So sad to be in the "Girls" section...

[staceychev]

Well, someone finally explained sizing to me (4T versus 4), and how 4T clothes leave room for diapers... explains why DD (4-1/2) can still wear 3T pants for a good waist fit, but they're floods!

Anyway, for the first time today, I shopped in the "Girls" section of Target. It was really sad for me. So many grown up looking things (and some downright trashy, IMO). I'm not ready for my little girl to be grown up like that, especially since, with the recent arrival of her sister, her childhood seems even more fleeting.

[Mittsy]

I know what you mean. My sister got my just turned 5yo dd a cute 4/5 outfit for her birthday, and dd wore it yesterday and it makes her look so much older! What made it worse was that we were spring cleaning our wardrobes yesterday and dd remarked that most of her 3T clothes looked "too babyish" and wanted to give them away to charity. I'm a bit scared of this next shopping trip...

[nextcommercial]

My daughter is 17 yrs old, and I TOTALLLLLY remember feeling like that each time. Even though I was happy to find clothes she liked and that looked cute on her, I was so sad to walk across that little walkway from the toddlers to the girl's section.

Even the transition from 6 to 6X is hard.

[LynnS6]

I don't think we're ever ready for things to change! There are a lot of cute, age appropriate things out there for little girls, so don't give up hope.

[claras_mom]

Originally Posted by LynnS6

I don't think we're ever ready for things to change! There are a lot of cute, age appropriate things out there for little girls, so don't give up hope.

:

Target actually has some seriously cute (and age-appropriate) things in the girls' section (my 5 yo is big for her age - tall and well-proportioned - so she's already in size 6-7, depending). I'm also a big fan of the Lands End section at Sears.

But yes, it gives me a pang. Especially since dd2 is wearing so many of dd1's baby/toddler things, and they're just so darned cute on her, as they were on her big sister! :

[OboePlayerMom]

I never realized that the T in 4T and 5T was leaving room for diapers! Learn something new every day! My DD is 4.5, so I'm buying size 5 stuff now. It is tough to find clothes that I think are acceptable when clothes in her size are mini versions of the big girls' styles. I just want shorts that aren't too short and shirts that aren't sleeveless! Too much sun exposure on my little pale cutie!

[karemore]

Most kids are out of diapers by 3 at the latest and still in 5Ts until they are 5, 6, even 7 years old.

JC Penney has added a preschool line. It's in the section with the T's and I believe the same price range.

What I hate about the girls sizes is that they charge several dollars more for the same item in the toddler section. A pair of 4/5 pants will cost more than the 5Ts when it's the same brand, same style.

[jake&zaxmom]

also (I learned this not too long ago) a "7 slim" is a size 6 waist with the length of a size 7.

[Drummer's Wife]

Don't forget about gymboree. You can find 20% off coupons, and buy sale items - they definitely still look little girl cute.

[cattmom]

I think the solution lies in the boys section, and in shopping without your child. With girls, in one direction you've got annoyingly trendy pre-teen styles, and in another you've got super sugary cute with whipped cream on top (and I'm looking at about half of Gymboree when I say that.) I'm raising a young human being who needs to play outside, and I need durable, comfortable clothes that can shrug off mud and ice cream, boots that grip rocks and keep puddles out, weaves that help repel blackberry thorns and kitty claws. I don't need chiffon, jersey or suede. But I know that the people who design girls clothing aren't going to listen to me, so for now, I'll probably find what I need in the boys section. Will my child be an outcast? Maybe, but at least she'll have a childhood.

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

Originally Posted by cattmom

I think the solution lies in the boys section, and in shopping without your child.

This may depend on your child and her shape. Mine doesn't work in the boys department for bottoms because she is too slender at, at age 7 and a size 5/6, already has a waist. My solution has been a couple of go-to brands that have nice, durable, non-trendy, non-sexy girls clothing in a good size range. I practically worship the Lands End catalog! We also do well with CAREFULLY screened Old Navy options. Much of their stuff is awful for girls but they do have basic yoga pants, jeans, and solid color T-shirts that I like and are in our price range.

[2cutiekitties]

Originally Posted by staceychev

Well, someone finally explained sizing to me (4T versus 4), and how 4T clothes leave room for diapers...

OMG, is that the reason?!!!! I have been wondering, even asked the sales people at gymboree and never got an answer, well they shrugged.

