As a parent, you have a front-row seat to your child’s growth and development. In so many ways, this is a fascinating and rewarding journey! However, when it comes to sizing baby clothes, it can also be a frustrating one.
Onesies that fit on the first week of the month might be hard to snap on the fourth week. Shirts and pants that you thought had room to grow may suddenly seem too short! Then, there’s also confusion around sizing charts and measurements.
It shouldn’t take a doctorate to figure out baby clothes sizes! Today, we’re sharing a quick guide to help you get it right.
Understanding Age Ranges
First, let’s establish one basic point. Baby clothes are usually sized by age. In a perfect world, you would be able to tell exactly which size to buy simply by remembering your baby’s birthday!
For example, newborn clothes are usually marked with the abbreviation NB. From there, sizes go up in three-month increments as follows:
- 0 to 3 months
- 3 to 6 months
- 6 to 9 months
But, wait! Then, it gets tricky. After that critical six-month milestone, you can also enter into the 6 to 12 month size range. After their first birthday, it becomes 12 to 18 months, followed by 18 to 24 months.
Here’s the thing to understand about those age ranges: They’re meant to be starting points. They aren’t the final determination. Use them to help start your sizing journey, but don’t stop there.
What About Single Ages on Labels?
Most of the time, baby clothes manufacturers will list the above age ranges on their labels. However, you may also run across a brand that simply labels their onesies “3 months” or “12 months”.
In that case, it’s important to know that those ages are meant to be viewed as maximums. In other words, a 3-month onesie is designed to fit babies up to three months of age. When in doubt, our best suggestion is to always size up.
Measuring Your Baby
Many parents will tell you that their baby never fit into his or her “appropriate” size. Their little girl might have been in 6 to 9 month onesies by the time she was four months. Or, she may have stayed in 0 to 3 month clothes long after her five-month birthday.
This is why it’s important to know how to take a few basic measurements. With these numbers, you can choose the right fit, every time. The two most important metrics to know are:
- Your baby’s height
- Your baby’s weight
Your pediatrician will take these measurements every time you go in for a well-child visit. However, we all know that babies grow faster than a Nascar racer can drive! Keep a flexible measuring tape handy for those routine height checks, and a little scale to monitor their weight.
Not sure how to accurately measure their growth? This helpful guide from the CDC breaks down the basics.
Reading Manufacturer Size Charts
Whether you’re shopping online or in a brick-and-mortar store, you can usually find sizing guides for the brand’s you’re eyeing. This information is usually easier to find on e-commerce sites, where you don’t have the advantage of trying an item on in the dressing room.
Always check to see if there’s a chart that lists the different sizes available, allowing with their corresponding weight and height measurements. Although these fits aren’t always the same, you can reference the general guidelines below to get a good idea of the range your child might fit into:
- Newborn: Height: Up to 20 inches: Weight: 5 to 8 pounds
- 0 to 3 months: Height: 20 to 24 inches: Weight: 8 to 14 pounds
- 3 to 6 months: Height: 24 to 26 inches: Weight: 14 to 17 pounds
- 6 to 9 months: Height: 26 to 28 inches: Weight: 17 to 21 pounds
- 9 to 12 months: Height: 28 to 31 inches: Weight: 21 to 24 pounds
- 12 to 18 months: Height: 31 to 33 inches: Weight: 24 to 27 pounds
- 18 to 24: Height: 33 to 35 inches: Weight: 27 to 30 pounds
Remember that different baby clothes brands can run big or small. This is true whether you’re shopping for gender-specific or unisex baby clothes! After a while, you’ll learn to distinguish those nuances.
We suggest keeping the tags on your baby’s clothes until it’s time for their big debut. This way, you should be able to easily return the item if you go to grab it and realize it’s too small.
A Note on Fabrics
You may not think too much about the fabric used to make your baby’s clothes. When you’re in the throes of parenthood, your only concern is that it’s soft, stretchy and super comfortable for your little one!
However, when it comes to sizing, fabric matters. Some materials that include spandex or elastic will naturally have a little more “give” than others. This means that your baby may be able to wear them for a longer period of time, even after they’ve outgrown the age range on the label.
On the other hand, less stretchy fabrics like cotton, can actually shrink in the wash. Think about how many times per week you have to clean those solid-white onesies! From spit-ups to blowouts, these tiny outfits see their fair share of wear and tear.
While your light-colored or neutral baby clothes might look adorable, they can also show stains more than darker ones. As you shop for new pint-sized ensembles, try to find cotton/spandex blends or items made of nylon, stretch velvet, or other similar materials. These will give you the biggest return on your investment and can help make sizing a little easier!
The Changing World of Baby Clothes Sizes
You have enough to worry about as a parent. Choosing the perfect baby clothes sizes shouldn’t be an extra headache. By taking the time to measure your baby, you can choose items that they’ll be able to use and grow into comfortably.
Once they’ve outgrown those frocks, consider donating them to a local shelter or sharing with a friend. Kids go through clothes at a rapid rate, and many items are only lightly used before they become too small. There’s a chance that someone in your community could use the onesies, tops, and bottoms that don’t fit your little one anymore.
Looking for more advice you can use and trust? Keep checking our site for practical lifestyle tips and tricks.
