One of the primary concerns of new parents when buying infant and toddler clothes online is what size to choose. This problem is an even greater dilemma for grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends when buying baby clothes as gifts. Babies vary so greatly in size and change so quickly that it seems that unless you are in the store with your little model, you will have no idea if the clothes will even come close to fitting.

If you have encountered or are currently in this dilemma, rest assured, you are not alone.

Let?s start with a few simple facts:

• Baby clothing manufacturers do not follow rigorous standards with regard to size. Yes, there are the basic guidelines of 0 ? 3 months, 3- 6 months and so on, but compare manufacturers and you will find that interpretations of these sizes can very quite a bit. There is good reason for this: babies themselves vary quite a bit. This brings us to the next point.
• Babies come in all different sizes. Just have a look at the standard clinical growth charts (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/nhanes/growthcharts/clinical_charts.htm) used in the US by pediatricians and you will find that a healthy 6month old girl can easily from 24 inches in length to 27 inches in length and from 13 lbs to 19lbs.
• Babies themselves grow and change very quickly.

So what is the solution? Actually, it is fairly simple. When in doubt, go big. If you are buying clothes for a baby that is in the 50th percentile (i.e. the middle) for length and weight and is nearing 3 months, then go ahead and buy items that are 3- 6 months. If you are buying clothing for a baby that is in the upper percentile for weight or height, then going an extra size larger regardless of age is generally a good idea. The worst that can happen is that the clothes are a bit too large. In that case, no problem, he or she will grow into them. The best time to buy clothes in sizes 0-3 months is before or right when a baby is born.

But you ask: what if I am buying clothes for a special occasion and I will need them to fit on a certain date. In this case, it can make sense to buy a single item from the designer or manufacturer you are interested in to see how that manufacturer generally sizes its clothes. Do they tend to run large or small, long or short? Picking a single less expensive item from the manufacturer can help you determine that. Other times, an email to the online retailer with your baby?s length and weight can also help.

 

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