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There really is no standard in the way that children grow, other than that they will all get taller and gain weight over time. How much a child grows, in what ways, and at what pace are specific to the child.

If you are concerned about growth spurts affecting how long your child can wear an item – and the impact on your budget, look for the following clothing styles and design features when you shop. Each of these will give your child room to grow and extend the life of the clothing they wear.

Kids Clothing Styles with Room to Grow

• Separates let you buy items that fit your child’s top and bottom the way you need them to – this is particularly helpful if your child wears two different sizes – and which can be swapped out for new sizes as they are outgrown. More and more brands are offering color and style-matched collections that let you easily and quickly mix and match pieces as you need them.
• Non-fitted clothing items that are designed to be loose are a great bet when you’re uncertain about waistlines. Look for items like tunics, smock dresses, overalls, body suits, and other items that do not have defined waistlines.
• Clothing sizes that are appropriate for your child’s body type offer the greatest flexibility as your child grows. Toddlers who retain their roundness can wear T-sized clothing well, while those that slim down early may fit better in child/kid-size clothing. Slim and plus/husky kids clothing options may also be helpful if your child’s waist line is smaller or larger than what “regular” sized clothing is designed for.

Features of Kids Clothing that Allow for Growth

Sometimes it’s not the type of clothing you buy, but the design features that are most helpful in extending the life of your child’s clothes. Whether you are shopping or sewing clothing for your child, here are some things to look for:

• Sleeves: raglan, kimono, and sleeveless-style tops accommodate longer arms.
• Fabric: knits and stretchy fabrics offer more flexibility as your child grows.
• Waist-bands: expandable waist bands or back-waist elastic gives more wiggle room in skirts and pants.
• Shoulder straps: straps with adjustable buckles or buttons allow you to increase the length of jumpers and overalls by up to 3 lengths.
• Adjustable hems: cuffs can be turned down, wide hems can be let down, and zipper leg-bottoms can be removed as your child gets taller.

Other Tips for Clothing that Will Last as your Child Grows

• Look for high-quality fabric that is less likely to shrink, fade, rip, or wear out before your child outgrows their clothing.
• Shop from brands and retailers that have quality or kid-tough guarantees.
• Be cautious when buying seasonal items long before your child can wear them – depending on how your child grows, they may be too small or too large when needed.
• Consider making basic alterations to clothing that is in good shape, but needs to be extended. Letting out hems, cutting off sleeves, having your daughter wear leggings with a too-short dress…all ideas for getting the most of these clothes.

In the next post, I’ll talk more about making easy alterations to winter wear so it will last through the warm weather.