An Age-by-age Guide to Kids Clothes (Plus a Baby Clothes Size Chart) (2024)

An Age-by-age Guide to Kids Clothes (Plus a Baby Clothes Size Chart) (1)

As a parent, one of the things you sign up for, whether you like it or not, is the frequent clothing purchases you’re going to have to make over the next few years. It’s perfectly normal for adults to own the same pair of jeans for two or three years. But for kids? That’s impossible. They grow so ridiculously fast that just when you’ve figured out what to look for in toddler clothes, you realize that they just turned 5 and are not toddlers anymore.

So what can you do then? Well, for starters, you might want to figure out what the best kids’ clothes are, according to various age groups. If this sounds like a lot of work, that’s because it is. Don’t worry, though, because, in this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to get started. Here are the best kids’ clothes by age.

Babies (0-24 months)

Babies’ clothes have a standard (more or less) size chart, labeled in months. There will be slight variations from designer to designer, but here is what you can expect:

Size

Age

Length

Weight

Newborn

0-2weeks


  • 21.5”

5-8 lb

0-3 months

2wks-3 months

19 - 23”

8-12.5 lb

3-6 months

3-6 months

24-26”

12-15 lb

6-9 months

6-9 months

27-28”

16-18 lb

9-12 months

9-12 months

29-30”

19-20 lb

12-18 months

12-18 months

31-32”

21-23 lb

18-24 months

18-24 months

33-35”

24-28 lb

Your baby will probably move through these sizes pretty fast. In fact, you only want to buy a few clothes in newborn size, then stock up on the 0-3 months size. Most babies hit that size within about 1 week of birth. Keep in mind that a birth weight of about 10 lb is considered normal, so your baby might be born at size 0-3 months.

Best clothes for this age

Go for light onesies and rompers if the weather is warm. If you experience cold nights, invest in lots of socks, mittens, and hats. Vests and lightweight underlayers are also important. These are what your baby will be wearing most of the time underneath the swaddling. For sleepwear, go for footed onesies.

Toddlers (2-4 years)

Your little one is becoming more and more active at this age. You want durable outfits that can withstand multiple laundry sessions without falling apart.

Best clothes for this age:

  • To help them learn to dress unaided, go for simple fastening systems like snaps and t-shirts with wide holes
  • For potty training, go for elastic waistbands that they can pull on and take off independently
  • Stock up on winter wear like jackets, raincoats, socks, and mittens
  • For shoes, get ones that are easy to put on and easy to take off, as well as some cold-weather footwear like books

Big kids (4-7 years)

Big kids have stronger preferences when it comes to what they want or don’t want to wear. So consult them before buying them any outfits. Whenever possible, you could also go shopping together.

Best clothes for this age: Proper underwear is essential because they are fully potty trained by now. Make sure that the underwear you get is made of comfortable fabric and does not feature any tags that might irritate them. Also, it is time to upgrade to proper big kid pajama sets. The rest of their clothes should be comfortable, durable, and weather appropriate.

Extra tips: What are the most important things to keep in mind when choosing your child’s clothes?

  1. Comfort: Because of their sensitive skin, carefully think about the material of the outfit you are getting, as well as irritating tags. Also, make sure to buy their correct size, as outfits that are too small or too large can be uncomfortable for them.
  2. Budget: This is a big one for a lot of parents. You don’t want to spend too much on kids’ clothes because they’ll become too small in no time anyway. If you are on a tight budget, there are ways to get cheap kids’ clothes, such as buying from thrift stores, waiting for sales, and taking advantage of hand me downs.
  3. Durability: Kids can be very active. You want clothes that can withstand this kind of activity. Durable, well-made clothes will also overall give you more value for money in the long term.
  4. Flexibility: If your little one is going to be playing in their clothes, you want to make sure that it gives them the right level of freedom to do so. This also goes for when they are learning to use the potty.
  5. Safety: Avoid clothes with potentially dangerous features like drawstrings, frills, and unnecessary buttons and bows. For pajamas and costumes, consider getting fireproofed outfits.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, your child’s age is a huge factor when it comes to what they can and cannot wear. It’s not the only one, though, because you also have to think about things like comfort, budget, durability, flexibility, and safety. With the tips outlined here, that shouldn’t be too hard for you. Good luck!

An Age-by-age Guide to Kids Clothes (Plus a Baby Clothes Size Chart) (2024)

FAQs

What size clothes for kids by age? ›

CHILDREN'S CLOTHING SIZES BY EACH AGE GROUP

XS – 4-5 years. S – 6-7 years. M – 8-9 years. L – 10-11 years.

