I’m an intelligent women with a stupid question....

[Runway]

But I just can’t find the answer to it!!! When I am buying my daughter’s clothes and age 6 says 116cm.....is that from 116cm or up to 116cm?

I promise I have tried to find the answer online but it’s conflicting....

I find it all confusing as my daughter is 5 - not particularly tall for her age compared to class mates - and she’s 118cm. So that means I need to be buying her age 7 clothes?

Also, one of the major UK shops - I think perhaps M&S (or maybe Next?) says 6-7 is 116cm - 122cm

You can tell because some UK brands have "5-6 years, 110-116cm" and some have "5-6 years, 116cm"

Yes! So this means 6-7 would be 116-122cm not ‘up to’ 116cm. Surely?

I'm not from the UK and imo it's so annoying that the sizes are in years here. It makes no sense for the exact reason you give, you end up thinking your five year old is the 'wrong' size for being in 'seven year olds' clothes. If the sizes are simply given in cm, this thought wouldn't even come up, you'd just think 'my daughter is around 122 cm tall so I'll buy her size 122 clothes'.

Its up to. For all the reasons above.

But of course many children have smaller or bigger sizes (my 9 year old wears 11 (10-11) as they are tall.)

If it was 'from' then a child of 150 cm could logically fit into it.

The ages on labels are like the serving suggestion on packets of breakfast cereal - pay no attention. Go by the measurement.

Its the same with a measurement though too.

116cm will be up to!

My understanding is that the clothes sizes are roughly based on the 50th centile.

You say she's not tall in her class but 118cm much taller than average for a 5 year old girl so she must be way over the 50th centile.

My DC have always been at least one size above their age, so my just-turned 5 year old is in 6-7 and my just-turned-3 year old is in 3-4 but growing out of it.

These are bodens for example. With both the 7-8 and 8 versions of sizing on the left. And the "up to" height column.

Are you buying online? It either fits or it doesn't, which is a lot to do with style.

I'd just buy the size that looked best - sometimes that'd mean going bigger, sometimes smaller, sometime bang on. But I guess you're buying online and can't check?

I’ve always gone by it meaning to fit a child up to that size, and if I want room for growth I go up a size. My DD is 10 and is tall, she fits ages 12-13 clothes, and in some shops such as next she’s the next size up because their clothes seem a lot shorter in the leg than M&S.

I’ve also found this info

Garment sizes in inches are a “to fit” size, therefore if your child measures a 26″ chest we would advise you to order a 26″ chest as garments are made to fit that chest size – only order a larger size if you are allowing room for growth.

I just hold clothes up and see if they look about the same size as the child. I have a small 5 year old and a large 3 year old and get terribly confused looking at the size labels.

The “cm” sizes (should be “cl” for centilong) are just based on height. I suppose “up to” 116 cm is one way of looking at it but that would mean that a newborn baby (who wears 50 cl) could wear 116 cl which is obviously not right. So measure how tall your child is and pick the closest. Go bigger for roomier. (Then get annoyed at how “girl clothes” are cut shorter and tighter and the size guide becomes a joke.)

5-6 is normally 110-116, not 116-122. You said age 6, so I thought you meant 5-6, not 6-7 :o

cl means centilitres, so that's confusing

Also of course it doesn't mean it's every single size above/below that size will fit in, but up to makes more sense anyway - it doesn't matter generally if clothing is a bit baggy but if the child is too tall then the clothes physically won't fit them.

Op this is like asking is a size twelve up to a size twelve or from a size twelve. It’s a size twelve. Depending on your size it will be big or tight on you, it’s designed to fit that actual size.

should be “cl” for centilong

Why?

@BertieBotts but that would mean 6-7 is 116-122. And everyone here is saying it means 6-7,6 is up to 116cm

@Bluntness100 it’s not really as there’s no standard measurement sizing for adult clothes whereas these are definitive centimetres

[quote Runway]@BertieBotts but that would mean 6-7 is 116-122. And everyone here is saying it means 6-7,6 is up to 116cm

@Bluntness100 it’s not really as there’s no standard measurement sizing for adult clothes whereas these are definitive centimetres[/quote]
but 6-7 is 116-122 and 6 is up to 116cm do not disagree with each other.

Think of it another way the average child will be 116cm on their 6th birthday and the average 7 year old will be 122cm on their birthday

Look at the boden size chart I posted

6-7 is equivalent to 7 is equivalent to 122 is equivalet to 116-122

6 is eqivalent to 5-6 is equivalent to (upto) 116

I buy clothes which fit and pay no attention to the labels. My DS is 9 and in trousers, wears an age 11 or 12 usually. His current school cardigan is age 13-14. His big sister was taller than me at 11 and so wore an adult size 6. Ironically, I can wear age 16 trousers but 14yr old dd cannot as her legs are too long.

I wouldn't worry too much about the labels.

No age 6 is up to 116cm and age 7 is up to 122cm so age 6-7 is for children between 116-122cm

Or just buy the size that fits your child regardless of the age on the garment.

Well the labels help showofhands - otherwise where would you start? You wouldnt try a 2year old sizs on an 8 year old.

My 9 year old is tall so I start with a 10-11 /11 aged size. Of course you try it on the child and size up or down accordingly. Particularly as each store sizes slightly differently.

It does help to understand the height system though as it gives you a reasonable guide. If your child is 118 it helps to know you're likely to try 116- 122!

No answer for you OP. Purely commenting because I am staggered at the mocking superiority of some posters who are overly invested in a small typo. Dread to think what these people are like in real life.