to think that child swimming costume sizing is devised in some alternate universe?

[ArseyTussle]

DD is 6, fairly tall for her age and strong physique. Not fat - visible ribs - but not a waif.

Clothes-wise, she wears 6 - 8 in H&M, age 6 - 7 elsewhere. All very standard.

I remembered that all the swimming costumes we've bought for her have needed to be sized up, however we've just returned 3 swimming costumes from different shops as even the age 10 are too small.

What's that about?

[Yura]

I have the opposite issue for boys -took forever to find trunks for slim but average height 4 year old that did not expose everything at the slightest move. Found a pair of 12-18 month sized ones finally.... ( needs to be tight fitting as required by swimming club, not board shorts)

[Pinkkahori]

I totally agree! My dd is 8 and wears an age six in trousers and it is difficult to get a skirt to fit her due to her thin frame and long legs yet an age 9 swimsuit is looking small on her.

[MiladyThesaurus]

Yes. It's completely the opposite for boys. DS2 was still wearing a pair if 12-18 months shorts at 4 and they'd only just become a reasonable size for his waist. He's 7 now and wearing age 4-5 shorts.

if I put him in age 7-8 shorts they just fall down. Or I might be able to tie them up but they'd simply expose his backside every time he had to dive or jump in.

DS2 is 16 and can still wear a pair of age 11-12 swimming shorts. He wears 28" waist jeans so I don't understand how those shorts could ever fit an 11year old.

[BikeRunSki]

Yep! My 4 yo DD had an age 7-8 swimsuit (to be fair, she is 5 now).

8 yo DS had to wear those knee length tight trucks, like cycling shorts. Ordinary trunks that fit at the waist barely cover his bottom.

[FishlessCake]

Yes! My dd is just turned 6 and is tall (not overweight) wears age 8-9 in clothes and size 1 feet. But swim suits are a nightmare. Same with tights.

[Watto1]

Yes, I agree. Dd is just 8 and average height or maybe even slightly below average height. The last costume I bought for her was 9-10 and nowhere near long enough.

[hazeyjane]

I have the opposite problem with the dds and ds

Dd1 (10) is in an age 9 (and had to have the straps taken up!), dd2 is in an age 7 and ds (6) is in age 3-4 trunks!!

[FreeButtonBee]

I just had to put a stitch in DS new trunks. They are aged 2 and he is almost 4. They were hanging off him but all I could find in October! I only changed him because he had been wearing a UV suit type one and it was cutting off his circulation in the groin area...

[Eminybob]

Yeah I agree, when DS was tiny and wore the swim wraps we always had to size up then too.

I also give you - woolly hats! DS is 2.5 and this years winter hat is age 4-5! Last years was age 3.
It came with gloves which are far too big though. He's not got a particularly fat head I promise!

[EggysMom]

I thought it was just our boy being a skinny-minny - age 7, and still wearing his swimming trunks age 18-24months.

[mikeyssister]

Just had that problem yesterday. I've started using the Australian sizing for togs.

[DebbieFiderer]

I've never found this to be an issue and between them my girls swim up to 4 or 5 times a week so we get through loads od costumes. DD1 is about to turn 9, is bang on average height and weight and swimming costumes are always bought in the same size as the clothes she wears. I do find the sizing tricky when it is not done in clothes sizes though - ie I've just bought her a size 26 but not sure if I should have got a 28 (especially as the rviews say they come up small but it is a racing suit so is supposed to be tight, aargh!)

[ThanksForAllTheFish]

YANBU - DD is 7 and skinny. She wears age 5-6 or 6-7 clothes. Her age 6-7 swimming costume (from fat face) is too wide around the belly but now too short resulting in a wedgie when she wears it.

I've just ordered a costume from Decathlon in age 8. I'm hoping it fits her a bit better. It's cut like shorts at the bottom so should stop the horrible baggy/ gappy crotch thing that happens with bigger costumes due to the legs cut too wide/ high.

[SomewhatIdiosyncratic]

I have to buy smaller sizes for my DSs' waists. DS1 has never outgrown the reusable swim nappy- he's 6! He has age 3 swimming shorts. He's about age 5 for length on clothes.

I've recently had to hide age 18m shorts from him as they were getting ludicrously short on him. Still grand on the waist though

DS2 is no better. He's got the same size chest and pelvis, but slightly shorter. One clothes size less. Same issue on length Vs waist.

I can however manage age 13-14 cossies instead of size 8.

[Osirus]

I agree. Had to buy DD a 9-12 month costume when she was 3 months old. Now 6 months and I think she needs a replacement!

[Paddingtonthebear]

Yes agree. I have a very average 50th centile in the red book little girl and I always have to buy a swim suit three sizes bigger than she is. So weird

[steppemum]

I think it is a body shape thing.
Everyone in our family is tall, but we are all long body and short legs.
This means that although dd may be in eg 10-11 clothes, she would have a much longer body that a typical 10-11, and so swimming costume too small.

Conversely, any kid with long legs and short body probably has to go down a size or take up shoulder straps.

I really notice it, as if you buy a tankini or bikini then the sizing is more normal.

And ds was very skinny and oculd have worn his baby trunks until he was about 10!

[KnittedBlanketHoles]

All clothes sizing is mad, I wear age 12 girls costumes... Crazy!

[reallyanotherone]

Really? I find the opposite!

I buy sports swimsuits like speedo, tyr etc though. My 8 yo is a 24, my 12 yo 28. Age wise i think a 24 is age 5/6, a 28 9/10. The brand matters a bit, older dc likes diana and head, younger speedo and tyr. Head are very long in the body

I wouldn't buy swimwear from the high street though.

[MiladyThesaurus]

Torso to leg proportions shouldn't really affect your 7 year old being able to wear age 4-5 shorts but not age 7-8 though.

We tend to buy DS2 clothes in H&M but we always have to buy him one or more sizes bigger for both leg and torso length and then pull the adjustable waists in a ludicrous amount. Even the waists on the trousers for his age (and his height) are enormous but the legs are like shorts.

I think they just randomly assign labels without checking whether they'll fit a child of the age or height specified. It's more annoying when you're going on height and the legs are too short but equally the tshirts are too short in the body.

[turkeyboots]

My DD swims for a local team and is long and slim. She's 10 and wears age 16 swimsuit, or a adult size 8. Anything else is way too short in the body. I find speedo suits to be the worst for small sizing, high street brands tend to be better.

And DS, age 7, is still in the swim suit I got him when he was 4. Legs are a bit too short now, but waist still fits.

[ArseyTussle]

Glad to hear it's not just DD whose torso appears to be several years older than the rest of her. How weird that for boys it's mostly the opposite problem.

ThanksForAllTheFish, if you've ordered the black Decathlon one with the short legs and the blue stripe across the hips, good luck to you with it, that's one of the ones we sent back!

[PurpleMcPants]

I agree the sizing is bizarre but the way it goes depends on the child. My 6 year old is wearing a size 9-10 speedo suit which I actually bought for my 10 year old. My 10 year old is wearing an age 7 next suit which fits lengthwise but flaps about her stomach and bottom. She has the same problem in all swimsuits. My 9 year old DS is wearing age 5 shorts.
Totally random!