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 |
| 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?
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
