Can you imagine if your clothes were sold in sizes according to your age? Picture yourself going up to the cash with a pair of jeans that said "47". We wouldn't like it one bit. As adults, the smaller the number, the better. Just as we have trouble finding the perfect fits for ourselves, children's clothing can provide some trouble spots as well. I'll try to explain how to get great fitting clothes for your child.
First of all, kids clothes are made a bit differently that adult clothes. We have specific sizes, usually based on measurements, and hopefully, as adults, we fall into a certain size category. Now, that doesn't mean that all size 6 women will be a small, or that all size 10 women will be a large. Body shape also factors into what sizes we wear and for the most part, designers know this and cut clothes accordingly. For children, however, clothes are sold in sizes that are supposed to correspond to their age. But not all children are the same size as others at their specific age.
My little 4 year old niece, for example, is very tall for her age. She looks about 6 years old and wears clothes that are geared for children of that age. That comes along with a few problems in itself, like snaps on jackets which are easy for a child who is six, but not so easy for a four year old. So, careful thought has to be put into clothes when you are buying them for children.
So, as babies, clothes are usually cut very straight, without much thought to anything except for room in the lower half to accommodate bulky diapers. Usually, clothes for babies will have tags to help you out though. Not only will they give you a specific age range for the clothes, they will provide height and weight sometimes. This can be useful for longer babies, or shorter ones. Go with the weight and not the age and you'll be fine.
When kids are toddlers, their clothes are still arranged and sold by age, but frequently, they will have a weight label as well. Your child may wear something larger or smaller than the suggested size for their age, but kids are constantly growing at this point and something that might be too small one day, could fit perfectly the next. It is a good idea to buy something a bit larger so that your child can grow into it, and therefore, wear it longer. You don't want your little boy to wear a pair of jeans once and outgrow them by next week. Remember, you can always roll up the cuffs of those pants or shirts.
When children start school, you'll notice that sizing becomes small, medium and large for most items like shirts and pants. If your child is taller, get them something large so that it will fit them properly when playing. You don't want the clothes to be too small so that there is restricted movement. You may also want to stick to a clothing line that fits your child correctly once you find it. If a designer does one item that fits, chances are, the other items in the collection will also work for your child.
If you have a child that will go shopping with you, by all means, try to get them to try something on. This can be nearly impossible, but it might save you some time later. Shoes can be an easy sell, but try getting your little one into a change room to see if those pants fit and you might wish you'd never started. So, hold them up against your little one to judge length and width, and do your best that way. Always make sure you get and keep your receipt so that you can return something if it doesn't fit when you get it home.
If you go by weight when they are young, and try to judge height and width when they are a bit older, you should find clothes that will fit your child well. Never be locked into an age category...if it fits and it is for someone younger, buy it anyway! And think ahead. You want the clothes to be worn, and since children's clothing doesn't often wear out, if you buy something a little big, they'll be able to wear it longer and you won't have to shop so frequently for new clothes!