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Original poster

For DS to wear shorts in smaller size?

38 replies

Dinoswearunderpants · 28/10/2022 09:55

Sorry I wasn't sure where to post this and I knew you lovely lot would know the answer.

My DH is 18 months and still wearing 12-18 months clothes. I've heard shorts can be worn if a smaller size as it's more the length and the waist.

I just wondered if you've had experience of your LO wearing shorts in a smaller size than they usually wear.

I'm having a clear out and wasn't sure whether to keep some shorts for early spring/summer next year or not.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dinoswearunderpants · 28/10/2022 09:56

Sorry so many typos :-(

OP posts:
Schnooze · 28/10/2022 09:57

My ds wore shorts for about 4 years in a row once. Keep them.

LemonsAndCherries · 28/10/2022 09:58

If they fit, they wear them. Sizes are just a guide. Clothes sizes vary between different shops anyway.

My son was on the 2nd centile for height for years so was wearing size 3-4 when he was 5, not a problem. (He's now on the 20th centile at 9!)

CarrotSoupPlease · 28/10/2022 09:59

Yep keep the shorts. I don’t actually get rid of stuff until it’s actually too small, some things last a surprisingly long time out of the correct size range.

LunaLoveLemon · 28/10/2022 09:59

DS wore 9-12 month shorts until he was about 3 I think. He’s of average height but he’s very skinny. He’s 4 and I’ve packed all of his 3-4 shorts, which mostly fell down this year, for next year.

viques · 28/10/2022 10:00

Shorts don’t take up much room so I would keep a couple of the more stretchy ones and see what the fit is like next spring. If they are too small then it would be a better time to send them to a charity shop, or sell them on than autumn coming into winter as people will be buying spring/ summer clothes which they won’t be now.

MolliciousIntent · 28/10/2022 10:00

... I think you're massively overthinking this. If they fit, keep them. If they don't, hand them on. Then, when it's shorts season next year, let him try them on again and if they still fit put them on!

Onandgrowing · 28/10/2022 10:01

I doubt a 2.5 year old will be wearing age 12-18 month shorts tbh as the size difference in those is pretty significant.

However my ds wears shorts for years. To start with they’re long shorts then 2 or 3 years later they’re just very short 😂 He’s 8 now & was definitely wearing some age 6 this summer - and they’ll still do next year too. He’s slim so the waist isn’t an issue.

MolliciousIntent · 28/10/2022 10:03

Onandgrowing · 28/10/2022 10:01

I doubt a 2.5 year old will be wearing age 12-18 month shorts tbh as the size difference in those is pretty significant.

However my ds wears shorts for years. To start with they’re long shorts then 2 or 3 years later they’re just very short 😂 He’s 8 now & was definitely wearing some age 6 this summer - and they’ll still do next year too. He’s slim so the waist isn’t an issue.

Depends on the kid, and the clothes. My DD is 3 and the vast majority of her clothes are 12-18m.

Original poster
Dinoswearunderpants · 28/10/2022 10:04

See I knew you'd all know!! Thank you so much. I was going to give them all away but I'll definitely keep them.

I need to get some vacuum bags as he does have a lot of clothes.

We're going away next month and I'd like to leave some of his clothes there for donation so I'll take all the rompers and save the shorts for next year.

Thank you so much.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dinoswearunderpants · 28/10/2022 10:05

viques · 28/10/2022 10:00

Shorts don’t take up much room so I would keep a couple of the more stretchy ones and see what the fit is like next spring. If they are too small then it would be a better time to send them to a charity shop, or sell them on than autumn coming into winter as people will be buying spring/ summer clothes which they won’t be now.

Excellent point, thank you.

OP posts:
Realityloom · 28/10/2022 10:07

You surely must know if your child's clothes still fit or not. DS wears 11-12 years in jeans despite him being nearly 8!

NiteGarden · 28/10/2022 10:09

My 6 foot son is 16.5 and still occasionally wears a £3 Primark t shirt (age 9-11) that we bought when he was 8, so he's had it for half his life.

gogohmm · 28/10/2022 10:13

My dd was wearing aged 5-6 shorts as a teenager - it's a reflection of just how big the waists are on kids clothes! Wear the size that fits them, hard with trousers (I ended up learning how to take them in because I couldn't buy trousers the right length and waist for either of my girls, they assume all kids are fat these days) but shorts and skirts are easier. Afterall adult clothes come in different widths, not sure why they think it's one size fits all for kids

BogRollBOGOF · 28/10/2022 10:15

Children tend to stretch more than filling out so my trouser refusing DS has rarely ever filled shorts out before they reached the hotpants stage and were retired for decency, or just fell apart. If they were cut quite long in the first place he can wear them about 4-5 years younger than his average age whereas his t-shirts vary from buying at his current age to a couple of years younger when they go too short.

Shorts are much more versatile for sizing than trousers.

I tended to find overlap on sizing by brand/ garment anyway and had to judge garments case by case.

BogRollBOGOF · 28/10/2022 10:23

The other thing with shorts is that they're a bugger to buy in shops most of the year so not the easiest to replace if you have a child that favours wearing them over trousers. Or even replace later in the summer when the shops have rushed the AW range in.

HappyAsASandboy · 28/10/2022 10:23

Why not keep them and see if they still fit next spring? If not, get new ones and sell/pass on the small ones, and if they still fit then great!

This is what I do with all the kids clothes. I don't pass them on until they're in season and don't fit!

17caterpillars1mouse · 28/10/2022 10:36

My tall 6 year old wore 3-4 shorts this year. I bought them for her sister but they fell off her.

TheTeenageYears · 28/10/2022 10:39

I wouldn't get rid of anything that still fits regardless of season - wait until they need that type of clothing again and see if they've grown out of it or not. Sizes vary wildly between brands and the age on the label doesn't matter at all if it still fits. My daughter was wearing stretchy jersey dresses with leggings about 4 years after the age in the label of the dress.

Iamclearlyamug · 28/10/2022 10:41

Agree with previous posters, if they fit why wouldn't you use them? My DD is 11 in December, all her school skirts are age 8 because she's so slim, some of her cycle shorts she wears under the skirt are age 6!

I struggle so badly with trousers/jeans/leggings for her, as anything long enough falls down, and anything fitting her waist is 4 inches too short 🙈🤣

Apileofballyhoo · 28/10/2022 10:44

My DS also wore the same shorts for years. Works with cuffed joggers too to an extent.

Quisto · 28/10/2022 11:01

Also, shorts to fit that age will have a nappy factored in. Once they're out of nappies they're smaller. DS1 wore a t shirt and shorts set from ASDA size 12-18, every year until he was 4. They just got shorter, but still fitted him around the middle.

Knittingnanny2 · 28/10/2022 11:03

And when they come out of nappies, the smaller shorts fit again

Knittingnanny2 · 28/10/2022 11:04

Great minds think alike there Quisto!

notmyrealmoniker · 28/10/2022 11:06

DS was in 5 yo shorts when he was 8. Its his stupid stick insect legs that keeps growing