Tell me how baby clothes sizes work please!

[Fujiko]

Ok. So. This is my second baby, but apparently I still don't understand infant clothing sizes.

With my daughter, I thought the sizes were 0-3m, 3-6m, 6-9m, 9-12m, 12-18m, 18-24m, 2t, etc. I thought I had it all figured out.

Now with my son, I found out that size Newborn and 0-3m are NOT the same size. Also, I'm finding out that there isn't really much of a 9-12 month size? I...still don't understand I guess.

Please help. My son is 9 months old. He is too big for his (what I thought were) "6-9 month" clothes. I can't find many "9-12 month" clothes lots on craigslist, and the little consignment sale I went to a few weeks ago had a teeny tiny 9-12 month section compared to the other sizes. I assume I missed a memo.

I have no clothes for him, and I shop at consignment, so I can't go off of manufacturer's tags. I'm going shopping this weekend but I need to figure out what the heck to buy him! He's a bit short and fat, if that helps. Do I really buy 9-12 month clothes? Or is this size just a myth perpetuated by mystified parents like myself? Is it supposed to be 6-12 months? Because he doesn't fit into 6m clothes anymore. 12m? HALP.

[aramat]

You can probably just buy a larger size. The clothes may need a little extra folding at the cuffs for now, but you'll get more use out of them anyway. My 10-month-old is 26 lbs and frequently wears my 35-lb 3-yr-old's pants, just folded at the ankles!

[3xMama]

Clothing sizes go preemie, newborn, 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 12, 18, 24 2t etc. I think there used to be a 9-12 month size, but its been relabeled just 12 month. Some stores carry a 6-12 month size (Old Navy and I think Gap off the top of my head). If he's too big for the 6-9 mo clothes, then he's ready for 12 mo.

[MamieCole]

You really just have to ignore the month sizing and instead try to find a height/weight size description and just buy what fits. If you are shopping consignment and there are no original tags, you might need to do some research online of common brands to figure out what size your babe would wear in each brand. Do you know his length and weight? That will be really helpful.

My DS1 was one of those rare babes who was usually wearing the size clothing for the actual age he was...but it is rare.

My 11 month old DS2 was in size 12 month clothing at 3-4 months and is now wearing 24 month and 2t clothing. (Pants rolled up of course.)

I find that Carter's, Old Navy and clothes from Target shrink a lot, so sizing way up in those is often necessary. Higher end clothing like Hanna Andersson, Janie & Jack, Gymboree tend to shrink less. HA runs true to size, Gymboree runs big.

I think it is really just trial and error. But yea, don't feel like you have to get him 9-12 month clothes just cause he is 9 months old.

[Lirazel]

Huh. I haven't had any trouble at all finding 9-12 month clothes. I did get most of them from garage sales, but a good bit was given to us new. (I think those came from Target, if that helps.)

But yeah, I find it hard knowing what size clothes to put him in now that he's not being weighed every month! I just wait till he starts looking a little bit squished when I put him in something and then I put it away and move to the next size.

[SilverFish]

i've found it hard to find clothes that fit my 8 month old too. now that she's so mobile (but still in arms or on the floor) i find that fit is much more important than it was a couple months ago... too long or baggy and she just gets tangled up. she's definitely too small for 3-6, but every brand makes a different version of either 6 m, 6-9m, 6-12m or 12m clothing. when i go shopping, i take a footed sleeper and a onesie she's currently wearing and use that for sizing... i size up maybe an inch or two... any more than that and it's dragging on the ground.

anyway, i think it's because there's such a broad range of sizes the older babies get that manufacturers all have such different systems. my 8 month old is just barely grazing 17 lbs, but is in 12 month clothing in some cases because she's so long!

[Llyra]

It varies a lot depending on the brand you're buying. Some lines still have a 9-12, and others have a 6-12 and a 12 month. In some brands, the 18-24 is the same size as the 2Ts, and in other brands there's a difference. It's really confusing-- I think the only thing to do is to try something on, and then you have an idea how THAT brand will fit.

[PatioGardener]

I agree - ignore the sizing and go by weight/height. My 6 month old is wearing 3-6 month or 6-12 month clothing in some brands for some items (tops and pants) and 18 month clothing in others (onesies). He's really really long I ignore age sizing now.

[nola79]

I also ignore clothing sizes. I really have no idea who came up with this stuff anyway. Dd fits anywhere from 6months to 18 months, depending on the style and brand of clothing.

[ShwarmaQueen]

I mainly shop consignment too. I usually buy a tad bigger because since the clothes have been washed and dried beforehand, they've likely shrank in size.

So, I'd go for size 12 mo in your case.

[Spiralshell]

I'm baffled by the sizes too!
I checked Wikipedia, and they had this chart:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_stan...ize#Baby_sizes

[aramat]

You can also take a shirt & pants that currently fit baby with you to the shops, and visually compare the size w/o looking at the tag.

[lizsky]

I hear you mama! And honestly, I find that it really varies depending on the brand. I size up because my daughter has quite the cloth diaper bum, and try to share/borrow with a friend who also has a little girl.

[treeoflife3]

definitely go by height/weight. You'll get a better fit! Even in the same store, just because it says 24 months, does NOT mean it'll fit the same.

Case in point, I bought a bunch of dresses from old navy. a couple were already getting a bit small and a couple couldn't be worn for MONTHS and are still a tad big. They all have the same size on the tags. oy.

[marsupial-mom]

Mine is 9 months but he's as tall as an average 12 month old but lean. He wears size 12mo pjs and rompers, size 9mo or 12 mo shirts, and he can still wart some 3mo pants (as shorts) because he's so lean. I've found some brands seem better suited to him: carters for example and other brands are made for chunkier babies so they look silly on my guy.