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You’d think that clothing manufacturers were set on confusing parents by the way they make sizes that seem to overlap, but don’t quite fit in the same way. That is the case with sizes Baby 24mos and Toddler 2T. Close, but not quite the same.

Much of the difference has to do with how children develop. At this point in their growth, many babies are beginning to thin out and/or be potty trained, while others may still wear diapers and/or have baby chub. The two sizes are designed to meet these two separate situations.

In general, Toddler 2T is designed for a slightly slimmer child who may no longer be wearing diapers. Size 24 months (or 18-24 mo) are a bit wider to accommodate diapers comfortably and to fit well around baby’s middle.

There are three key differences between 24 months and 2T.

1. Length – With most brands, Toddler 2T clothing is designed to be longer than size 24 months. Using Carter’s as an example, size 24 months fits a baby who is between 32 1/2″ and 34″ in length. Their size 2T, on the other hand, fits a child who is 34 1/2″ to 36 1/2″ length. Weights for the two sizes are a bit different, but overlap significantly. What this means is that:

• Toddler-sized shirts and pants will run a bit longer than baby-sized clothes.
• Some moms view size 2T as a “slim” size.
• Size 24 month clothing will have shorter torso and leg lengths

2. Width – Often 24 mo sizes are wider in the waist, hip and leg circumference than 2T. This lets a baby wear the clothing comfortably while they are still in diapers.

3. Design elements – Baby-sized clothing has some design elements that allow it to be removed easily, fit comfortably around diapers, and enable easy diaper-changing. Onesies, snap-crotch pants, elastic waist-bands, lap shoulders…these are all baby clothing design elements.

If your baby still wears diapers or hasn’t lost their baby fat yet, size 24 months may be a better option than 2T.   Please note that while this is the case for many brands, some brands actually have sizes 24mo and 2T that use the same size chart measurements – always read the size charts to see which size is best for your child.