Are girls clothes on the small side this year or is my DD getting fat???

[AnyDream]

I took DD shopping this afternoon, a bit overdue, she's been squeezing herself into her size 11 and 12 shorts from last year, so I assumed I would be shopping for a size 14.

WRONG. Most of the 14s were too snug and one of the size 16s (at Target) was even too small. Ok so maybe she's starting to get hips but c'mon. That's crazy. She looks mostly fairly lean all over but she's getting a little tummy...is this normal at this age or is she eating too much and not exercising enough? (she's 12 and starting to get booblets too).

[Tinks]

My 12 yo dd is starting to get a tummy too, I thought it was because they always put on a bit of weight before a growth spurt . She's quite small compared to her friends and is wearing size 11-12 clothes.

[AliBaby]

Well I bought my DD a singlet top from Target the other week that was a size 5!!!!!! She is only 23months!! Yeah its loose but not that big and anyone who has seen pictures of my DD knows that she is no bigger or smaller than average!! Crazy!

I hope she doesnt get a complex. What is a size 16 girls equivelant to in ladies?

[Nicambhar]

DD is only 2.5 and I've been buying 4's but mostly 5's. Seems like shorts are very slim and low waisted these days which just aren't comfy for her to play in.

[mrsmac]

DD2 is slim and 11 yrs old last December and she needs a 12 at target so I think they are quite small sizes.

[Mother Goose]

def small sizes! DD was wearing a size 6 skirt at the age of 3! Yet she also has a size 5 pair of jeans that are too big! No consistency!

[RhiChiChi]

def small sizes! DD was wearing a size 6 skirt at the age of 3! Yet she also has a size 5 pair of jeans that are too big! No consistency!

Yep, definately agree - sizes are all over the place in Target & elsewhere.

[Tuesday's Child]

I was wearing size 14 at that age. I remember 'cause it was about size 8 ladies so I could wear "adult" clothes (not that there's much difference between girls and ladies these days). So I'm guessing size 16 would be about size 10?

[Cupcake]

I find Targets baby stuff is definitely smaller then others, DD is in 00 and 0 tops from Target but 000 in other brands still so quite possibly the kids stuff is smaller as well

[Gigi]

My very short, underweight for her age, 4yo needs size 6 Big W tops, and is target size 1 and target size 2 shorts.

i find sizing so up and down, even within stores. i take most things back to exchange for different size (it's a nightmare getting bilby to try stuff on in a shop changeroom).

Alot of young girl's clothing is so skimpy, like they assume all young girls are built like poles. i think most kids would look a bit lumpy in the "daisy dukes tiny shorts". (that is what is on offer for my 4yo too, which is why i buy her long denim shorts in the little boys section, so she can go down slides without burning her legs).

[The[cookie]Doctor]

It's a ploy to make more money earlier.

Once they have to wear adult clothes business make more money.

I remember having to buy adult Esprit when I got boobies and my mum still buying kids 14's.
My clothes were twice the price as hers.

Clothing sizes are a joke, there is nothing uniform about them.

[AnyDream]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I think maybe we just need to shop a bit further afield before I draw any conclusions!

[Gigi]

i would n't be surprised if your DD isn't a different size, in every shop you try.

[BeautifulMadness]

my DS is 4 years old and he is in a size 10....yes a 10.....


my neice is 12 years old and she is a size 14

[Ambah]

My neice is 10yo, tall, lean with hips and a little tummy, and she's already a 12-14 at Target...

[Nai]

Kids clothes are all over the place size wise - DD1 who is almost 5 can fit into anything from a 2 to a 6! Even in the same brand - the other day she was wearing size 2 Target leggings and a size 5 Target dress

[Cranky Kitten]

Ugh, don't get me started on clothing sizes! DD is 8, almost 9 now and a proper little beanpole. She's also quite tall which means she needs a larger size to accomodate her height but needs belts to hold them up because otherwise they fall straight down. She's settling around a 10-12 in most things these days.

But there really is very little consistency in any of the sizes in shops, it can vary so much even with the same brands that the only way to get stuff fitting correctly is to try things on before buying them. Or take them back when they don't fit. Shoes are just as bad with a selection of anything from size 12 to 3 in our cupboards for the same child.

Would be nice if they introduced uniform sizing standards.

[Gigi]

Would be nice if they introduced uniform sizing standards.

exactly.. LIke men's trousers that are a size 34, because they measure 34 inches around the waist. so there is no subjectivity, you either have a 34 inch waist or you don't!

i would love women's clothing to be like that. and kid's clothing too.