Baby clothing size help

[Aliceinwonderland5]

I have twins who were born prem (3lb), on the 0.4th centile. They're now 12lbs at 4.5 months (11 weeks corrected) old and I'm just looking for some help with clothes sizes as I keep over buying or under buying each size and want to get it right!

They were in just nappies until about 4 weeks old and were then in 'up to 5lb' and tiny baby, then newborn, then they finally fit into 0-3 at 4 months old but have only lasted 3 weeks in it and are now just in 3-6.

I overbought in 0 to 3 as assumed it would last longer!
Theyre still only on 2nd centile for weight and are quite short babies.

In your experience, do they stay in 3 to 6 for longer than they did 0 to 3? I only have a few bits in it so far and don't know whether to buy some more or if they'll be out of them in a few weeks, but they're small for their age and somehow already in 3 to 6. Bit confused!!

Bit of an unknown tbh OP! You'll definitely get longer from separates if longevity is particularly important, as opposed to sleepsuits.... But sleepsuits are so easy when they're wee (and also now that I'm in the toddler years, good lord sleepsuits are cute).

It varies with growth spurts. My eldest stayed in each size for approx 3 months but then only fit in 9-12 for about a week, she had such a sudden growth spurt almost overnight that we could have easily skipped it and gone straight to 12-18!

There’s also a lot of difference between brands. If you lay some brands over the top of others there’s huge variation. So they may stay in 3-6 John Lewis for a lot longer than 3-6 primark for example.

Personally once mine are in 3-6 I prefer to do more separates as they last longer and are more versatile. H&M and Lindex and a few other scandi brands do “grow with me” style leggings and vests with roll down cuffs etc and these honestly last for months and months so work out to be good value.

Different brands fit differently... in which way have they outgrown the 0-3 month stuff?
I found tops/leggings fitted a lot longer than sleepsuits as well.

Few examples
https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1091364002.html?hier_id=go_cmp-12828082241_adg-145927562586_ad-649115012874_aud-1490389547941:pla-1395526038453_dev-m_ext-_prd-en-1091364002004_sig-Cj0KCQjwn_OlBhDhARIsAG2y6zOp-9d99TS-b10zzIrCJDAYWstQAgd9CJrJ0UWGoOGVB_w2OPomrvYaAuRBEALw_wcB&utm_source=Google&gbraid=0AAAAADvrmzTkrtQ6f1LYlUdYNCJFdMbdc&gclid=Cj0KCQjwn_OlBhDhARIsAG2y6zOp-9d99TS-b10zzIrCJDAYWstQAgd9CJrJ0UWGoOGVB_w2OPomrvYaAuRBEALw_wcB

https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1049061002.html?hier_id=go_cmp-12828082241_adg-145927562586_ad-649115012874_aud-1213854083981:pla-1395526038453_dev-m_ext-_prd-en-1049061002032_sig-Cj0KCQjwn_OlBhDhARIsAG2y6zMKaWUzxv8HpAw64i7tUxvsfli0YVg7Uu-pi-N8v48XeHndnNdZaQAaAropEALw_wcB&utm_source=Google&gbraid=0AAAAADvrmzTkrtQ6f1LYlUdYNCJFdMbdc&gclid=Cj0KCQjwn_OlBhDhARIsAG2y6zMKaWUzxv8HpAw64i7tUxvsfli0YVg7Uu-pi-N8v48XeHndnNdZaQAaAropEALw_wcB

I also find it varies a lot by brand. My DD is long so outgrew stuff by length before outgrowing it by width but we were in each size around 3 months. I did love sleepsuits until she was around 8 months but might have switched to separates earlier if it wasn’t winter. Some brands also shrink a lot so you think they are outgrowing it but it’s actually just shrunk after a few washes.

They seem to grow out of the sleepsuits last, but leggings very quickly get right! I think they have chubby little tummies.

So length is okay but they're filling out dungarees and leggings, tops seem to be okay but most that we have are an oversized style.

I dont actually put them in sleepsuits that often, they sleep in long sleeve vests and a sleep bag and in the day they mostly wear little outfits. Maybe I'm missing a trick there!

Honestly it’s a mystery, I found it wasn’t until about 9 months that we started to get more time out of clothes but every child’s different. This picture sums it up well!

By the time they start moving sleepsuits are a nightmare, same with dresses, they get all caught up in the knees. Personally I now dress babies almost exclusively in sleepsuits until about 3-4 months and from then on its vest and leggings. If it’s cold, add cardis/jumpers etc. if it’s warm, sleeveless vest and little shorts if needed. Plus H&M grippy socks as they’re the only buggers that actually stay on. Mine wear a variation of this outfit until they’re nearly 2 and walking confidently, I can’t be doing with arsing around with fiddly outfits but maybe that’s just me!

All a bit of a crap shoot. My daughter outgrew the feet on sleep suits before anything else!