Matching Christmas Pajamas for Family and Dog: Sizes, Photo Ideas and Gift Tips

Every family has the one Christmas photo that gets pulled out for years. Usually it's the one where somebody's sweater clashes, the toddler is mid-meltdown and the dog walked out of frame. Matching Christmas pajamas for the family and dog fix at least two of those three problems, and they turn Christmas Eve into a small tradition the kids start asking about by Thanksgiving.

The catch has always been sizes. Big stores tend to stock the adult sets in one aisle, the kids' sets somewhere else and the dog version not at all, so by the time you've found everyone's size, one of them is sold out. Below you'll find how to get the whole family (pets included) into one matching print, how to size each person, photo ideas that work in a real living room, and a few gifts that pair well with the pajamas.

Why matching Christmas pajamas for the family and dog are worth it

Matching pajamas aren't about fashion. They're about the half hour on Christmas Eve when everyone changes into the same thing, the kids run to show each other, and somebody finally gets the dog to sit still for a picture. It's one of the few holiday traditions that costs less than a family dinner out and gets better every year, because each year's photo sits next to the last one.

Including the dog matters more than people expect. In a lot of homes the dog is the one family member who shows up in every photo anyway, and a dog in a matching top is the shot that gets the most comments when you share it. It also keeps kids engaged: getting the dog dressed is the part they'll volunteer for.

Christmas pajamas for the whole family: how our set works

Our set is a navy top with red plaid sleeves and a "Merry Christmas" reindeer-and-Santa-hat print, paired with red plaid pants. Each person's set is sold separately, so you only buy the sizes you need and can add a grandparent or cousin later without buying a bundle.

• Adults: Mom and Dad cuts, each S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL and 4XL. Regular fit with cuffed pants.
• Kids: sizes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14.
• Baby: 6, 9, 12 and 18 months, in the same print.
• Dog: S, M, L and XL tops in the matching print.

The fabric is polyester with a soft, cotton-like feel. That has a real upside (it holds its color through washes and doesn't shrink much) and a real downside (it's warmer and less breathable than pure cotton, so anyone who runs hot may want to wear the top with lighter shorts after the photos).

How to size everyone, including the dog

Adults

The adult sets run regular fit. If someone is between sizes, go up one; pajamas are meant to be loose, and nobody complains about extra room on Christmas morning. If your family includes a teen who's outgrown kids' 14, order an adult S.

Kids and babies

The product page has a full kids and baby chart in inches. Measure a pajama set that fits your child well right now, lay it flat, and compare chest and pant length. Kids grow fast between October and December, so if you're ordering early and your child is close to the next size, choose the bigger one.

Matching dog and owner Christmas pajamas: sizing the dog

Dog sizing is where most matching sets go wrong, so take two quick measurements with a soft tape:

• Chest: around the widest part of the rib cage, just behind the front legs.
• Back length: from the base of the collar to the base of the tail.

Our dog sizes measure about 14 inches around the chest for S, 16.5 for M, 19 for L and 21 for XL, with back lengths from about 10.5 to 15.5 inches. Leave an inch or two of room so the top isn't tight when the dog sits. Honest note: these fit small and medium dogs best. A Labrador, golden retriever or anything larger will usually be too broad in the chest for the XL, so for big dogs a matching bandana or a festive blanket in the photo works better than forcing a top.

Before photo day, let the dog wear the top for a few minutes at a time with treats. A dog that's used to it in advance will sit for the camera; a dog wearing clothes for the first time will spend the shoot trying to back out of them.

Family Christmas pajama photo ideas that work at home

You don't need a photographer. You need good light, a plan and about 20 minutes before anyone gets cranky.