How does baby clothing sizing work? ›

The Basics: Babies Grow at Their Own Pace

In general, baby clothing is sized by age. Newborn clothing is marked as NB (for newborn), infant clothing is marked by month (for example, 0-3M) and toddler clothing is marked by age (for example, 2T for two-year-olds).

How do kids clothes sizes work? ›

Generally, kids clothes sizing is based on the age of the child at average height and weight. If you child is taller than average, we do recommend sizing up and even if your child is very thin, we also recommend sizing up for taller kids.

What age is first size baby clothes? ›

Amazon Essentials Sizing²:
Label / SizeWeight (pounds)Height / Length (inches)
N (Newborn)5 – 8 lbsUp to 20”
0 – 3 months8 – 12.5 lbs20 – 23.5”
3 – 6 months13 – 16.5 lbs24 – 25.5”
6 – 9 months17 – 20.5 lbs26 – 27.5”
7 more rows

How do I know my kids clothes size? ›

To figure out your child's clothing size, you need to follow the steps mentioned below:
  1. Chest- Measure under your child's arms, across their bust, and shoulder blades while holding the measuring tape firmly. ...
  2. Height- Run the tape from the top of their head to the floor.

What are kids clothing sizes? ›

Kids' Clothing Size Chart
  • XS – 4-5 years.
  • S – 6-7 years.
  • M – 8-9 years.
  • L – 10-11 years.
  • XL – 12-13 years.
Jul 30, 2019

Should you size up in baby clothes? ›

NB-size clothes may not fit for long — and some bigger babies may never get a chance to wear them — so it's a safer bet to buy a size or two up for newborns.

What size is a 70 in baby clothes? ›

What Is Size 70 In Baby Clothes? Size 70 in baby clothes is a European size that corresponds to babies who are 7 to 12 months old or have a height of 26 to 30 inches. In the US, size 70 is similar to a 6–12-month size and should fit babies who are 16 to 20 pounds, or 26 to 28 inches long.

Is 6 months 3-6 or 6 9? ›

Baby (NB-24M)
SizeWeightHeight
0-3 months (3M)9-12.5 lbs / 4.1 - 5.7 kg21.5 - 24 in. / 55 - 61 cm
3-6 months (6M)12.5 - 17 lbs / 5.7 - 7.7 kg24 - 26.5 in. / 61 - 67 cm
6-9 months (9M)17 - 21 lbs / 7.7 - 9.5 kgup to 28.5 in. / up to 72 cm
12 months21 to 25 lbs / 9.5 -11.3 kg28.5 to 30.5 in. / 72 to 78 cm
4 more rows

What size is a 10 year old in clothes? ›

Girls' Chart
SizeSizeAge
M (7-8)87-8 yr
L (10-12)10 Slim9-10 yr
L (10-12)12 Slim11-12 yr
L (10-12)109-10 yr
30 more rows

Is 3-6 months the same as 6 months? ›

The 3-6 months tend to be sized to fit up to 6 months, and the 3 months ones are sized roughly for 2-4 months.

What age is 0 in baby clothes? ›

6-12 months

What size is a 5lb baby? ›

A 5lb baby typically measures between 17 and 19 inches in length, and their head circumference averages around 13 inches.

What age is baby size 5? ›

Leather Baby Shoes - Size Guide
SizeAgeUK
Small0-6 Months0-2
Medium6-12 Months2-3.5
Large12-18 Months3.5-5
X-Large18-24 Months5-6.5

What size do most 7 year olds wear? ›

Girls' Chart
SizeSizeAge
S (6-6X)65-6 yr
S (6-6X)6X6 yr
M (7-8)7 Slim6-8 yr
M (7-8)8 Slim7-8 yr
30 more rows

What age do kids wear size 7? ›

Toddler sizes 4-10 typically fit ages 1-3 years. Little kids' sizes 10.5-3 typically fit ages 4-8 years. Big kids' sizes 3.5-7 typically fit ages 8+. Sometime around the ages of 9-12, kids typically transition to adult sizes.

What is a size 7 in children's clothes? ›

LITTLE BOYS & LITTLE GIRLS
HeightWeight
4 (Small)42-44 in37-41 lbs
5 (Medium)45-47 in42-46 lbs
6 (Large)48-49 in47-53 lbs
6x/7 (x-Large)50-51 in54-58 lbs

What size is a children's 10 12? ›

Boys' Size Chart
SizeSizeHeight
M (8)850" - 52"
L (10-12)1053" - 55 1/2"
L (10-12)1256" - 58 1/2"
XL (14-16)1459" - 61 1/2"
16 more rows

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