Struggling to find clothes for big baby. Pls help!

[SaskiaP]

I'd love to hear from parents or carers of big babies about how they dress their generously proportioned little one(s)!

I'm struggling to find appropriate clothes for our 8 month old son who is off the charts length/weight/head circumference wise. Up until this point we've just bought larger baby sizes but as he's now the size of a 2 year old I'm noticing it's very difficult to find onesies past size 2 and certainly no reusable swim nappies. I'm also noticing the clothes marketed for older kids are (understandably) designed for this age group, not for babies who happen to be big, so don't take into account big enough neck holes, enough space for thighs, or that they're not running around and still need soft and not embellished fabrics.

Our baby has just started commando crawling but certainly isn't moving around enough yet to shift any of his lovely rolls so I anticipate finding clothes that are appropriate for his developmental ability will continue to be a problem for a while.

I think there may be a market opportunity to create clothes for the generously proportioned baby because I can't find what I need. I'd love to know from others in this situation if they think this is worthwhile or am I just not looking in the right places? I assume 3% of babies may have trouble with big enough clothes (based on the WHO 97 percentile chart) so I figure that's enough babies to warrant clothes that fit properly. What do you reckon?

Have you been to the gp? An 8 month old the size of a 2 year old sounds extreme. You say 2yo clothes don’t have big enough neck holes or room for thighs? Is your baby the size of a 2yo in which case 2yo clothes would fit or is he morbidly obese?

Try M&S for sleepsuits, poppered vests etc. Splash jammers for swimming.
You'll probably find it's a temporary problem as once he's more mobile his proportions will even out a bit and you won't have the same issues with neck and thigh holes any more.

Another vote to try M and S..they do dungarees, stretchy leggings, trousers baby grows etc. Beautiful clothing that is perfect for an 8 month old.
Also next do bodysuits, baby grows, clothes.
Very good for basic day to day stuff.
I have found next sizes to always be on the bigger side than other baby clothes shops.
Have you tried these places?

I'm also noticing the clothes marketed for older kids are (understandably) designed for this age group, not for babies who happen to be big, so don't take into account big enough neck holes,

Babies are smaller than 2 year olds though! Their heads don't shrink as they get older. What do you mean they don't have big enough neck holes?

I think if you genuinely can't fit a 2 year olds tip over your 8 month olds head you should visit your GP.

How big is he? Surely two year old clothing fits. Mine were all big ( many moons ago) but they always had clothes that fitted.

I do agree about the gp visit. My 9 month old is very large and still nowhere near what you are describing. Is your son breast or bottle fed?

I'd be concerned with an 8 month old the size of the average 2 year old - has the GP/HV raised concerns?

I've got a big DS (18mo), he's been between the 91st - 95th centile for weight and height for the past year - I find ASDA and Sainsbury's pretty good for bigger clothes, the likes of Mothercare, Next and gap come up small, m&s seems average. He's worn PJs in bed for ages, not sure why I bothered with onesies in the first place. He mostly just wear plain t-shirts that come in multi packs and soft joggers/t-shirts.

I don’t get the point re neck holes... heads don’t shrink as they get older?

Just looked at H and M as an example and their sleepsuits go up to age 3-4?

My children weren't skinny babies but I've never found any problems getting joggers etc to fit ? Jersey joggers usually have lots of room ?

An 8 month old th size of a 2 year old? Blimey! Definitely recommend a trip to the gp!

Scandinavian brands in larger sizes - soft/ stretchy onesies, tops, trousers/leggings in range of sizes

I also don’t understand this! My 2YO is pretty big (90ish percentile for height, about 80ish for weight) and is wearing aged 2-3 clothes, with some things like shorts in 18-24 months as otherwise they fall down. I can’t imagine an 8 month old being the same size. You can get reusable swim nappies for toddlers and the disposable little swimmers go up to a size 5-6. Lots of DD’s rompers and t-shirts have a button/popper at the neck and heads don’t shrink as babies grow so that makes zero sense. I’d also suggest a trip to the GP.

My 8.5mo dd is almost off the charts for height and weight. Hv said its fine so long as both lines are the same.

Avoid mothercare, their clothes at tiny! I find next are really big and quite nice. Dd isn't fat but is solid. She weighs 11.6kg so I'll be moving her forward facing in the car soon!!

Swim nappies- by reusable able ones. My son wore them up to age 3. His last one was from boots.

What do you mean re: embellishments? I have a big DS, he's 21 months and in 2-3 yr old clothes although his growth is definitely slowing down. I've mostly dressed him in leggings which you can always get in toddler sizes and are perfect for crawling babies surely? As for sleepsuits we've always used bonds suits which go up to age 3 but I think m&s do sleepsuits up to 2 from memory.

I'm not sure I agree that there's a gap in the market I've certainly never found that myself. Some shops do come up smaller than others though

I had two 'big' chubby babies, I could always find lots of lovely baby clothes to fit them. Mostly Next, m&s, Tu and Tesco. Might have to go a size or two up but never any of the issues you describe.

Now age 4 and 8 both my boys are very active and very slim, they were just chubby babies!

Try having it the other way round and not being able to source school uniform for your 4 year old and no plain black shoes available as still in baby sizes!

DD2 was 98th centile for weight and height as a baby but was only ever in a size ahead... 9-12 months at 8 months for example.

@Helenj1977 Its much MUCH safer to leave your daughter rear-facing for as long as possible. If you're looking at buying a next stage car seat I recommend checking out this Facebook group for advice first: www.facebook.com/groups/CSAUK/

What's the problem with the clothes size wise? Is it length or waist? I have a big DS, he's in 12-18 month vests/sleepsuits at 7 months but it's length that is his issue. I don't understand how you can't get a 2-3 year t-shirt over a baby's head

As for reusable swim nappies, Splash About have varying ones in sizes up to 6-7 years I think

Not sure about babies but definitely girls 9+ my 11 year old niece has been wearing womens sized clothing for a while and I just think it's crap that most things are age in appropriate for her really and think it would be so lovely for her to go and buy like a fun slogan hoody or nice party dress that isn't too much. There is definitely a gap in the market there. My 11 year old niece would not fit into age 16 clothes and there's not many shops that go upto age 16 anyway.

The OP is saying the 2 year old clothes arent 'baby friendly' for a 8 month old.

So for example, sculls, dragons, etc, when what she wants are nice soft baby clothes.

OP: Tesco have body suits 2-3 years

Huggies Little Swimmers also come in larger sizes, my DS wears size 5 or 6 nappies and had some on at the pool last week that fit fine.