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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think they make kids clothes far to big

146 replies

WhyDoesItAlways · 12/08/2019 15:41

I have a 3 year old DS and I struggle to get him trousers that actually fit him in both length and waist. Clothes for his age range fit perfectly in the length but literally fall off him at the waist. Smaller age clothes fit on the waist but are too short. I have some that you can tie up but he struggles to get them down to use the toilet which is not ideal when potty training.

I thought it was just that he's a skinny little boy but having spoken to some friends and many are having the same problem.

DS literally came home from nursery the other day wearing some of their spare clothes after messy play which I thought were long shorts but were actually 6-9 month trousers that whilst obviously not fitting as trousers for length were perfect round the waist.

Anybody got any recommendations for children's clothes that are slimmer in the waist?

OP posts:

BogglesGoggles · 13/08/2019 11:00

The waist is an issue. But shoulders are always too narrow in boys clothes. I have no idea who they use as models for the measurements.

Oldraver · 13/08/2019 11:01

DS has always been a small skinny boy and years behing with his clothing. He's 13 now and just catching up but we still have the perennila problem of waists being was too big.

We've just done the ...which summer clothes still fit and what do we need to buy new. I've yet to find a pair of shorts that fit in the length but aren't at least 2" to big on the waist

Northie · 13/08/2019 11:58

I'm the opposite. My 2yo is in clothes designed for a 4yo! If I put him in age 2-3 the pants leave red marks and I can't button the top of his shirt or else he can't breathe. I find baby clothes really tight fitting and they just look so uncomfortable and hard to move in.

Original poster

WhyDoesItAlways · 13/08/2019 13:13

I've just found a peacocks in the little town where I work and they have adjustable waist trousers at a reasonable price and even the joggers looked slimmer and taller than usual so I have bought a few and will be doing a catwalk show with DS later.

They have a sale on too so picked up a few pairs for £2!

Heading to the big city near us on my next day off to see what Zara has.

OP posts:

ToastyFingers · 13/08/2019 13:30

Kids are just different shapes I think.

My youngest is 3.5 and the waist of her 2-3 trousers are often too big but getting short in the arm and leg now.
My eldest is 6 and need a size (or two depending on brand) bigger than her age but we've never struggled with a disparity between relative length and width.

MigGril · 13/08/2019 13:37

DS aged 8 is still wearing age 4 shorts for this very reason. Also trousers that are not elesticate in the waist just fall off. Had/have the same issue with DD she's now 12 years old and a size 14 years but fits in an adult 6 as she is taller then me.

ambereeree · 13/08/2019 13:43

I have the same problem. My daughter is 3 but wears 6 years old for length. Even the leggings have to be taken in. Her leggings look like normal trousers!

timeforawine · 13/08/2019 13:49

I have this issue with my daughter, just turned 3, bought age 3-4 shorts from Primark and they fall straight back down, bought 2-3 and even those are a little big around her waist she's just under 25th centile weight.
Have a pair of Ralph Lauren trousers for her age 6-12m, still fit around the waist so are now cropped trousers :-D
I can never find any adjustable waist trousers/skirts for girls.

PantsyMcPantsface · 14/08/2019 12:18

OP mine have a fair few bits from Peacocks - not the greatest in terms of beautiful, tasteful designs - but since DD1's dress sense consists of unicorns = awesome; flip sequins = awesome; glitter = awesome and if it looks like something Tinkerbell vomited up = awesomer... my stylistic standards have dropped dramatically.

Userzzzzz · 14/08/2019 13:34

My (just) 3 year old is tricky because she’s quite broad across her shoulders and has a long torso and giant legs. Tops need to be a size up to avoid them showing her tummy but they then gape. I like dresses on her but her 3-4s are now getting too short (dresses that are supposed to be knee length but won’t cover her bum soon) but 4-5 will be too big around the waist. Leggings are quite forgiving but length wise she often has the ankle skimming look. Not looking forward to school uniform shopping next year.

CruCru · 14/08/2019 14:12

The problem with threads like these is that you always get a bunch of people saying that all these clothes are designed for fat children, which I don’t necessarily think is true. In the OP’s case, her child is 25th percentile for weight - we aren’t told how tall he is but chances are that he is a slight child. The age shown on the label is a guide only.

Userzzzzz · 14/08/2019 15:05

CruCru Yes having the centiles helps. It always used to bug me on reviews when people said x item was massive but didn’t mention their child was on the 6th centile. Mine has always been between the 75th and 91st for height so my reviews are equally irrelevant for the shorter kids. It makes a massive difference.

MarshaBradyo · 14/08/2019 15:40

I also thought it’d be interesting to know centiles for height and weight. Ds is near the top for height but more in the middle for weight.

EssentialHummus · 14/08/2019 15:55

Fwiw Boots sizing has weight ranges on it and that always seemed more sensible, even if there are still outliers (shorties with huge bellies or whatever).

Original poster

WhyDoesItAlways · 14/08/2019 15:59

I should have titled the thread better. I was just basing this thread on anecdotal evidence from other parents with the same issue with clothes making me think it was more widespread than I thought. I have found recommendations from others very helpful which was my main motivation for posting, not so much to raise discussion about whether UK children are getting wider. As other have said one size doesn't fit all. I have also read recently that average heights for both men and women has increased in the UK so maybe it's more a height issue than width.

I haven't measured DS but will later to see where he is. Obviously if he is 25th for weight but 91st for height then I would be very very unreasonable but I don't think he is, he certainly seems similar if not slightly shorter than friends kids of same age.

OP posts:

EdtheBear · 14/08/2019 16:10

Regardless of age, I've gone of height for DS for years hes small and slight but I don't even look in certain shops.

I can remember my mum complaining about Pjs or something being too short. Not listening that bigger would fall of him she bought more. Put them on him only for them to drop to the floor. "Oh I see what you mean"

He's had clothes that have never fitted, by the time they fit on the waist they are too short.

Original poster

WhyDoesItAlways · 14/08/2019 17:19

So I have just measured and he is 25the centile for weight and between 9th and 25th for height so almost in average proportion.

OP posts:

shinynewapple · 14/08/2019 17:22

I agree we used to have this problem. There are some makes do clothes in different fittings, they are something like standard, slim and can't remember what the more roomy fitting is called.

Rainbowsparkle · 14/08/2019 17:26

My daughter is almost 9. Very slim with long legs but tiny waist. She needs a 3-4 for waist but 8-9
For leg length. I find European brands tend to be slimmer fitting.

Whathappenedtothelego · 14/08/2019 17:33

Totally agree, I get most of my children's clothes second hand now as they tend to be cut narrower.
Agree with the Vertbaudet recommendations. They are excellent, and apparently their adjustable waist elastic is much more comfortable, as it is more integrated and hidden in the waistband, so you don't end up with 10cm of itchy, trailing elastic flapping round.

BrillyPribble · 14/08/2019 19:29

Top tip for the flappy elastic whathappened is to fold it back on itself and put the button through the first hole as well as whatever hole it's in. Keeps it neat.

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