Keep Up with Their Growth Spurts!
Buying clothes for children can be a delightful, yet challenging task! Kids grow incredibly fast, and their sizing systems often differ significantly from adult clothing. Instead of relying solely on age, which can be misleading, understanding sizes based on **height** and **weight** provides a much more accurate fit. This guide will help you navigate the various sizing conventions for babies, toddlers, and older children, ensuring comfort and practicality.
General Tips for Measuring Children:
- Measure Regularly: Children grow quickly! Re-measure every few months, especially for infants and toddlers.
- Keep it Fun: Turn measuring into a game to keep them engaged.
- Use a Flexible Tape Measure: Ensure it’s soft and accurate.
- Don't Buy Too Small: Always err on the side of slightly larger rather than too small, as they will grow into it.
- Consult Brand Charts: Always check the specific brand’s size chart, as variations are common.
Key Measurements for Kids' Clothing:
Unlike adults who use chest/bust, waist, and hips, children's clothing often prioritizes overall length and weight. The most crucial measurements are:
1. Height:
Stand your child against a wall (without shoes) and measure from the top of their head to the floor. For babies, measure from head to heel while they lie flat.
Why it's important: Many international sizing systems (especially EU and Japan) are primarily based on height in centimeters.
2. Weight:
Use a baby scale for infants or a standard bathroom scale for older children. This is particularly useful for infant and toddler sizing.
Why it's important: Often used in conjunction with age and height to define size ranges, especially for younger children where chubbiness can vary.
3. Chest, Waist, Hips (for Older Kids):
For older children (school age and up), similar to adults, chest, waist, and hip measurements become more relevant for a tailored fit, particularly for pants and tops that are less stretchy.
Why it's important: Helps differentiate between children of similar height but different builds.
Keep these measurements handy and ideally, save them in your My Fit Profile on our home page!
Kids' Clothing Size Conversion Chart (Ages/Height/Weight):
This chart provides approximate conversions across common international systems, using age, height, and weight as primary indicators. Remember these are general guidelines, and actual fit can vary.
| US (Age/Size) | UK (Age) | EU (cm) | Australia | Japan (cm) | Height (inches) | Height (cm) | Weight (lbs) | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newborn | NB | 50 | 0000 | 50 | Up to 20 | Up to 50 | Up to 7 | Up to 3.2 |
| 0-3 Months | 0-3M | 56-62 | 000 | 50-60 | 20-24 | 51-61 | 7-12 | 3.2-5.5 |
| 3-6 Months | 3-6M | 62-68 | 00 | 60-70 | 24-27 | 61-69 | 12-16 | 5.5-7.3 |
| 6-9 Months | 6-9M | 68-74 | 0 | 70 | 27-29 | 69-74 | 16-18 | 7.3-8.2 |
| 9-12 Months | 9-12M | 74-80 | 0 | 80 | 29-31 | 74-79 | 18-22 | 8.2-10 |
| 12-18 Months | 12-18M | 80-86 | 1 | 80-90 | 31-33 | 79-84 | 22-27 | 10-12.3 |
| 18-24 Months | 18-24M | 86-92 | 2 | 90 | 33-35 | 84-89 | 27-30 | 12.3-13.6 |
| 2T (2 years) | 2-3Y | 92-98 | 2 | 95 | 35-37 | 89-94 | 30-34 | 13.6-15.4 |
| 3T (3 years) | 3-4Y | 98-104 | 3 | 100 | 37-40 | 94-102 | 34-38 | 15.4-17.2 |
| 4T (4 years) | 4-5Y | 104-110 | 4 | 110 | 40-43 | 102-109 | 38-42 | 17.2-19.1 |
| 5 (5 years) | 5-6Y | 110-116 | 5 | 110-115 | 43-46 | 109-117 | 42-47 | 19.1-21.3 |
| 6 (6 years) | 6-7Y | 116-122 | 6 | 115-120 | 46-48 | 117-122 | 47-53 | 21.3-24 |
| 7 (7 years) | 7-8Y | 122-128 | 7 | 120-125 | 48-51 | 122-130 | 53-60 | 24-27.2 |
| 8 (8 years) | 8-9Y | 128-134 | 8 | 125-130 | 51-53 | 130-135 | 60-68 | 27.2-30.8 |
| 10 (10 years) | 9-10Y | 134-140 | 10 | 130-140 | 53-57 | 135-145 | 68-80 | 30.8-36.3 |
| 12 (12 years) | 11-12Y | 140-152 | 12 | 140-150 | 57-60 | 145-152 | 80-100 | 36.3-45.4 |
Additional Considerations for Kids' Clothing:
- Growth Spurts: Always account for growth. If a child is between sizes, it's generally better to size up.
- Different Body Types: Some children are taller and leaner, others shorter and chubbier. Use the height and weight guidance more than just age.
- Material & Stretch: Stretchy fabrics offer more leeway in sizing. Non-stretch fabrics (like denim) require more precise measurements.
- Seasonal Needs: Consider if you're buying for immediate wear or for a future season (e.g., winter coat for next year).
- Laundry Shrinkage: Cotton garments can sometimes shrink after washing. Factor this in if you're borderline on a size.
- Sleepwear Safety: For infant and toddler sleepwear, ensuring a snug fit is important for safety, especially regarding fire hazards.
By combining accurate measurements with our comprehensive chart and these considerations, you'll be well-equipped to dress your little ones in perfectly fitting, comfortable clothes!