How to Get the Right Size Children’s Clothes

Infant girl wearing a white party dress
How to Get the Right Size Children’s Clothes

Children grow at quite a fast rate and change clothing sizes regularly, but how can you ensure they’re always wearing the right sized clothes?

Most children’s clothes are sold according to age, but this isn’t always the best element to look at when choosing clothes for your child.

Like adults, every child differs in their exact measurements and they grow at different rates, so the items that may suit one 7-8 year old perfectly, may be too big or too small for another child the same age.

An example of a typical age-related sizing chart for children’s clothes is as follows:

  • Up to 1 year
  • 1 to 1½ years
  • 1 ½ to 2 years
  • 2 to 3 years
  • 3 to 4 years
  • 4 to 5 years
  • 5 to 6 years
  • 7 to 8 years
  • 9 to 10 years
  • 11 to 12 years
  • 13 to 14 years
  • 15 to 16 years

If you look more closely at the sizing charts for children’s clothes, you will notice that the measurements are given for each size. In the case of 7-8 year olds, the measurements may be height 50 inches, chest 24.5 inches and waist 22 inches.

If you know the measurements of your child, this does give a much better idea of the sizes the clothes are aimed at, but it still doesn’t get over the issue that not all children have the same measurements at the same age.

Measuring Your Child

Getting to know exactly what your child measures is crucial and, with children growing so quickly, it’s best to do this at regular intervals so you know the latest figures.

To get the most accurate measurements and make it easier to get the best fitting clothes, arm yourself with a tape measure and take the following measurements.

  • Chest – measure your child under the arms, at the fullest part around the chest.
  • Waist – measure your child around their natural waistline.
  • Hips – measure your child at the fullest part around their bottom.
  • Height – measure your child from the top of their head to the ground. This is best done with no shoes on and with their feet flat on the floor together.
  • Neck – measure your child around the base of their neck, where the collar of clothes touch the skin.

Keep a list of the measurements of your child in your purse, so whenever you’re shopping you’ll have the details handy.

Use the age bracket clothes are aimed at as a useful indicator, but learn to pay more attention to the actual measurements of clothes.

Some items will have the details written on the clothing labels, whilst others won’t. If you’re unsure of measurements, you can ask a member of staff in the shop or look on the website of the clothing chain or manufacturer you’re interested in.

Bear in mind that not all clothes produced by the same manufacturer will necessarily have exactly the same measurements. Like adult clothing, this can vary slightly depending on the exact style and cut of the clothing in question.

Don’t be afraid to measure individual items to ensure the measurements will be fine, before purchasing the item.

Don’t worry if you need to buy items of clothing aimed at children older than the actual age of your child.

The crucial thing is that the clothes fit, feel comfortable and are good to wear and there’s no point your child trying to wear something aimed at their particular age if it just doesn’t fit properly.

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