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No child is built alike, although all clothes are made as if they are! Just because the size in a pair of jeans says one thing, does not mean they will fit your child. There are a few things to look for when finding the perfect fit for your child. By following a few tips and tricks, you will not only find clothes that fit your child, but they will last longer as well.

PANTS
Always buy pants and jeans a little longer than your child's legs. This way you can roll the pants up and still have room to grow. If you do not like the "rolled up" look, then purchase "hem tape". Hem tape is an adhesive that you can iron on your clothing to make a temporary hem. If purchasing longer pants means that they will be too big in the waist, then purchase the pants with the adjustable waist straps on the inside of the waistline. These are a perfect for skinny children where even belts don't work. The adjustable waist allows you to make the waistline of the pants fit for any child, no matter how small they are.

SHIRTS
Just like pants, purchase shirts that just a tad too big. You can always roll up the sleeves or tuck in the bottom of the shirt into pants. If you are purchasing cotton, then this also allows for shrinkage as well. Unless your child goes through a major growth spurt, you can usually buy shirts a size too big and they will last for two seasons or more.

ONESIES
For newborns and toddlers, purchase onesies/rompers big as well. Some companies, such as onestepahead.com , sell extenders for you to attach to the onesie so that it will fit your child as they grow.

SHOES
It is important that shoes have a good fit on your child's foot. The last thing you want to do is damage their foot because their shoes were too small. All shoe stores have a measurement device where you can gauge just how big your child's foot really is. This way you can be sure to purchase sneakers, boots, and sandals that fit properly.

Finally, keep track of your child's height and weight. Just like adult clothes, baby and children's clothes vary in size, depending on the designer. They usually have a tag on the garment that says how their clothes will fit children of certain sizes. I can assure you that items made by Gerber run small and items made by Walmart run big. Target brand items are usually true to size as well as Old Navy. When in doubt, just save the receipt of all your purchases. This way you can try the items on your child at your convenience and return or exchange all of the items.

Learn more about this author, Adina Carter Allen.
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