve noticed a fair amount of fading, but very minimal stretching and not a hole or rip in sight. For the price, the brand’s underwear is a very solid pick your kiddo will get a lot of mileage out of.

Best Moisture-Wicking: Uniqlo AIRism Underwear

Uniqlo AIRism Boxer Briefs, 3 Pairs

Uniqlo AIRism Seamless Underwear, 3 Pairs

Uniqlo’s claim to fame (besides offering well-priced basics) is their unique AIRism line, which includes both boys’ and girls’ underwear. The proprietary fabric technology that uses special fibers to absorb and release moisture from the body to keep the wearer cooler and drier throughout the day. It’s lightweight and highly breathable, but also moisture-wicking and quick-drying. It even has built-in odor control properties. Basically, everything you might want in underwear.

The underwear has other features designed to maximize comfort, too. Boys’ boxers have flat seams and a tagless design, while the girls’ boy shorts are both entirely seamless and tagless. Unfortunately, sizes don’t start until 3-4 years, but we found Uniqlo’s underwear runs a bit small, so depending on your child’s size, you may be able to put a potty training two-year-old in their briefs or boxers.