What Are the Best Kids’ T-Shirts?

Gap offers a classic, or perhapsthe classic,pocket tee in a wide array of prints,stripes, and solid colors. Lexi Mainland, a writer, editor, and parent of two grade-schoolers, emphatically recommendsGap’s organic cotton pocket teeas a unisex go-to for her kids. “It is not only the canonical version —they first came out in 1984— but it is the best. They’re so comfortable that my son wears them to sleep,” she says. Plus they’re inexpensive and “have great solid colors and patterns,” which can also bepurchased in three-packs.

Mainland also recommendsthe affordable three-packsfrom Lauren Conrad’s line, Little Co., available at Kohls. “They feel like they are made from actual butter — they are that soft — and the colors and patterns are cool and muted,” says Mainland of the 100 percent organic cotton tees.

Rabbit Skins is another great source for stocking up on affordable basic crewneck tees, recommended byStorqCEO and parent of two Courtney Klein. “Rabbit Skins is primarily a blanks supplier for screen printers but you can buy them directly online,” explains Klein, who has outfitted her 7-year-old son in these shirts since he was a toddler. “They check all the boxes: They’re 100 percent cotton, retail for under $10, and come in a ridiculous amount of colors, from bold and vibrant to subtle neutral shades.”

One ultrasoft tee my son loves is theWillie T-shirtby San Francisco–based Oso & Me. A basic tee with a front pocket and contrast piping, the fabric is soft and silky while still having structure. The tees are made of the brand’s trademark “Float Jersey” and come in an array of solids and stripes.

Libre also likes Les Gamins’Classic Crewneck T-shirts, which she gets for her two younger kids, ages 7 and 10. “I love a T-shirt that can be dressed up or down, work for both boys and girls, and be handed down,” she says.

Available in sizes 2T to 5T, theAnaheim Tee from Young Daysis a little more structured and textural. It’s made of 95 percent organic cotton in a comfy rib knit with 5 percent spandex for stretch and a contrasting ringer collar and sleeves. Though Trolio’s kids have mostly sized out of the brand — which also sells convenientmix-and-match capsule-wardrobe bundlesof coordinating separates starting at size 0–3 months — she has gifted it to her nieces and been impressed with the styles, muted colors, and prints.

For kids (and parents) who prefer graphic tees, Mainland recommends the Spanish brand Tiny Cottons, which makes brightly colored apparel for kids with friendly, bold patterns featuringfruit,poodles,ice cream,big florals, and the like. “It’s a brand that flies under the radar in the U.S. but has awesome tees like thischeerful fruit face,” says Mainland.

Corwin also recommends the Wild By Nature tee from the brand Parks Project, an organization working with artists and brands to create products to raise awareness about the country’s national parks. “The graphics are playful but appealing to adults, too, with great color palettes,” says Corwin of the shirts she gets for her kids. “And Parks Project has given over $2.5 million to national parks” since its formation in 2014.

A favorite graphic tee in Jang’s household isMochi Kids’ kimchi tee, which features the pickled Korean cabbage with a smiling face on the front. “How cool that we live in a time where this T-shirt exists for kids, and that my child is excited to wear it and tell everyone how much he loves kimchi?” says Jang. Many of Mochi Kids’ shirts feature foods kids love, from bananas and pretzels to boba and bánh mì. The designs are screen printed onto the 100 percent cotton shirts, so when washing them, are best turned inside out to limit both shrinkage and impact on the graphics.

As more and more artists have started creating their own merch, checking out individual artists’ websites (or Etsy shops) is one of my favorite sources for great T-shirts.Lorien Sternis a California-based artist who makes ceramics and apparel she describes as having subjects related to “nature, celebration, and death.” Her hand-drawn characters featurebespeckled frogs, ghosts,awkwardly posed sea otters, a single upright tulip, and other objects from the natural world like fruit, insects, andocean life. She offers a broad selection of apparel for adults, and a more limited selection of tees for kids with her signature illustrations screen printed on the front. (Note: The kids’ shirts are only available in 3T and 6T, but older kids who like an oversize fit may be able to jump to thesmallest of the adult sizes.)

Winter Water Factory, which specializes in bold screen-printed textiles, is the first print-all-over brand I recall seeing seeminglyeverywherein Brooklyn. My kids were gifted a few of their onesies as babies and have been wearing their tees and hoodies for years. They are certifiably some of the hardest-working garments in their dresser. “Their tees have a nice substantial feel,” says Chen of the heavy-weight, 100 percent cotton shirts. “The fun designs also make getting dressed easier because I can ask my 3-year-old, “Do you want puppy dogs or surfers today?” The prints, created in house by Stefanie Lynen and in collaboration with artists, often represent kids’ myriad obsessions, fromconstruction vehiclestonarwhalstobugswith new patterns out every season.

My own favorite T-shirt for many years running is theLorel Teefrom Jungmaven, which has, in my opinion, the perfect weight, cut, and texture. The brand’s kid-size Grom Tee, with a bright tie-dye design, is made of the same very-comfortable hemp-cotton blend. The tie-dye design helps hide whatever gets spilled down the front, and the hemp seems to get softer and softer after more washes and wears. Tie-dye is also officially in fashion, at least according to my 7-year-old.

Thetees from Noo Worksare for kids who like a heavy dose of color and pattern. The woman-owned brand collaborates with artists on limited-run prints that are also featured on their adult apparel, then offers select patterns in kid-size tees (from 6 months to 8 years). Patterns range from themore psychedelicto theabsurdly delightful, but all are guaranteed to invite curiosity. (Are those dogs … having a party?) The sizes can go fast because of the small print runs, so it’s worth checking frequently for announcements of new pattern drop dates.

“My 7- and 9-year-old kids are big fans of the Tocu Kids Born Again Tees,” says Klein of these made-to-order upcycled vintage cotton tees that are hand-dyed in San Francisco. The shirts are only offered in one size — “Most kids 7-10 years old” — a signal of the years you’ll likely get out of them. “I always find it frustrating how fast my kids outgrow their favorite clothes so I appreciate that these are intentionally designed to be oversize, ensuring they fit for years,” adds Klein. You can select a smiley-face, flower, or peace-sign design on the shirts, which are each unique because of how they’re made.

Another eye-catching print-all-over brand that makes quirky, colorful, and downright maximalist tees for kids comes from Molo, a Danish brand that’s lesser known in the U.S. My daughter had asweatshirt from the companyfeaturing a graphic print of galaxies, and not only is it stylish, it’s also incredibly soft and well made. The brand’s tees are the same — extraordinarily high-quality fabrics with bold prints in a slightly oversize fit. They are pricier than other options, but at least in our house, the price-per-wear has made them well worth it.