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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

aibu childrens clothing

32 replies

GingerSnapsBack · 04/02/2012 18:43

My dcs are average height and weight for their ages and yet I can't seem to find clothes for their age groups that actually fit. Dd cannot wear trousers without those elastic/button bits inside and skirts just fall off her. Ds is the same (though he doesn't wear skirts :o )
Dd still fits in 9-12 months in the waist but she is 3 and so obviously is too tall for that size.

Why are the sizes so disproportionate to the child? Or is it just my kids and iabu?

OP posts:

Psammead · 04/02/2012 18:46

What height and weight are they? If they are below average, it follows that they will need smaller clothes than the average child of their age.

LovesBeingWearingSkinnyJeans · 04/02/2012 18:47

I agree, dd seems tall compares to others her age yet has the same problem as you. If they fit in one place they font in another.

Original poster

GingerSnapsBack · 04/02/2012 18:49

Ds is 4 2.7st and 104cm
Dd is 3 2.4st and 100cm

OP posts:

meala · 04/02/2012 18:49

Same problem here. Non elasticated waists just fall off and I don't like the elastic waists much as they look kind of bunched up when they are on.

My children are not below average height or weight wise. Silly clothes manufacturers!

toddlerama · 04/02/2012 18:49

Totally agree. My girls aren't skinny at all but nothing stays up. They have to wear dresses because skirts literally fall off or are really really short. Trousers don't stay up at all. Constant crack on display.

larks35 · 04/02/2012 18:54

YANBU, 3yo DS still wears trousers for 18mo. It is quite random though, I find that supermarket clothes tend to be more over-sized and the posh hand-me-downs DS gets from my sis are sometimes too small (Petit Bateau and JoJo Mamon). If I'm buying clothes myself (very rare due to said hand-me-downs) I always get resizable waist and leg if possible.

Psammead · 04/02/2012 18:54

Gosh, so their heights are quite average!

I have noticed before that UK sizes come up big in children's clothing.

Original poster

GingerSnapsBack · 04/02/2012 19:00

Yes toddlerama! Crack indeed. It's even more annoying since the tops etc seem to fit ok. I haven't found a brand that fit well yet though u agree with larks that supermarket clothes are bigger. I don't understand. Do they think our children are fat or something?

OP posts:

Psammead · 04/02/2012 19:02

Maybe try a belt? It's very frustrating.

Original poster

GingerSnapsBack · 04/02/2012 19:09

See they have belts but don't wear them as they can't do it themselves and therefore can't use the toilet iyswim. I've given up trying to find dd trousers now it was impossible

OP posts:

Sirzy · 04/02/2012 19:10

DS is 2.2 and short and skinny. Just moved into 12-18 trousers but they fall down even when adjusted to the tighest fitting. Very frustrating!

trinitybleu · 04/02/2012 19:12

Everything is so wide! DD is 4.9, 116cm, barely 3 stone. Even with elasticated waists, age 7 jeans are massive on the thigh but only just long enough. Skirts stick out like tutu's due to the amount of excess material being gathered in. Tights come up to her armpits, but vests only just reach her knickers.

MrsAmaretto · 04/02/2012 19:13

YANBU, clothing should have elasticed waist and button things in them for longer. Though your post has made me realise my son is a giant - 2st 3, 92 cm, 18mnths. Though he is only just growing out of next 12-18mnth trousers.

PippiL · 04/02/2012 19:13

My nearly 5yo wears size 3 trousers that are now getting a bit short, but has the crack issue even when elastic is done tightest.

Nightmare.

squeakytoy · 04/02/2012 19:14

I would honestly say it is the shape of a normal childs body, and the reason why dungarees and pinafores are so popular with small children, as they dont need to be too fitted.

trinitybleu · 04/02/2012 19:15

And I should have said that puts her right in the middle of the healthy BMI, so not skinny really.

Oh oh oh, and tshirts! Just come to her waist but huge necks! Can see her nipples! Have had to resort to just tunic style in age 5 or 6 and pretend they are tshirts!

nenevomito · 04/02/2012 19:19

I have this problem with DD. If I can't adjust the band of the trousers in, they just fall off her GRR.

ElusiveCamel · 04/02/2012 19:24

It's not just your kids. DS is 95th centile height, 50th centile weight (and has been since he was born). Getting trousers that fit around the waist has always been a nightmare. I hate those elasticated/button adjusting trousers, but not much you can do.

EBDteacher · 04/02/2012 19:46

There's going to be no pleasing anyone on this is there though? Apparently there is no standardised sizing in the children's clothing industry so each company just does their own guess work research or best fit from available data.

DS is 17mo, 91cm and 2st6lb, off the chart thingy by the same amount for both measures. He's in 2-3 clothes in most brands but we find that Boden 2-3 trousers are too long and too narrow whereas John Lewis 2-3 is pretty much right on both counts.

IME you just have to find a brand that matches your child's dimensions and stick with it.

ElusiveCamel · 04/02/2012 19:56

IME you just have to find a brand that matches your child's dimensions and stick with it.
Well, yes, unless none do Actually, some brands/styles are better and that's what we tend to do.

bebejones · 04/02/2012 20:07

This really bugs me too! DD is 3.6 & wears mostly 2-3 and some 18-24 clothes. They are just starting to get too short (probably down to being washed over and over for 18months!!) but I can't put her in anything bigger as the waists will be enormous on her even with the button/elastic combo! The proportions of most clothes seem to be way out. I often find that for DD tops are way too long in the sleeves but only just long enough in the body! I think she is quite short/small for her age (2nd centile for weight & height) so maybe this is just me.

I've always found supermarket clothes to be on the small side John Lewis always come up far too big (DD has some 12-18month JL stuff that still fits ok!) Buying unirom for her in September is going to be a nightmare!

workshy · 04/02/2012 20:12

I had this problem with DD (now 10)

GAP jeans were fantastic -I love the GAP sales and the outlet shops as wouldn't normally pay their prices for childrens clothes

tesco is good for tall and narrow but ASDA is made for square children

JugsMcGee · 04/02/2012 20:15

DS is 11mo and in 12-18m clothing for the length, but it hangs off his waist. He is 91st centile for weight and 98th for height, so in proportion - I would've assumed the trousers would fit his waist too. I just stick him in joggers a lot of the time and tighten the cord.

survivingwinter · 04/02/2012 20:24

you are right about ASDA clothes workshy, terrible fit on my kids!

We also rely on the adjustable waists but they seem horribly uncomfortable when on the tightest setting - DS is always moaning that they are all bunched up and the buttons press on his skin.

You would think in this day and age they could find a better solution surely!!

Poogles · 04/02/2012 20:39

I'm glad others have this problem! Was starting to think DS was abnormal when they brought out the + size ranges for kids. I shudder to think how unhealthy those kids must be!

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