Christmas Day is truly the most magical time of the year for all the family, and while you're out buying Christmas gifts for toddlers and other family members, it's easy to forget about choosing a Christmas outfit for children.
While a Christmas outfit isn't necessary, it can be nice to dress your little one in something festive for the day. Not only will they look super cute in a Christmas themed outfit, but it can help make the day feel different to every other day, especially for children.
Best Christmas outfits for kids at a glance:
• Best party dress Christmas outfit: Jingle Reindeer Knit + Tulle Dress - buy here at The White Company.
• Best Christmas Outfit jumper: Kids Christmas Jumper - buy here at Polarn O.Pyret.
• Best Christmas outfit pyjamas: Elf Christmas Pyjamas - buy here at Amazon.
So whether you're staying at home or going to the grandparents house, or even going to a formal Christmas event, the best Christmas outfits can add to the festive magic, even if it is just a Christmas jumper.
Best Christmas outfit
www.thewhitecompany.com
Description
Help your mini me join in all the reindeer games with this adorable Jingles Reindeer Knit & Tulle Dress from The White Company. Its throw-on design makes it perfect for children aged one to five years. What makes this a stand-out outfit for us is the little red pom-pom nose detailing.
One review said: "Beautiful! Well made! Packaged carefully! Design is gorgeous! A perfect all occasion dress for a little princess!"
Pros
- Comfortable
- Great for both smart and casual wear
Cons
- Small children might try pulling off the pom-pom nose
Best Christmas outfit T-shirt
www.matalan.co.uk
Description
This fun Boys Red Christmas Dinosaur Long Sleeve T-Shirt will make any Christmas celebration roarsome. With a red background and lots of dinosaurs shaped like a Christmas tree it really is fun for any dinosaur fan, plus with long sleeves it is for those chilly winter months before and after Christmas day.
Pros
- Great festive outfit for dinosaur fans
- Long sleeves for warmth
Cons
- Only available in red
Best smocked Christmas outfit
www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk
Description
What's not to like about this adorable Girls' Navy Tartan Smocked Party Dress? We fell for the tiny Peter Pan collar and puff sleeves, which add a touch of elegance for Christmas Day. There's a button back opening for easy dressing, and it's available for kids up to six-years-old. It's short-sleeved, so we recommend pairing with a cardigan and pair of tights to keep your child nice and warm.
One grandparent reviewer said, "I've bought this dress for my little granddaughter to wear on Christmas day, it is absolutely gorgeous and lovely quality."
Pros
- Lovely details
- Button back opening
Cons
- Short sleeves could be chilly
Best Christmas outfit jumper
www.polarnopyret.co.uk
Description
This sweet Kids Christmas Jumper is a combination of cute and festive. It's almost a kids version of the traditional Christmas jumpers, and it is made from 100 per cent organic cotton. It's a great festive addition, and an even better Christmas Day outfit!
Pros
- Lovely design
- Soft material
Cons
- Not many sizes available
Best fancy dress Christmas outfit
Description
Are you hosting a party? The Morph Santa Girl Costume will bring the magic of Christmas to life. This set features a red dress with pom-pom buttons and pocket detailing. It also has a black belt and faux fur-trimmed red shawl. The sweetest little Santa ostume!
One parent reviewer said: "My daughter loved wearing this, great costume for the price."
Pros
- A fun outfit for Christmas
- Good fit
Cons
- Pom poms are a bit loose
Best Christmas outfit pyjamas
Description
Although these are pyjamas, the fun elf design can also double up as a great costume for the holidays. As well as the adorable print, we love that the Elf Christmas Pyjamas are available for children aged two to eight. You can dress the whole family up then!
One parent reviewer said, "Bought these in size 4-5 and fitted perfect, plenty of space for our little one but perfect size. Very good quality material and the print is decent. Our little one loved it."
Pros
- Great for all day festive comfort
- Elastic waistband for easy dressing
Cons
- Might want to get your little one dressed for the day
Best Christmas outfit tracksuit
www.marksandspencer.com
Description
How adorable is this Cotton Rich Santa Outfit? Perfect for adding a festive flair to their everyday antics, they can wear this for nursery wear or preschool leading up to Christmas because it is comfortable for everyday wear, but it is also fun for Christmas Day.
One review said: "Love this little tracksuit. Little man has received a lot of comments about how cute it is." Another wrote: "So cute. Good size, well made. Really like it. Good quality."
Pros
- Poppers at the back for easy fastening
- Two piece set
Cons
- Machine washable but only on a delicate setting
Best Christmas outfit knitted dress
www.kidly.co.uk
Description
This Knitted Christmas Dress is an incredibly sweet design. It has poppers at the neck to make for easy dressing, and has ribbed hems, and a frilled shoulder design. It features little reindeers wearing candy cane scarves. How sweet! It would look so sweet with a pair of knitted tights.
Pros
- Made from organic cotton
- Easy to dress
Cons
- It's not that thick of a knit
How to choose kids Christmas outfits for the festive season
When considering the best Christmas outfits for your kids this winter, there are a few things to look out for. According to our mum shopping experts, you need to watch out for:
Fabric quality: Anything cotton should be your go-to. Why? Well, cotton is strong, flexible, and easy to wash and dry. You also don't want a new Christmas jumper or t-shirt to be worn once and thrown away because it falls apart when your child is playing.
Style and functionality: You don't want to buy anything that is going to restrict your kids from being able to play with their new scooter on Christmas Day, or that might be too warm or too chilly.
Size: Consider items of clothing that are comfortable and the right size for them. It can be tempting to buy a size up, but this can restrict your little one significantly. Instead, gift this to friends and family.
Cost: As Christmas outfits for kids are seasonal, you must take the price of clothing into account when buying new items. We'd recommend picking items from £7 to £50 - a great way to save costs is to check out the sales.
It is great to dress up your kids this Christmas, but don’t forget yourself, or if you are expecting it might be nice to think about a glam maternity festive outfit so bump doesn’t feel left out of the celebrations. The kids will also be excited if mum and dad join them and you all wear matching outfits on Christmas day. But whatever you all wear, make sure you are comfortable so you can all enjoy the fun, there’s nothing worse than a tight waistband for you or your little one after that second helping of Christmas pudding.
Laura Healy is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby. She is a mum-of-two girls and loves writing about all things parenting. She has a PhD in Creative Writing and enjoys reading and attending literary festivals, as well as writing fiction.