Understanding Baby Clothing Sizes
Understanding Baby Clothing Sizes! You and your partner are expecting a little bundle of joy soon. There are a variety of things you’ll need to stock up on before you welcome the new addition into your home. You don’t want to be without diapers and burp cloths.
They’re also going to need a few changes of clothes. The problem with buying bodysuits for your little one is that you don’t know their size yet.
Don’t worry. Most clothes sizes aren’t based on the child’s actual size. They’re based on their age.
This is only one factor that goes into choosing baby clothing sizes. Check out this guide to learn more.
Factors That Go Into Size
Before you go out to browse through the many types of baby clothing, it’s important to know all the factors that go into sizing. These factors are age, length, and weight.
It is important to note that all babies grow at a different pace. General age 3-6 clothing may not fit your child. You’ll need to do a little more research if this is the case.
Do Some Research
The quickest method of how to find your baby’s size is to do your research. Certain brands fit differently on babies than others. A universal size chart won’t always help you figure it out.
You’ll need to visit the manufacturer’s website. They’ll have size charts that you can reference. They’ll tell you where your baby’s measurements range before you make your purchase.
Learn to Read the Labels
Baby’s clothes have been labeled the same as yours. You’ll need to learn how to read them if you’re going to find the right size for your little one.
The age on the label is going to be the max size that the clothing item runs. For example, a bodysuit that has 6 months on it will fit babies up to 6 months. Your baby may still fit it if they’re 4-5 months old, but 6 months is going to be the cap.
Choose Your Fabric Wisely
The next thing that you need to consider is fabrics. Cotton is a safe bet in that it’s good for babies that have sensitive skin. It will prevent painful rashes and breakouts.
The problem is that spit-up and diaper blowouts happen a lot. That means you’re going to be cleaning their outfits often. Cotton shrinks after a few runs through the wash.
This doesn’t mean that you’ll need to stay away from cotton. You can still buy clothes made with fabric. We only recommend going up a size to account for shrinking.
Always Shop in Store
Shopping online is convenient. You can buy everything your baby needs at the stroke of a few keys. It’s still a good idea to shop in person.
Looking at the size of the clothing items close up will help you better judge if your baby will be able to fit it. Again every brand is different in terms of size. Labels can be misleading when you’re looking at them from behind the computer screen.
If you must shop online, do yourself a favor and buy a size up. Your baby will be more likely to fit into the clothing, and if it is a little bit large, that’s not a problem. It will give your baby some wiggle room to grow into the outfit.
Do Some Trial and Error
There’s a lot of trial and error that goes into buying baby clothes. You may hit a few roadblocks before you find a brand that works for you.
Don’t be afraid to try a lot of different manufacturers. You may have to go through the return process a lot, but eventually, you’ll find the right brand for your little one.
European Sizes
Just when you get the hang of American newborn baby clothes sizes, it’s time to throw European sizes at you. It’s based on centimeters. You’ll get a tag that says 70.
It can be a little confusing. True to buying American clothing, you should be fine as long as you don’t ignore sizing charts. If you use a guide, you’ll be fine.
Shoes
You don’t have to buy baby shoes. They grow out of them quickly, and they’re happy with sticking to a comfy pair of socks. If you find that you can’t resist grabbing those cute pair of dress shoes, we can help you out.
There’s a couple of ways that you can measure your baby’s foot. The most popular way is to uncurl the baby’s toes and stamp their foot on a piece of paper using ink. You now have a guide that you can use while you’re at the store.
How Long Can Babies Fit In Their Newborn Clothes?
Newborn babies grow like little weeds. Unless you buy the clothes a size or two higher, your child will grow out of their bodysuits and PJs within four weeks or so.
That’s why you want to give your little one some wiggle room. They’ll grow into the clothes over time, and you’ll have some space in your budget that you can spend on other things for the baby.
Your Guide to Baby Clothing Sizes
Figuring out baby clothing sizes can be a little complicated because of how fast they grow. If you fail to utilize sizing charts, your baby will grow out of their bodysuits and PJs as fast as you can buy them.
We hope that you’re able to use this guide to stock up on everything that your little one needs. For more parenting tips that will help you get through your child’s first few years of life, visit the Mom & Kid section of our blog.
