It’s no secret that babies grow up fast, so if there is a special occasion coming up that requires shopping for infant formal dresses, you want to make sure you are choosing the right size for your child.
Sizes for infant formal dresses can be determined by the age and weight of the child. However, babies will develop and grow at different rates and many brands have sizing that varies. American sizes will typically be based on age. Europe has sizes that are based on height. It may be better to take the child’s height and weight into consideration, instead of relying on age alone. You can use a cloth measuring tape to take measurements and then try using a size chart in order to know the corresponding size for the measurements. This is useful with so many different brands having different sizes.
How to Measure
Use a cloth measuring tape to take measurements, in order to find the right size. They should be taken over bare skin or only when wearing skin tight clothes for accurate numbers. For dresses, record the child’s waist, chest, and hip measurements. It may help to also have their height so you know how long the dress will be. You can use generic measurement charts for a starting reference point, but it helps to use the one for a specific retailer or brand if it’s available.
Traditional Sizes
Even if it has been established that sizes can change, there are some guidelines. Newborn clothing will be for babies that are up to seven pounds and up to 19 inches. Clothing marked 0-3 months is good for children up to 12 pounds and 23 inches. Clothing marked 3-6 months is good for children up to 16 pounds and 25 inches. Clothing marked 6-9 months is ideal for children up to 20 pounds and 27 inches. Clothing that is 6-12 months is for children up to 22 pounds and 29 inches. Once your child is 18 months, or is more than 27 pounds and 32 inches, there will be different clothing sizes.
Measuring for Shoes to Match the Dress
For shoes to match the dress, at the infant stage shoes are just more for show but still need to fit properly. Use a measuring tape to measure the width and height of your baby’s feet. When measuring, make sure the foot is fully extended when you are measuring from the longest toe to the heel. In order to measure width, measure the widest part then use a size chart to find the right one.
Since it can be hard to predict how big your children will be at the time of the special occasion, infant formal dresses should be bought as close as possible to the event or choose a larger size for more comfort.