[carfreemama]

I feel this way, too. I so often love the styles that end in the "little kids/toddler" sections and long to be able to dress dd in them. She's very girly in her clothing tastes, but very tomboyish in her activity (a combo I happen to love about her, BTW)! She's another 5 in the waist/6-7 in height kiddo, too. I'll have to try the boys' section for things like tees and coats, though. That's a good idea! for spring/summer, I'm finding size 5 capris are working well. They fit in the waist and they're supposed to be short!

I really like Please Mum, our Canadian chain based in Vancouver. You wait till things are on sale, 'cause they have wierd pricing according to seasons. People complain it's "too pastel," which is true; but someone tipped me off to it because their styles are nice and naive and their winter dresses are comfy, warm and made for Canadian winters. I've found all of this to be true. But we are trying for another baby and if it's another girl...oh, how I will relish going back to squishy tiny girl clothes!

[redpajama]

Originally Posted by staceychev

Well, someone finally explained sizing to me (4T versus 4), and how 4T clothes leave room for diapers... explains why DD (4-1/2) can still wear 3T pants for a good waist fit, but they're floods!

I realize this wasn't the point of your thread but, although I've heard this (that 4T is leaving room for a diaper), I've found that my kids can wear 4T before a 4, 5T before a 5, et cetera--I'm not convinced that this is actually true.

Although, like I said, I get that this wasn't really your point.

[PreggieUBA2C]

I'm sorry, but are all you sweet mamas trying to make sense out of children's clothing sizing? *Enter condescending laugh here* Don't you know that you are not ever supposed to understand it? How else could you ever be conned into buying so many clothes that don't fit because you were out without your child???! I mean really. You don't reeeally think "sizing" was ever for your benefit, do you?

I have all boys, but they all wear clothing in at least a range of three or four different sizes. I only buy clothing for them when they're not with me if they are not in or just coming out of a growth spurt, which is very rarely.

Ftr, I felt a huge urge to learn to sew when I came across a barely 3 yr old girl in a belly shirt that read "Sexy" in sparkly letters.

[Mom2M]

Originally Posted by PreggieUBA2C

:
Ftr, I felt a huge urge to learn to sew when I came across a barely 3 yr old girl in a belly shirt that read "Sexy" in sparkly letters.

me too!

[staceychev]

Originally Posted by PreggieUBA2C

Ftr, I felt a huge urge to learn to sew when I came across a barely 3 yr old girl in a belly shirt that read "Sexy" in sparkly letters.

OMG! :Puke

The boys' section idea is a good one, unless you have the tomboy/princess combo that I have! If I could afford Hanna Andersson stuff, that would be ideal--dresses with leggings.

Someone mentioned slims--where do you find these? I know I wore them as a kid, but I don't see them around. (Probably because I hate to shop and pretty much only go to Target... )

[zeldamomma]

Lands end sells clothes that are similar in style to Hanna Andersson (sp??) at better prices, and they wear very well. I've had good luck at thrift stores too.

In addition to leaving room for diapers, I think the T sizes are designed with toddler-shaped bodies in mind (shorter legs, thicker torso) and the non-T sizes are for kids who have transitioned to longer legs.

I agree that some of the stuff in the Target girls section is a little "older" than I'm looking for, but there is good stuff there too. My only advice would be to expect the shirts to shrink significantly in the wash.

[NiteNicole]

My daughter is four. She's a biggish and tallish four. I HATE the clothes that she's fitting in now. HATE. They're so big kid and she's still little. I was in Target last night looking at all the toddler things that would be so cute on her, v. the kid's things that are covered in sequins and stuff. It just looks cheap. Up until this year, I've been able to get her TONS of cute sundresses from Target and this year...honestly, I'm going to have to finally learn to sew.

[ecoteat]

It's obvious that we aren't supposed to understand sizing. Otherwise how could my 3 year old fit in 12-18 month socks, size 2T pants, and a size 5 dress on the same day.

As far as quality clothes that don't look absurd and don't cost a complete fortune, Land's End and LLBean are my favorites. And I sew.

Staceychev, I have one of those tomboy/princess combos too. On our last muddy hike in the woods, dd was wearing rainboots, leggings, a tulle tutu over her dress, her green wool coat, fairy wings on top of that, and her wool hat that looks like a tiger's head. She was quite the vision. And she'd go tearing through the woods complaining that the trees kept grabbing her skirt.