Finding the Right Baby Clothes Sizes. Are Your Baby’s Clothes Are Too Small?

It is a joy to watch babies grow and discover the world around them. And grow they do! Your little one gets bigger everyday and outgrows their clothes quickly. Can you get one more wear out of that favorite outfit? Judging sizes can be difficult. How should baby clothes fit? Here’s a brief guide to finding the right size baby clothes and when their clothes may be getting too small.

Baby Clothes Sizes Explained

For the most part, baby clothes sizes fall into roughly three groups; Infants, Babies, and Toddlers. These groups are determined by the baby’s age. A baby is considered an infant when they are between 0-6 months, bigger babies are considered between 6 to 12 month and Toddlers are 12 months and up.

When shopping for clothes for a baby, you will often find that the clothing sizes refer more to the baby’s age in months rather than a “size”. Which sometimes can be very confusing.

How do Sizes Really Work?

According to Care.com, baby clothing sizes are largely based on their weight and length. Typically, new parents know the baby’s length right after birth, but it is not realistic to continually measure your baby every time you or a friend decide to go clothes shopping for your baby.

Another great way to figure out your baby clothes sizes is to use their age as the determining factor. This method is much less accurate as a baby can grow at different rates then what is projected for their sizes.

Below is a sizing chart that consists of a few typical baby clothes sizes by weight.

AgeWeightHeight
Newborns7lbs / 3.175kg19in / 48.26cm
0-3 Months7-12lbs / 3.17- 5.44kg 19-23in / 48.26-58.43cm
3-6 months12-16lbs / 5.44-7.26kg23-27in / 53.43-68.58cm
6-9 months16-20lbs / 7.26-9.07kg25-27in / 63.5-68.58cm
6-12 Months17-22lbs / 7.71-9.98kg27-29in / 68.58-73.66cm
12-18 months22-27lbs / 9.98-12.25kg29-32in / 73.66-81.28cm
24 Months / 2T28-32lbs / 12.7-14.5kg32-34in / 81.3-86.4cm
3T32-35lbs / 14.5-15.9kg34-38in / 86.4-96.5cm
4T35-39lbs /15.9-17.7kg38-40in / 96.5-101.6cm

Hand-Me-Down Time? How to Tell If Baby Clothes Are Too Small

When baby clothes are too small, it can cause rashes, irritation, and even digestive issues. All of this leads to a fussy, unhappy child. Which means tired, unhappy parents! Your baby’s clothes are too small if:

  • The leg snaps pop open 
  • You take off your baby’s pants, and there is a line where the elastic or buttons irritated the skin
  • Shirts roll up over the belly
  • When you push the sleeves up, it cuts off their circulation 
  • Your baby cries when you put these clothes on (of course this is not definitive – but if it’s consistent, then maybe look at the sizing)

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it’s time to pack away those precious outfits! Put them to good use: donate them, consign them, give them to friends or family members who are expecting, or save them if you plan on adding to your family.

Finding the Right Size For Your Baby

How do baby clothes sizes work

If you find that buying baby clothes that are exactly the current age and weight of your baby, chances are you baby will outgrow them every week. Newborns, especially in their first few weeks of life, grow exceptionally fast.

With that in mind, it is commonly recommended to by a size or two bigger than the actual baby’s size. During these early stages of life, it’s recommended to have a few extra Onesies and sleepers across different sizes.

It is also recommended during this stage; you should have 10-15 Onesies and 5-6 sleepers on hand in each size. Overall, there is no absolute method of buying clothes for a baby. The rule of thumb continues to be to use the baby’s weight as a way of determining the sizes and buy a lot of sizes

Whenever you need to change up your baby’s wardrobe, whether to add new sizes or new styles, visit Baby Bling Street. Shop our online baby boutique for some of the best high-end baby clothes brands and find your new favorite pieces.

Our clothing sets the bar when it comes to how should baby clothes fit. And our clothes are as comfortable and well-made as they are adorable!