Age labels on kids' clothes are a rough guide at best. A tall four-year-old and a petite six-year-old can wear the same size, and two brands' "5–6 years" can differ by an inch or more. Measuring takes five minutes and saves a lot of returns.
What you need
- A soft measuring tape (a tailor's tape, not a metal one)
- Your child in thin clothes or underwear, standing naturally
- A pen — write the numbers down with the date
The measurements that matter
| Measurement | How to take it | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Height | Stand against a wall, heels touching it, look straight ahead. Measure from the floor to the top of the head. | The first number on almost every kids' size chart |
| Chest | Around the fullest part of the chest, under the arms, tape flat but not tight. | Tops, dresses, jackets |
| Waist | Around the natural waist, where the body bends sideways. Don't pull in the tummy. | Trousers, skirts, shorts |
| Hips | Around the widest part of the hips and bottom. | Fitted trousers and skirts |
| Inseam | From the top of the inner thigh to the ankle bone. | Trouser length |
| Sleeve | From the shoulder tip to the wrist, arm slightly bent. | Long-sleeve tops, jackets |
Height and chest solve most decisions. Measure the rest only when you're buying something fitted.
Reading a size chart
- Start with height. Find the size whose height range includes your child.
- Check chest (for tops) or waist (for bottoms) in that size.
- If the two numbers point to different sizes, choose the larger one. Children grow into clothes; they never grow into clothes that are too small.
When to size up on purpose
- Growth spurts. Between roughly ages 2–3 and 6–8, many children jump a size within a season.
- Layering. A top that will go over another layer in air-conditioned rooms needs room to move.
- Festive outfits bought early. If you shop for Diwali or a wedding a month or two ahead, buy for the child you'll have on the day, not today.
Newborns and babies
For the first year, most charts use length and weight rather than chest and waist. Babies also outgrow "newborn" size quickly, so keep most of the first wardrobe in 0–3 months. Our newborn clothing checklist explains how to split the quantities.
Not sure? Try it on
The simplest size chart is the child. At the store you can hold two sizes against each other, check the length of sleeves and hems, and see how the fabric moves. If you can't come in, send us the measurements above on WhatsApp and we'll tell you which size to pick.
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- #fit
- #size-chart
Size help
Not sure which size to pick?
Send us your child's age, height and what you're looking for on WhatsApp and we'll help you choose the right fit.