Posts Tagged ‘baby clothes’

Courtesy of Happy Panda Blog's Wordless Wednesday

So, what do you do if your baby is larger than average? According to Pamela Kramer, founder of Happy Panda, you will typically be on a quest to find the right clothing fit. This is especially the case when the ages on standard size charts do not match up with your baby’s age.

Trying to find the right fit for her little one (who was wearing a size 2T before his first birthday) led Kramer to develop a baby clothing design system that helps customers find a better fit for bigger babies when shopping by age. The Happy Panda baby clothing brand caters to plus size babies between 0 and 24 months of age. It’s also important to note, that Happy Panda clothing is made in the USA of environmentally safe fabrics, and there are no tags to irritate baby’s skin.

Kramer was kind enough to shed some light on how her sizes work, and on what parents of larger babies can do to find clothes that fit.

ST: What issues do parents of bigger babies typically face in terms of clothing a child?

PK: When a parent goes to the doctor they normally get the stats (weight and height) which help them when looking at the size charts. As a parent you know those stats and can typically shop without too much of an issue. In my experience, I always found myself buying the next size or two sizes up based on the average size charts that are printed on hang tags.

ST: How do your sizes differ from typical baby clothing sizes?

PK: Simply put, [Happy Panda sizes] are bigger sizes based on the weight and height of babies who fall into the higher percentile statistics. My system was based on my own children’s growth rate and they were my real life models. The larger sizes have been refined over time based the stages of a baby’s mobility.

ST: Do you have suggestions for parents transitioning out of your brand?

PK: They are going to buy the next size or two up. Our sizes end at 2T and then should transition right into the average size 4T depending on the growth rate of the child.

In larger chain stores, for example JCPenny, you will now see a new size “husky.” This isn’t for babies but you can see where the sizes are headed as children become preteens.

Each child is different, and eating habits and mobility need to be taken into account. If I were to choose which statistic weight or height to go with I would always go with the weight of the child.

ST: What is the most popular product you sell?

PK: The most popular product I sell are the diaper cakes that come equipped with clothing and other standard necessities (diapers, pacifiers, diaper rash cream, etc.). Perfect for gift giving a mom or dad to be. Most parents know their own child’s statistics. Our store also caters to those friends and family that know the age of the child and don’t have to worry about whether they got the size right. It’s less likely the item would be returned because it’s too small.

For more information on Happy Panda, visit their online store at happypandababy.com.

I ran across the question about the accuracy of baby clothes sizes on Yahoo! Answers a while back and have to say that sizing has to be one of the most frustrating things about finding baby clothes that fit. Not only can it make you wonder whether your baby is growing properly, but it can make it difficult to shop.

First of all, clothing manufacturers tend to use their own sizing systems so there is really no “standard” when it comes to what measurements the clothing is designed to fit. In other words, a size 3-6 months in one brand may not be the same as a 3-6 month size in another brand. Here’s an example of how different sizes can be:

baby clothing size chart examples

Secondly, the use of “age in months” as a size is misleading. Just because your baby is 4 months old does not mean that the 3-6 month size will fit him or her. To make sure a size will fit your baby, look at a brand’s baby clothing size chart (see examples above) to see what measurements the size is supposed to fit and make sure it will accommodate your child’s height and weight. More than likely, you will need to buy a size that is different than your baby’s age. That’s OK. The key is to make sure that an item will fit your baby comfortably, not to rely on the month-based sizing on the labels.

Finally, children today are healthier and frequently larger than they were decades ago when official size standards were first set. While most companies no longer use the standards, they may refer to them when creating their own sizing systems. Because of this, clothing sizes are sometimes designed for smaller measurements, with age-based sizing reflecting earlier times and not the growth trends of today.

Tips for buying baby clothes that fit

So don’t worry that the sizes don’t match up to your baby’s age. Just keep the following in mind when you are buying clothes for your baby:

1. Know your baby’s current length and weight before you shop.
2. Always check the brand-specific size chart for the measurements that a size is intended to fit (note: the size charts on online retailers’ website are often generic and do not give you details on individual brands – you may need to check product labels or visit brands’ websites for specifics).
3. Remember that measurements for a size may differ from brand to brand.
4. Don’t assume that something will fit because the size on the label matches your baby’s age.
5. If in doubt, hold the outfit up to your baby or try it on, if possible, to make sure that it fits your baby’s unique size and shape.
6. Talk with your doctor if you have any concerns about your baby’s growth pattern.

I ran across a question about baby clothing sizes on Yahoo! Answers the other day, and have to say that sizing has to be one of the most frustrating things about finding baby clothes that fit. Not only can it make you wonder whether your baby is growing properly, but it can make it difficult to shop.

First of all, clothing manufacturers tend to use their own sizing systems so there is really no “standard” when it comes to what measurements the clothing is designed to fit. In other words, a size 3-6 months in one brand may not be the same as a 3-6 month size in another brand.

Secondly, the use of “age in months” as a size is misleading. Just because your baby is 4 months old does not mean that the 3-6 month size will fit him or her. Children grow at different paces and in different ways, and it is not uncommon for them to wear a size that is different from the size that is “recommended” for their age. To make sure a size will fit your baby, look at the size chart to see what measurements the size is supposed to fit and make sure it will accommodate your child’s height and weight. More than likely, you will need to buy a size that is different than your baby’s age. That’s OK. The key is to make sure that an item will fit your baby comfortably, not to rely on the month-based sizing on the labels.

Finally, children today are healthier and frequently larger than they were decades ago when official size standards were first set. While most companies no longer use the standards, they may refer to them when creating their own sizing systems. Because of this, clothing sizes are sometimes designed for smaller measurements, with age-based sizing reflecting earlier times and not the growth trends of today.

So don’t worry that the sizes don’t match up to your baby’s age. Just keep the following in mind when you are buying clothes for your baby:

• Know your baby’s current length and weight before you shop.
• Always check the brand-specific size chart for the measurements that a size is intended to fit (note: the size charts on most online retailers’ websites are often generic and do not give you details on individual brands).
• Remember that measurements for a size may differ from brand to brand.
• Don’t assume that something will fit because the size on the label matches your baby’s age.
• If in doubt, hold the outfit up to your baby or try it on, if possible, to make sure that it fits your baby’s unique size and shape.
• Talk with your doctor if you have any concerns about your baby’s growth pattern.