Children's Clothing Buying Guide

While kids come into this world in nice birthday suits that last a lifetime, they need to be covered and protected. In fact, not having the proper newborn clothing could jeopardize a baby's health. So let's start with baby clothes and go from there.

Newborn clothes and infant clothes

If you're pregnant, you'll want to make sure you have enough baby clothes before the little guy or gal arrives. Don't get too much before the birth, however, in case you're surprised. You don't want to regret having bought all those baby girl clothes when you hear, "It's a boy!" You might want to get some newborn clothing that isn't too gender-specific, just in case.

You won't know the size of the baby until you've given birth, so buy newborn clothes on the big side to avoid getting stuck with drawers of baby clothing that is too small. They'll grow into big baby clothes, but if the clothes are too small, you'll probably never use them. Keep the tags attached until you put an outfit on the baby, so you can return the newborn clothes if need be.

Furthermore, consider the time of year your baby will be born. Summer newborn clothing should be loose-fitting and breathable, to keep your baby from getting rashes. If you're expecting in the winter, make sure you have plenty of soft warm hats, mittens and booties. The smartest route is to buy baby clothing sets. You'll get matching hats, onesies (baby bodysuits), shirts and pants (or skirts) together.

Sizing

Newborn clothing sizes are based on months, usually noted with an M after a number. The system is based on the sizes of average babies at certain ages, but keep in mind that some babies will be bigger or smaller than average. For that reason, it's good to know the body sizes baby clothes are made to fit. The approximate measurements are as follows for newborn clothes:

• 0-3M (S): 19-23 inches long, 4-11 pounds
• 3-6M (M): 24-26 inches, 12-15 pounds
• 6-9M (L): 27-28 inches, 16-18 pounds

Infant clothes follow the same sizing pattern:

• 12M (S): 29-30 inches, 19-20 pounds
• 18M (M): 31-32 inches, 21-23 pounds
• 24M (L): 33-35 inches, 24-28 pounds

Toddler clothes

As your baby grows from infant to toddler, you'll want durable toddler clothes that will last through all the crawling, falling and bawling. Get something that is easy to clean and maintain, so you're not spending all your time in the washroom. You can't go wrong with cotton toddler clothes; they are soft yet long-lasting. With regards to cleaning, you're probably better off buying inexpensive toddler clothing; your little hurricane will just make a mess of it, no matter how hard you try to prevent it.

Toddler clothing sizes are based on children's ages, in years. You can tell it's a toddler size by the T after the number. Here are the approximate measurements for toddler clothes:

Sizing

• 2T (S): 33-35.5 inches tall, 24-28 pounds
• 3T (M): 36-38.5 inches, 28.5-32 pounds
• 4T (L): 39-41 inches, 33-36 pounds

Children's clothing

Your little boys and girls have their own personalities and tastes. Even when it comes to fashion, they know what they want. So before you go shopping online for kids' clothes, talk with your children about what they would like. Just remember that, in the end, you're the one with the bank account who makes the final decision.

A few basic tee-shirts make a good start. Your children can wear them alone in summer or as undershirts in winter. Tee-shirts are also the easiest children's clothing to wash and dry. No special care is needed -- a major plus in kids' clothing. When purchasing both girls' clothing and boys' clothing, you'll probably want two or three pairs of jeans. Jeans are perfect for school and play, and the grass stains will wash right out.

The "buy big" rule applies here, too. If you buy your children's clothes just a little big, they'll quickly grow into them (and out of them), which saves you money in the long run.

Sizing

Both boys' clothes and girls' clothes follow the same sizing parameters from ages 4 to 6; then they split, as the sizes no longer coordinate with age.

• 4 (S): 42-44 inches tall, 37-41 pounds
• 5 (M): 45-47 inches, 42-46 pounds
• 6 (L): 48-49 inches, 47-53 pounds
• 6x/7 (XL): 50-51 inches, 54-58 pounds

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