After going through all the excruciating pain to successfully deliver your bundle of joy, your next big task is to ensure your newborn baby enjoys maximum comfort by choosing the right clothes for it. Figuring out the right clothing size for your newborn isn’t difficult because you simply dress them in the next size up when they outgrow their current size.
However, their clothing size might become tricky when they get to 24 months because a new clothing size known as 2T is often introduced at this age. The most common question that every parent asks is: Is 2T the same as 24 months?
What Does Baby Clothing Size Mean?
Baby clothing size is a common topic among parents who have just given birth. Baby clothing sizes can be rather confusing because babies tend to outgrow their clothes pretty fast. So, parents can get overwhelmed by the consistency with which they have to go back to the market to buy their babies new clothes.
Understanding how your baby is likely to outgrow their clothes and how the clothing sizes change will help you to predict when you’re likely to buy new clothes. That way, you can prepare yourself and your finances in advance so that nothing comes as a surprise.
Baby clothing sizes are usually determined by age and weight. But it’s important to understand that babies grow at varying rates and different clothing brands have slightly differing sizes. Generally, you should only purchase singlets and grow suits in size 0000’s.
Buy different types of baby clothes in size 0000’s to 1’s because the baby can wear them for a long time. As your baby starts to move around, its clothing size changes to accommodate its added mobility. As a parent, you need to factor in all these things when choosing clothes for your infant.
2T Meaning
When you go out to shop for your baby’s clothes, expect to find the 2T size indicated on some clothing labels. This might leave you confused about its actual meaning, especially if you’re a new mom. But don’t fret. Its meaning is pretty simple.
Size 2T means that the clothing is designed for a toddler. However, since toddlers are kids between ages 12 and 36 months, the size of clothes can’t be the same for every toddler. While size 2T is for toddlers, it’s supposed to be for two-year-old babies.
Therefore, when you see this size indicated on the label, just know that the piece of cloth is meant for a two-year-old. In short, “2” signifies the age of the baby while “T” signifies a toddler. But does this mean that all 2T clothes will suit 2-year-olds? The straight answer is no.
The main reason for this discrepancy is the fact that children grow at different rates. That’s why you’ll find two-year-olds with varying weights and heights. In that case, you have to understand your baby’s parameters to know if 2 T-size clothing will suit them.
The standard baby clothing size chart for items labeled 2T appears like this: 33.5 – 35” 85 – 89 cm in height. When you’re buying clothes for your 2-year-old baby, it’s advisable to take their actual body measurements. This will help you find the right 2T clothing for them.
24 Months Meaning
24 Months is a baby clothing size that’s normally indicated on the label. Essentially, this clothing size is meant for children between the ages of 18 and 24 months. At this age, the baby is beginning to walk and move around freely, so you need to buy them clothes that accommodate the added movements.
However, it’s important to understand that not all clothes labeled 24 months can fit every child within this age bracket. Since kids develop at different rates, it’s important to be certain about your baby’s height and weight before you buy them clothes labeled 24 months. You should take their measurements, including their weight before you place your order.
Is 2T the Same As 24 Months?
The short answer to this question is no. Although clothes labeled 2T and 24 months are designed for children that are around the same age, they’re not the same. This is one of the most confusing aspects of baby clothing sizes. Ideally, baby clothing sizes are based on periods.
Normally, the sizes include 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months, and 18-24 months. But sometimes size 24 appears as a single age range on baby clothes. In most cases, these sizes are designed to fit kids who are in the maximum age range.
Therefore, clothes marked 12-18 months are meant to fit kids that are older than 12 months and up to 18 months. In a case where size 24 appears as a single age, it means that the piece of cloth is supposed to fit kids that are up to 24 months. Size 2T, on the other hand, is meant to fit babies who are above 24 months.
Differences Between 2T and 24 Months
When you’re out shopping for your baby’s clothes, you’ll notice a few differences between the clothes labeled 2T and those indicated as 24 months. So, it’s important to already have your baby’s measurements when you are going for shopping to make your selection easy. Here are some of the ways in which 2T and 24 months clothes are different.
1. Sections
When you walk into a clothing store to buy clothes for your baby, you will notice that clothes marked 24 months are placed in the baby’s section of the store. This means that the clothes are meant for babies who aren’t older than 24 months. You’ll also notice that clothes labeled 2T are located in the children’s section. It’s important to understand this difference because babies and toddlers (children) are two different categories.
2. Diapers
The way clothes labeled 24 months are designed at the diaper is different from the way those labeled 2T are cut. The ones marked 24 months come with extra space around the diaper area to create room for diapers. Clothing designers assume that babies wearing these clothes are still not fully toilet trained, so their clothes must accommodate diapers to keep the young ones comfortable.
These clothes are also likely to come with snaps at the diaper and leg areas to make it easier for parents and caregivers to change diapers. Designers who cut clothes marked 2T assume that after 2 years, your child is fully toilet trained, so they don’t need to wear diapers. Therefore, their clothes don’t have a lot of extra space around the diaper area. Their silhouettes are slimmer around this area.
3. Styles
The style of clothes indicated 24 months is usually more baby-like than that of clothes labeled 2T. Clothes marked 2T are more childlike and look more like miniature adult garments than baby clothes.
4. Brands
As noted above, clothing brands don’t have universal measurements for baby and children’s clothing. Each brand has a slightly different measurement for each age bracket from other brands. Some brands even use similar height and weight dimensions for their 24 months and 2T clothes. Others use different height and weight sizes for each.
How Do I Know If My Baby Should Wear 24 Months or 2T?
The best way to be sure which size fits your baby is to take their height and weight measurements. With the correct measurements, you won’t have to guess the right size or force your baby to try on different clothes. You’ll simply measure the available clothes to know which ones will fit your little one perfectly.
Also, clothes labeled 24 months are usually shorter in length (tops and bottoms). They’re designed like this to allow your baby to move around and crawl easily without getting jumbled up in the garments. Clothes marked 2T, on the other hand, are a bit slimmer with longer sleeves. Their pant legs are also long.
2T clothes are designed this way to fit properly because your child can already walk upright and doesn’t wear diapers.
How to Measure Your Child for Size
You can know your child’s size in a few simple steps. Start by measuring their chest. With their arms down, slip a tape measure under their arms and across their chest and shoulder blades.
Hold the tape firmly and leveled to get the right measurements. For a girl, place the tape across the fullest part of her chest for accurate measurements. After measuring the chest, move to the waist. Make sure you take measurements of their natural waistline.
Measure the hips by slipping the tape around the fullest area of your child’s hips. Finally, measure the inseam. Place the tape along the inseam running from the crotch to the bottom of your child’s leg. These simple measurements should tell you the actual size of your child.
