In Defense of Matching Christmas Pajamas

Every December, someone on the internet declares that matching Christmas pajamas are cheesy, and every December I want to nod politely at that opinion and add a set to my cart anyway. Yes, they’re corny. Yes, somebody will complain about the fit. And yes, you will look back at those photos in twenty years and be so glad you did it.

So consider this my official defense, plus a practical guide to choosing a set the whole family will actually wear (husband and dog included, because what is the point otherwise?), and a few ideas for making Christmas morning feel like a ritual instead of a race.

Why I’m firmly on Team Matching

There are very few times a year when a grown family willingly agrees to dress like a set, and I think that’s exactly why it works. Matching pajamas are a small, silly declaration that says we belong to each other, at least for one morning. Nobody is dressed up and nobody is performing, but everybody is in it together, and that feeling is hard to come by.

They also make the photos SO much better. Christmas morning pictures are usually a blur of mismatched T-shirts, bonnets and somebody’s college sweatpants, but put everyone in the same plaid and suddenly it looks like a moment worth framing. And honestly? Getting dressed on Christmas Eve feels like part of the countdown, the same way laying out cookies for Santa did when you were little.

Matching pajamas are a small, silly declaration that says we belong to each other, at least for one morning.

How to pick a set the whole family will actually wear

Start with fabric, not the print. The cutest pattern in the world won’t survive Christmas morning if it’s scratchy, so look for soft cotton, cotton flannel or a breathable knit. Flannel is perfect for cold houses, but if you’re spending Christmas somewhere warm (hello, Gulf Coast), a lighter cotton set or a short-sleeve top will keep everybody from melting by noon.

Pick a print that more than one person can love. Classic red or green plaid is the safest bet, and it photographs beautifully on every skin tone, but there’s so much more out there now. I love that brands like PJs for the Culture make Black Santa prints, because it matters to see ourselves in the little things, especially for the kids. If your family is more understated, a solid color with contrast piping still reads as matching without screaming it.

Size up when in doubt. Holiday pajamas tend to run snug, and nobody wants to be tugging at a waistband during the gift exchange. Check each brand’s size chart instead of guessing, and order early, because the popular sets sell out in the most common sizes by mid-December.

Getting your husband on board

If your husband is the type who sighs at the very idea, the trick is usually to give him some say. Let him veto a print or two, let him choose between joggers and classic pants, and promise him that nobody is making him do a choreographed TikTok. A lot of brands also sell coordinating sets rather than identical ones, so he can wear a solid top with the plaid bottoms and still be part of the picture. Most men, once they’re actually in the soft flannel on Christmas morning with a cup of coffee, quietly admit that it’s comfortable (they just won’t say it out loud).

Dressing the dog (gently)

Yes, the dog gets pajamas too, but with a few ground rules. Measure your dog’s neck, chest and back length before you order, since dog sizing varies a lot between brands. Skip anything with buttons, bells, pompoms or small decorations that can be chewed off and swallowed, and never leave your pup alone while he’s wearing them. And if your dog clearly hates it, take the photo quickly and let him go back to being a dog, because a matching bandana counts too.

As for Charlie, he hates pajamas, so we've stopped trying (although we may try again this year). He does tolerate a quick picture, though, so he's always in the family photo, one way or another.

Christmas morning rituals worth keeping

Once everybody is matching, the morning itself deserves a little intention. Here are a few small rituals that make the day feel slower and sweeter.

• Get dressed on Christmas Eve. Lay the pajamas out on the bed after dinner (a satin bonnet or cap for anyone who wants to protect her hair is a lovely touch), so that putting them on becomes part of the countdown.
• Stockings before presents. Starting small stretches out the morning and gives everybody time to wake up and get coffee.
• Read the Christmas story together. Before the gifts, read Luke 2 out loud, or pass the Bible around and let everyone read a few verses. It takes about five minutes, and it reminds everyone why we’re doing any of this.
• Open gifts one at a time. It’s slower, but you actually get to see each other’s faces, and that’s half the fun.
• Take the photo early. Prop your phone on a stack of books, set the timer and take the family picture before anybody spills cinnamon roll icing on the flannel.
• Put on a record or a playlist and let breakfast be easy. Cinnamon rolls, a breakfast casserole you made the night before, or biscuits and bacon will all do the job beautifully.
• Take a walk together after breakfast, dog included, still in your pajamas if your neighbors can handle it.

In our house, the tradition is Old Navy’s holiday pajamas, plus a cozy Calvin Klein set for the slow hours after the gifts are open, and I wouldn’t trade those mornings for anything.

Matching pajamas won’t make your Christmas perfect, and they won’t stop anybody from reneging at spades. But they’ll make one morning a little softer and sillier, and they’ll give you a photo that says, without any words at all, that this was your family and you were all there together. That’s worth a little corniness, if you ask me.

So tell me, delighters, are you Team Matching or Team Absolutely Not, and has anyone in your house ever refused to wear the pajamas?