Choosing the right-size infant wearing apparel for your little one seems like it should exist simple enough — in theory. Baby clothes are typically sized by age, so you'd think you would just buy pieces that correspond to your baby'south age and that would be information technology.

Unfortunately, that's not always how it works. Similar adults, infants come up in all shapes and sizes. And dissimilar brands of baby clothes are non consistently sized the aforementioned manner.

Then if y'all're feeling lost when it comes to baby's wearable sizes, yous're not lonely. Here are a few tips to go along in heed when shopping or organizing baby'due south closet.

Infant clothes size chart

Depending on the baby clothing make, some styles can run big, pocket-size or just right.

This baby clothes size nautical chart (made using tips from real parents, countless online reviews and intel from What to Wait editors who've road-tested the brands at abode with their little ones) can help you figure out how unlike baby clothing brands volition actually fit your child, regardless of how big or small she is for her age.

baby clothes fit chart

How do babe clothes sizes work?

Infant vesture sizes can be based on a multifariousness of factors, including:

  • Age

  • Weight

  • Length

That said, well-nigh baby clothing sizes are broken out based on averages. And because babies grow at different rates, not all 5-calendar month-olds will fit into size three-6-month clothing, for example.

So how exercise yous know which size volition fit your infant best? When information technology's time to create or update your piffling one'due south wardrobe, these strategies can assist:

  • Exercise your research. As our baby clothing sizes chart demostrates, different brands of baby clothing is sized differently. Sure brands run smaller or larger, longer or shorter. Be certain to check each make'south website for their specific size chart to double-check where your infant'due south measurements fall on their sizing chart before yous buy.

    Continue Reading Below

  • Know what the labels hateful. Many parents will tell you (after experiencing this kickoff-hand) a adept dominion of thumb is that the size on the characterization is oftentimes the max size. For example, size 3 months often means that it fits babies upward to 3 months of age. Virtually 6-month-old babies wear ix- or 12-month-size wearable.

  • Consider textile type. From spit-ups to blowouts, your baby may become through multiple outfits a 24-hour interval — which means more laundry. Continue in mind that fabrics like cotton wool, while comfy, are prone to shrinkage, so it may be wise to go up a size.

  • Shop in person. That style y'all tin eyeball the outfit to see if you think it might fit your picayune ane, regardless of what the tag says, and get with your gut. When in doubt, size up — babies grow quickly, so it'due south meliorate to purchase clothing they'll accept room to grow into.

  • Don't exist agape of trial and error. Considering of the aforementioned size discrepancies from brand to brand, you may desire to bite the bullet and endeavor out a multifariousness of dissimilar article of clothing brands to see which ones fit your babe's body best. Once you've established which brands fit your babe well, moving up to the next size as they grow can get a little easier.

Baby clothes sizes past weight

Nearly U.S. wearable brands base their sizing on boilerplate babe weight at a given historic period. While verbal measurements can vary by make, hither's a general guide for infant wearable sizes by weight:

  • P (Preemie): Up to v pounds

  • NB (Newborn): 5 to 8 pounds

  • three months: 8 to 12 pounds

  • 6 months: 12 to 16 pounds

  • ix months: xvi to 20 pounds

  • 12 months: 20 to 24 pounds

  • 18 months: 24 to 28 pounds

  • 24 months: 28 to thirty pounds

  • 2T: 29 to 32 pounds

  • 3T: 32 to 35 pounds

  • 4T: 35 to 39 pounds

  • 5T: 39 to 43 pounds

How many baby clothes practise I need in each size?

Babies need a lot of stuff — with clothing at the meridian of the list. To avert overwhelming yourself (and overspending), store for baby in baby steps. Commencement by putting together a layette, or a set of clothing essentials, for the newborn days, which oftentimes consists of:

  • 4 to 8 shirts

  • 4 to 8 onesies

  • 7 jumpsuit footed pajamas

  • 3 to 6 one-slice rompers

  • 2 to iv two-piece outfits (shirt and shorts/pants combinations)

  • one to 3 seasonal dress-upward outfits

  • 4 to viii pairs of socks or booties

  • 1 to 2 sweaters (for cold-weather babies)

  • ane snowsuit or bunting (for winter babies)

  • 1 to 3 hats (knit hats for winter babies; sunday hats for summer babies)

  • 1 to 2 swimsuits (for summertime babies)

While that's a expert place to start, you tin can cull to buy more than or less depending on your situation — babies tend to need more layers in colder conditions, for example, and how oftentimes you plan to do laundry should also factor into the equation.

Newborn babe apparel sizes

Whether you're looking for the perfect outfit to bring your infant dwelling house in, or only filling up fiddling ane's closet with an ambrosial wardrobe, it's of import to recall well-nigh which size to stock up on for the newborn days.

It may seem like common sense to buy the "Newborn" size for your newborn, but it's actually smarter to size up (slightly). On boilerplate, "Newborn" clothes just fit babies upward to viii pounds — which for most babies, doesn't concluding that long (and some babies fifty-fifty enter the globe larger than that!).

Whereas size 0-iii months should fit your baby upward to 12 pounds, and you lot can ever coil upwardly sleeves and pant legs for a few weeks while babe grows into the larger size.

If your baby is predicted to be petite, or you lot have a preemie, Newborn or Preemie sizes make a picayune more sense. Just consider keeping the tags on tiny outfits and hanging on to receipts in case infant arrives larger than expected or grows super quickly.

European babe clothes sizes

Picture this: You get an adorable baby outfit gifted to you, and you check the tag to see what size it is, simply it simply says "70." Just when you think you understood baby wear sizes, you're hit with the European sizing system.

European infant clothing sizes are labeled based on maximum centimeters in pinnacle — significant a size 70 should fit a baby up to 70 centimeters, or around 27.5 inches long (though there'due south a range). As with U.S. sizes, when shopping European baby vesture, information technology'southward important to review the exact make's size chart.

Here's a general guide for what European infant dress sizes typically translate to in the U.Southward.:

Size 60 in baby clothes

A good dominion of thumb is that a European size lx is equivalent to U.S. size 3-vi months. This size will typically fit a baby who is 12 to 16 pounds, or 22 to 26 inches long.

Size 70 in baby dress

Size 70 in Europe is similar to a six-12 month size in the U.Due south. It should fit babies who are sixteen to twenty pounds, or 26 to 28 inches long.

Size eighty in baby clothes

A European size 80 is nigh the same size equally 12-24 months in the U.Due south. It likely fits babies ranging from 20 to 27 pounds, or 28 to 32 inches long.

Size 90 in baby dress

Size 90 in Europe ranges is virtually a size 2T in the U.S. It should fit a toddler who weighs betwixt 26 and 33 pounds or upward to a meridian of 36 inches.

Size 100 in babe apparel

A European size 100 is nigh a 3T (and up to 4T) in the U.S. It'll likely fit a toddler weighing betwixt 31 and 38 pounds, or upward to a height upwards to around forty inches.

Neat the baby clothing sizes code can exist tricky. A good rule of thumb: When in doubt, size up. And remember, within no time (and later on a little trial and mistake), you'll be a pro at discovering which clothing sizes and brands work best for your trivial 1.