A side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus. We analyzed the sources to figure out which one actually belongs in your cart.
Carter's wins on value, softness for sensitive skin, and sheer convenience — multi-packs at $8 are hard to argue with when your toddler is destroying clothes weekly. But Old Navy PowerSoft solves a real problem Carter's can't: active kids who need fabric that moves with them, and tall/long-legged kids who can't find leggings that actually cover their ankles. The community consensus is clear — Carter's is the default for the early years, PowerSoft is the upgrade parents discover when cotton stops cutting it.
Carter's is the go-to brand for children's leggings, consistently recommended by parents for soft co
Old Navy's PowerSoft fabric is a community favorite for active kids and teens — buttery soft, lightl
Carter's pure cotton is genuinely soft and great for babies who spend most of their time being held or crawling. But cotton has no memory — it stretches out, bunches at the knees, and doesn't recover. Old Navy's PowerSoft is a spandex blend that moves with the kid and snaps back, which matters enormously once they're running at full speed on a playground. This isn't a minor spec difference — it's the difference between leggings that work for a toddler and leggings that work for an active 8-year-old.
Finding leggings for long-legged kids is genuinely miserable — most brands size by age or weight and completely ignore inseam length. Old Navy's tall/long sizing online is repeatedly called out by parents on Reddit as a near-unique solution. Carter's has no equivalent. If your kid is in the 90th percentile for height, this single feature makes Old Navy the only real option.
At $8-$22 for multi-packs, Carter's is priced for the reality of toddler life — clothes get stained, outgrown, and destroyed fast. Buying five pairs of Old Navy leggings at full price adds up quickly. Carter's lets you stock a full drawer without financial stress, which is exactly what parents of babies and toddlers actually need. Old Navy's frequent sales close the gap, but you have to time it right.
The tall/long sizes that make Old Navy special aren't available in stores — you have to order online, which means waiting for shipping and dealing with returns if the fit is off. Carter's is on the shelf at Target today. For parents who need something now, or who hate the friction of online returns, this is a genuine strike against Old Navy despite the superior sizing options.
Carter's wins on value, softness for sensitive skin, and sheer convenience — multi-packs at $8 are hard to argue with when your toddler is destroying clothes weekly. But Old Navy PowerSoft solves a real problem Carter's can't: active kids who need fabric that moves with them, and tall/long-legged kids who can't find leggings that actually cover their ankles. The community consensus is clear — Carter's is the default for the early years, PowerSoft is the upgrade parents discover when cotton stops cutting it.
