Kids Clothing & Shoe Sizes

Popular kids picks on Amazon

Best-selling, true-to-size essentials in each category.

How to measure a kid (without a meltdown)

For clothing

1. Height: stand them against a wall, mark the top of their head, then measure. Take shoes off first.

2. Chest: wrap a soft tape around the fullest part of their chest, under the arms.

3. Waist: measure where they bend at the side (their natural waist, not where pants sit).

4. Trick: measure their existing best-fitting clothes flat — easier than wrangling a wiggling toddler.

For shoes

1. Place foot on a sheet of paper against a wall, heel touching the wall.

2. Mark the longest toe (often the second toe, not the big toe).

3. Measure heel-to-mark in cm. Use the larger foot.

4. Add 0.5–1cm of growth room — kids grow fast and tight shoes cause foot problems.

Why kids' sizes are so confusing

There are at least four systems competing:

Age-based (US, UK): "3T" means a typical 3-year-old. But kids grow at wildly different rates. A 3-year-old can be anywhere from 36 to 42 inches tall.

Height-based (EU): "98" means a 98 cm tall child. This is more reliable than age — but you need to measure.

Height-based (Japan): Similar to EU but rounded to 10cm increments (70, 80, 90, 100, 110...).

Mixed (some brands): H&M, Zara, and Carter's use a hybrid (age + height range) printed on every label. Always check both.

Rule of thumb: When in doubt, size up. Kids will grow into clothes within months. Buying too-small clothes is just throwing money away.

Frequently asked questions