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.
Old Navy's PowerSoft fabric is genuinely exceptional for the price — Reddit parents don't rave about it by accident. Carter's Simple Joys wins on value-per-dollar for the baby and early toddler stage, where you need quantity and easy diaper access more than premium softness. The real story here is that these serve different ages and needs, but if forced to pick one for a 3-5 year old, Old Navy isn't even close.
Old Navy's PowerSoft fabric is beloved by parents and kids alike for being ultra-soft, durable, and
Carter's Simple Joys line delivers reliable, soft leggings in a 4-pack at an unbeatable price point.
Carter's Simple Joys is a baby and toddler product — it's optimized for diaper changes, frequent washing, and the chaos of ages 0-3. Old Navy's PowerSoft line is built for kids who are walking, running, and going to school. Comparing them directly is like comparing a onesie to a sports bra — both are great, but for entirely different life stages.
Runner's World described the PowerSoft fabric as something you 'continuously brush your hands against' — that's not marketing fluff, that's a real tactile difference. Carter's Simple Joys is soft enough for a baby, but it's a standard cotton-blend basic. For older kids who notice and complain about uncomfortable clothes, this gap matters every single morning.
At $18 for four pairs, Carter's comes out to $4.50 per legging — Old Navy's per-unit cost is 3-5x higher. For babies who spit up, blowout, and need daily changes, buying four pairs at once isn't just convenient, it's the only sensible approach. Once kids are out of diapers and wearing clothes for full days, the math flips and quality-per-wear matters more than quantity.
Finding leggings in tall or long lengths for kids is genuinely difficult, and doing it under $25 is nearly impossible outside of Old Navy. Carter's doesn't offer extended lengths at all — it's a standard sizing product for standard sizing kids. For parents of long-legged kids who constantly have ankle-length leggings riding up to the knee, Old Navy's online tall sizing is a legitimate game-changer.
Old Navy's PowerSoft fabric is genuinely exceptional for the price — Reddit parents don't rave about it by accident. Carter's Simple Joys wins on value-per-dollar for the baby and early toddler stage, where you need quantity and easy diaper access more than premium softness. The real story here is that these serve different ages and needs, but if forced to pick one for a 3-5 year old, Old Navy isn't even close.