Get the right fit: figuring out clothing sizes for baby

Question: I'm so confused about what size clothes to buy for my baby. One company's 0-3 months is nothing like that of another company's. Aren't there standard sizes?

Unfortunately, there aren't. Baby clothing sizes are usually based on age: preemie, 0 to 3 months (newborn), 3 to 6 months, 6 to 9 months, 9 to 12 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months. However, one manufacturer's 6 to 9 months may be quite different from another's because there are no standard sizes in the industry. But here's a general rule: to decide what size clothes to buy for your baby, double your baby's age. For example, if you're buying for a 3-month old, buy a 6-month-old size; if you're shopping for a 6 month-old, buy a 12-month-old size, and so on. Even though that doubled size may seem a little big at first, your baby will grow into the clothing quickly and you'll have leeway for shrinkage. 

A caveat: You don't always have to double the size, though. It depends on the manufacturer, so experiment. You'll get to know which brands tend to run true to a child's age and which brands you'll likely have to age-double. The age-doubling formula ends at around age 2 anyway. Then, you'll want to buy one to two sizes up, depending on your child's size. For example, an average size 2 year old (a toddler in the 50th percentile for height and weight) can probably wear a size 3. But a large 2-year-old (say, in the 95th percentile) would wear a size 4.

Another clothes clue: Read the weight and length charts found on the back of many garment packages or consult a size chart, which many baby-clothing stores keep on hand, especially those that sell garments in European sizes. But be sure to know your baby's height in inches--that's key to converting your baby's size to centimeters.

For more information, see our report on baby clothing.