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For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

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Parenting

2 year old in small clothes

16 replies

redandwhite1 · 02/02/2017 17:54

He's mainly in 12-18 month clothes but the trousers fall down...adjustment waists are the best thing ever! He needs them for length but really a 9-12 month would be better

Anyway... is this normal that a 2,5 year old is in full on baby clothes?! 9-12 and 12-18 month size?!

Should I be worried?

OP posts:

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Heirhelp · 02/02/2017 18:51

Have you had him weighed and measured recently? Is he on the same % as previously? I think that the answers to the questions above is more important than the clothes he is in?

isthistoonosy · 02/02/2017 18:55

It kinda depends on the clothes, my two yr old is in 12-18and they are on the big side. Her brother wore 9-12 shorts at 3yrs old they were fine on the waist and bum. They are both big kids percentile wise so.I've no idea why they fit into small clothes.

Highlove · 02/02/2017 19:05

Think it depends where they're from. My almost 3yo (75th for height, 50th for weight) has a few 12-18 month bits she still wears and loads of 18-24. In fact, she wore a pair of 12-18 month trousers from Polarn today and they were falling down! I find Next and Mothercare in particular tend to come up huge.

CatsCantFlyFast · 02/02/2017 19:06

I wouldn't use kids clothes sizes as a guideline for anything as they vary wildly from shop to shop and even within shop! At 2.5 my daughter would fit a waist size of 12-18 or some 18-24 and she is 50th centile for weight so in theory should be the average size and you'd expect she 2-3 to fit her.
We use H&M cords/trousers and Zara cords/trousers as all have adjustable waists and I can size up to get the length we need

Somehowsomewhere · 02/02/2017 19:09

I think his height and weight would be a more accurate measurement.
DD1 is just 3, 25th centile for height and weight and wears 3-4 clothes, and DD2 is 18 months, 50th centile for weight and 75th for height and is in 18-24 months and some 2-3 so I'm surprised at some of the children mentioned above! Their clothes are pretty much all from Next and Mothercare too!

busyrascal · 02/02/2017 19:11

I have a tiny girl and the clothes sizes make no sense to me at all.

She turned 4 in November and her current trousers range in size from 18-24months (I know!) to 4-5years.

Just put him in what fits and get him weighed every once in a while to check he's not slipping down the centiles.

WallisFrizz · 02/02/2017 19:13

I have a small DS, he is on 9th centile for height, always has been. I have only recently got rid of all his 2-3 age clothes. He is 5.
As long as he is following his centile, don't worry. I also agree that clothes vary shop to shop. In my opinion, Sainsbury's come up huge, always a size above. Gap however are quite small...the only shop that my little kids are true to size.
If you are really concerned, ask your hv or GP to plot his growth over a few months.

catkind · 02/02/2017 19:22

DH once accidently dressed (very average sized) 3 yr old DS in DD's 3-6 month trousers, he thought they were shorts. I think kids don't get much wider after a certain stage, they start getting taller and thinner instead.

Also is he out of nappies? That can make a big difference. As can which shop the clothes come from.

Keep an eye on weights and measurements, but I wouldn't read too much into clothes sizes.

skankingpiglet · 02/02/2017 23:20

My DD1 is 2.8yo and still wears some 18-24m stuff, mostly 2-3y, and a couple of 3-4 items. She actually still fits a couple of pairs of 9-12m shorts too (although admittedly they had become 'short shorts'), but I thought it was bloody ridiculous she was still in them so I stuck them in storage ready for DD2. She's 35th-ish percentile for weight, 60th-ish for height, with a tiny waist and slender arms and legs. As suggested by catkind I've had awful trouble with clothes since she potty trained a year ago, as what fits her in length on the bottom half will be around her ankles in minutes without a nappy to bulk up her waist. Even elasticated joggers fall down unless I take in the waist band (not ideal as I'm shit at sewing). I've found the European brands come up slimmer, so I buy those for trousers, but otherwise stick to dresses, skirts and shorts. Luckily she's really into tights weirdo.
Particularly annoying as DD2 is two years younger and I was hoping to pass down all DD1's clothes to her. DD2 is a completely different build (although following a similar line on the growth charts) so will go up sizes a bit more in line with her age I think, and as DD1's growth slows further and DD2 catches her up I can foresee needing to buy DD2 a whole new wardrobe of her own!

Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 02/02/2017 23:26

My friends dd is tiny, she is 2 and a half and wearing 12 to 18 month clothes. She is the same size a my (rather chunky) 10 month old!! She is hitting all her milestones, eating well, happy and healthy. Health visitors don't seem worried at all!

redandwhite1 · 03/02/2017 08:36

Thanks all, seems it's not just him!

He's about 25th on weight and only 5th on height - when I measured him 2 weeks ago he hasn't really grown in 9 months hence a drop from the 25th to the 5th

Feet have grown a whole size in that time though

OP posts:

skankingpiglet · 04/02/2017 09:38

That's quite a drop in centiles OP. My DD1 is slim, but has always pretty much followed her line (a few small bumps up and down either before or after a growth spurt) and continued to grow, which is why I've never been concerned. Is it worth popping along to a weigh-in clinic to get him properly measured? Their equipment will give you a more accurate reading and I'm sure I remember being told you can take them up to age 5 if you have concerns.
Only going up one shoe size in 9m isn't a lot either IME. Admittedly DD1 has flipper feet, but she has gone from a 4 to a 7.5 in the 18m she's had shoes and once went up a half size in under 6 weeks () She's actually well overdue to be measured again but I'm not sure my bank account is ready for another visit just yet...

It's normal to be a slim build, but worth keeping a close eye when they're dropping down the chart. He may of course just be storing up a humongous growth spurt and you'll wake up one morning needing to take him on an impromptu shopping spree!

lljkk · 04/02/2017 10:01

DD was titchy like OP describes. Now 5'5".

redandwhite1 · 04/02/2017 12:22

Hmmm yes you are right I probably should take him to be properly done and if there are issues have someone on hand to talk to

It's so hard when you work full time to fit it all in but I'll make plans to get it sorted

Thanks :)

OP posts:

Spanz10 · 01/01/2021 20:29

Hello @redandwhite1.
Do you have an update on your son. My daughter is small and I am not sure if it is normal or not.

Thanks

redandwhite1 · 01/01/2021 21:21

@Spanz10 funny reading this back

My son is now 6.5 years and I would say he's almost caught up to his size. Most of his tops are age 6 but trousers are still a little smaller as he has such as skinny waist

I did put away some 3-4 years pijamas the other day but I honestly think a lot is where you shop as sizes are not right (bit like adult clothes!)

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