Choosing the correct-size baby dress for your little one seems like it should be elementary enough — in theory. Baby clothes are typically sized by age, so y'all'd think y'all would just purchase pieces that correspond to your baby'south historic period and that would be it.

Unfortunately, that's not always how it works. Like adults, infants come up in all shapes and sizes. And different brands of baby wearing apparel are not consistently sized the same way.

So if you're feeling lost when it comes to baby'southward vesture sizes, you're not lonely. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when shopping or organizing baby's cupboard.

Baby clothes size chart

Depending on the baby wearable brand, some styles tin run big, small or but right.

This baby dress size chart (made using tips from real parents, endless online reviews and intel from What to Await editors who've road-tested the brands at home with their little ones) can help you figure out how different baby article of clothing brands volition really fit your kid, regardless of how big or pocket-sized she is for her historic period.

baby clothes fit chart

How practise infant apparel sizes work?

Baby article of clothing sizes can be based on a variety of factors, including:

  • Historic period

  • Weight

  • Length

That said, most infant clothing sizes are broken out based on averages. And considering babies grow at different rates, not all five-month-olds volition fit into size 3-6-calendar month clothing, for example.

So how do you know which size will fit your baby all-time? When it's time to create or update your piffling one'southward wardrobe, these strategies can assistance:

  • Practice your research. As our baby wear sizes chart demostrates, different brands of infant clothing is sized differently. Certain brands run smaller or larger, longer or shorter. Be sure to check each brand'due south website for their specific size chart to double-bank check where your babe's measurements fall on their sizing chart before you buy.

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  • Know what the labels mean. Many parents will tell you (later on experiencing this first-paw) a good dominion of thumb is that the size on the label is often the max size. For instance, size 3 months often means that it fits babies up to 3 months of age. Near 6-month-old babies wear ix- or 12-calendar month-size wearable.

  • Consider fabric type. From spit-ups to blowouts, your baby may go through multiple outfits a day — which means more than laundry. Keep in mind that fabrics like cotton, while comfy, are prone to shrinkage, and so it may be wise to go up a size.

  • Shop in person. That mode you lot can eyeball the outfit to come across if you think it might fit your little one, regardless of what the tag says, and go with your gut. When in doubt, size up — babies abound quickly, so it's better to purchase clothing they'll have room to grow into.

  • Don't exist afraid of trial and fault. Because of the same size discrepancies from make to brand, you may desire to seize with teeth the bullet and try out a variety of different clothing brands to see which ones fit your baby'south torso best. Once you lot've established which brands fit your baby well, moving up to the adjacent size as they grow can get a little easier.

Babe clothes sizes by weight

Nigh U.S. article of clothing brands base their sizing on average baby weight at a given age. While exact measurements can vary by brand, here'southward a general guide for baby vesture sizes by weight:

  • P (Preemie): Up to 5 pounds

  • NB (Newborn): five to 8 pounds

  • 3 months: 8 to 12 pounds

  • six months: 12 to 16 pounds

  • ix months: 16 to 20 pounds

  • 12 months: 20 to 24 pounds

  • 18 months: 24 to 28 pounds

  • 24 months: 28 to 30 pounds

  • 2T: 29 to 32 pounds

  • 3T: 32 to 35 pounds

  • 4T: 35 to 39 pounds

  • 5T: 39 to 43 pounds

How many babe clothes do I need in each size?

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

  • 4 to 8 shirts

  • 4 to 8 onesies

  • 7 jumpsuit footed pajamas

  • iii to 6 jumpsuit rompers

  • 2 to 4 two-piece outfits (shirt and shorts/pants combinations)

  • 1 to iii seasonal wearing apparel-up outfits

  • iv to 8 pairs of socks or booties

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

  • 1 snowsuit or bunting (for winter babies)

  • 1 to 3 hats (knit hats for winter babies; lord's day hats for summer babies)

  • one to two swimsuits (for summer babies)

While that's a good identify to start, y'all can cull to buy more than or less depending on your situation — babies tend to need more layers in colder weather, for example, and how often y'all plan to do laundry should also gene into the equation.

Newborn baby clothes sizes

Whether you're looking for the perfect outfit to bring your baby dwelling in, or simply filling upwards footling ane's cupboard with an adorable wardrobe, information technology's important to think virtually which size to stock upwards on for the newborn days.

It may seem like mutual sense to purchase the "Newborn" size for your newborn, merely it'southward really smarter to size upwards (slightly). On average, "Newborn" clothes just fit babies up to 8 pounds — which for near babies, doesn't terminal that long (and some babies even enter the world larger than that!).

Whereas size 0-3 months should fit your baby upwards to 12 pounds, and you can e'er roll up sleeves and pant legs for a few weeks while baby grows into the larger size.

If your baby is predicted to be petite, or you take a preemie, Newborn or Preemie sizes make a lilliputian more sense. But consider keeping the tags on tiny outfits and hanging on to receipts in case babe arrives larger than expected or grows super speedily.

European babe clothes sizes

Moving picture this: You lot become an adorable babe outfit gifted to you, and you check the tag to see what size it is, but it simply says "70." Just when y'all think y'all understood baby clothing sizes, you lot're hit with the European sizing system.

European baby article of clothing sizes are labeled based on maximum centimeters in height — pregnant a size 70 should fit a baby up to lxx centimeters, or around 27.5 inches long (though there's a range). As with U.S. sizes, when shopping European babe clothing, it's important to review the exact make's size nautical chart.

Here'due south a general guide for what European babe clothes sizes typically interpret to in the U.S.:

Size lx in infant dress

A good rule of pollex is that a European size sixty is equivalent to U.Southward. size iii-6 months. This size will typically fit a baby who is 12 to 16 pounds, or 22 to 26 inches long.

Size seventy in babe dress

Size seventy in Europe is similar to a 6-12 month size in the U.Southward. It should fit babies who are 16 to 20 pounds, or 26 to 28 inches long.

Size 80 in baby clothes

A European size lxxx is about the same size every bit 12-24 months in the U.S. Information technology likely fits babies ranging from 20 to 27 pounds, or 28 to 32 inches long.

Size 90 in infant clothes

Size 90 in Europe ranges is about a size 2T in the U.South. Information technology should fit a toddler who weighs betwixt 26 and 33 pounds or upwards to a meridian of 36 inches.

Size 100 in baby dress

A European size 100 is virtually a 3T (and up to 4T) in the U.S. Information technology'll probable fit a toddler weighing between 31 and 38 pounds, or up to a height up to around 40 inches.

Nifty the baby wear sizes code can be tricky. A skillful rule of thumb: When in uncertainty, size up. And think, within no time (and after a fiddling trial and error), you lot'll be a pro at discovering which article of clothing sizes and brands piece of work best for your picayune one.