• Shoot in daylight. Take the photos in the late morning or early afternoon near your biggest window, even if the pictures are "for Christmas Eve." Tree lights alone make faces orange and blurry.
• Get low. Put the phone at the kids' eye level, on a stack of books or a cheap tripod with a timer. Everyone looks better, and the dog is in the frame.
• Use the couch or the stairs. Staggered heights fit a family better than a straight line, and stairs give you rows for bigger families.
• Do the posed shot first, then let it fall apart. The best photo is often the one right after the posed one, when the kids start laughing and the dog climbs into someone's lap.
• Give hands something to do. Mugs of cocoa, a stack of wrapped gifts or a book being read aloud look natural and stop the stiff "arms at your sides" look.
• Add one cozy prop. A plaid or dog-print blanket on the couch ties the frame together with the pajamas.

If the photo is for your holiday card, order the pajamas early so everyone's set arrives well before your photo day, then take the picture the first weekend everyone is home.

Gifts that go with matching pajamas

Pajamas are often the Christmas Eve gift, opened the night before so everyone wears them in the morning. These pair well:

• First Christmas baby bodysuit: 100% combed cotton with shoulder snaps for easy changes. If the baby is too small for the pajama sizes, this keeps them in the photo.
• Galaxy star projector night light: 13 space scenes on the ceiling, which makes it much easier to get excited kids into bed on Christmas Eve.
• Christmas scented soy candle: a natural soy candle that makes the house smell like the holidays while you wrap. Under $25.
• Ceramic mug gift set: a 12 oz mug with a lid and gold spoon in a gift box. Fill it with cocoa for the photo, then it's Mom's coffee mug for the rest of the year.
• Snowmen shower curtain for kids: an easy way to make the kids' bathroom feel festive for the whole season. Hooks and liner not included.

For the dog

• Dreamy dog lover's blanket: a soft throw in a dog print that doubles as the photo backdrop on the couch.
• Shark-shaped pet nest bed: a semi-enclosed bed with a soft mat for small dogs and cats who like to burrow after all the excitement.

More ideas for the four-legged side of the family are in our Pet Pals collection.

How to choose: a quick checklist

• Count everyone first, including grandparents who'll be there on Christmas morning and any pet who'll be in the photo.
• Measure the kids and the dog this week; adults can usually go by their normal size.
• Size up when in doubt. Loose pajamas photograph fine; tight ones don't get worn after December.
• Decide when you'll take the photo and order early enough for that date, not for Christmas Day.
• Plan the extras (a candle, cocoa mugs, a blanket for the couch) so the photo and the evening feel like a tradition, not a chore.

Still shopping for the rest of the list? Our guide to unique stocking stuffers covers the small things, Secret Santa gifts under $50 handles the office exchange, and our list of gifts for people who have everything helps with the hardest names on your list. You can also browse our Christmas gifts for 2026.

FAQ

When should I buy matching Christmas pajamas?

Buy them in late October or early November. Popular sizes go first, and you want the pajamas in hand before your photo day, which is often the first weekend of December for holiday cards.

Can you get matching Christmas pajamas for the family and the dog in one place?

Yes. Our set comes in one print for adults S to 4XL, kids 2 to 14, babies 6 to 18 months and dogs S to XL, and each person's set is ordered separately, so you buy only the sizes you need.

What size Christmas pajamas should I get for my dog?

Measure around the widest part of the chest and from collar to tail base, then pick the size with a little room to spare. Our dog sizes run from about 14 to 21 inches around the chest, which suits small and medium dogs; very large breeds usually won't fit.

Do matching family pajamas run small?

Ours are regular fit. If someone is between sizes, choose the larger size, and size up for kids who are close to the next size since they'll grow before Christmas.

Are matching Christmas pajamas a good gift?

They're one of the easiest family gifts to get right: everyone uses them, they start a tradition, and the photos last far longer than the pajamas. Give them on Christmas Eve so everyone wears them on Christmas morning.

Start the tradition this year

The first matching pajama photo is the hardest one to organize. After that, it's the photo everyone asks about. Count heads, measure the kids and the dog, and get the whole family's sets ordered while every size is still there.

Shop the matching Christmas pajamas, baby to 4XL and the dog