Baby Clothes--24 M vs. 2T

[Kat]

Hi All,

So I am putting together some summer clothes for DD, who will be wearing 18-24 months size (she'll be two in August). My question is this: what is the difference between 24 mos. and 2T sizes? Are they the same? I was thinking if I got the 2T size, she could wear them longer (this summer through next summer). However, she is on the smaller side, and I don't want to put her in clothes that are so big they are uncomfortable and falling off her.

For you "veteran" parents out there--what did you do?

[Rosemary]

I think that 2T might not have as much space for diapers, or maybe that is the difference between 3 and 3T (3 no diaper space, 3T does have it). I used to buy DD's clothes a season ahead when everything went on clearance and keep them in a bin in her closet until I needed to go "shopping," at which point I'd get the next size out of the bin. (Don't do this quite as much anymore because she's getting pickier about her clothes, to be expected at her age.)

[Stella]

Yes, the difference is the diaper space. I didn't notice a huge difference, though. Both boys are in a mix of 24m, 2T and 3T clothes right now.

[Kat]

Thanks, ladies! I wonder if DD's small size + her diaper would translate into 2T being okay. Her little body plus the diaper might equal the size of a regular 2T kid! Maybe I'll get a couple of things in 2T and then see how they fit her. If they are too big, I can set them aside for next year. I just think it is silly to spend money on clothes for her to wear for just a few months when I could be finding things that will fit her a little longer.

[lmerullo]

I think 24 mos and 2T assume the child is the same weight but the 2t child is slightly taller and leaner.

[mtnlaurel]

I kind of think of 2Ts for a leaner/taller kid too.

I cheated and Googled, here's what about.com said:


24 Months tend to leave more room for a diaper.
24 Months tends to be a bit shorter in length, both in tops and bottoms.
2T clothing typically does not have snaps between the legs for easy diaper access.

Ultimately, every line is different and designers make a "baby" line and a "toddler" line; it just so happens that the baby sizes go up to 24 months and the toddler line starts at 2T. So, you may find that in some brands your baby is a 2T and in others, she's still in the (slightly) smaller baby size.


Here are a bunch of good answers too....
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060728170440AAl4OsO


As you get on the verge of starting to think about potty training... think of the ease the little one can pull up and down pants on their own.
I have a handful of things that didn't meet that criteria that my daughter didn't get much use out of (a super cute pair of overall shorts with dragonflies on them, some pants with button & zipper)

[Mrs-M]

Such a bad choice I am... being asked such a thing. I found with baby clothing, particularly when selecting items with different brand names, sizing always seemed to vary, so I seldom placed much emphasis on tagged sizes.

Instead... I always did the old, hold item up in the air in front of me to judge/guesstimate, ans/or hold item up to/against said kid to check for length, etc. I was always able to outfit my kids with a lot more things, testing items this way.

I wanted to outfit the boys with a few diaper-shirts, the little snap-crotch thingies, like this (http://www.perfectlypreemie.com/catalog/images/IBB-Blue-Bodysuit.jpg)... but none I found were properly/adequately sized to accommodate traditional cloth diapered bottoms. Manufacturers have moved away from doming crotches like they used to... Disposables, are to thank for that.

One tip I'd like to pass along... buy a pack of diaper pins, Kat, and when you want to dress your DD in bottoms, buy the bottoms a size (or two) larger, then pin-tuck them at the waist using a diaper pin. Diaper pins are a blessing for that!

P.S. Don't settle for anything other than Dritz! (http://change-diapers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/diaper-pins-5-dritz-unlocked_thumb.jpg) Dritz pins have a sliding plastic safety-cap on them, so once you latch the pin, you slide the plastic safety-cap down over the metal-cap, which locks the pin. No accidental opening... prevents busy little hands from tampering with. And, Dritz pins are sharp! Used them to diaper my last two... wish I would have had them for my first four!

[Kat]

Thanks, guys! :-)

mtnlaurel--great tip about potty training! Some of the things we have been given for DD in the 24 mo/2 T size, I know we won't be using much. Pants with belts and zipper, overalls, etc. Super cute, but hard to get on and off (even for me). We only have one bathroom in our house, and it's upstairs. We don't need the added frustration of messing with a zillion buckles, snaps, and zippers.

Mrs. M--When DD was wearing cloth diapers, I noticed, too, that her clothes didn't seem to fit! None of her pants or even her onesies accommodated her padded little bottom! Thanks for the tip regarding the diaper pins. That is a great idea, and if the brand you suggested will stay closed, I am up for giving them a try. Just don't want them to pop open and poke DD! I will need to figure something out for the length of her pants, too. Most of her pants fit okay in the waist but are too long. She is pretty active, so they don't stay folded. Maybe I can tack them with thread somehow and then let them down as she grows.

[Mrs-M]

Kat. How I miss the old days of domed pants/crotches! In all the years I used cloth diapers, not once did a pin ever pop open. Even on the occasion when I changed someone without rubber pants... leaving pins exposed/in plain view/sight of curious minds/hands to be tampered/fiddled with (and my kids did), not one of them ever managed to outsmart a pin on their diapers!

As far as keeping the length of pant-cuffs at bay... you could (option one), iron the cuffs under, or (option two), safety pin the cuffs from the inside until ready to let-out. Re: ironing cuffs, permanent ironing press-lines may develop over time, whereas with pinning, no lines will happen. Additionally, with machine stitching, colouration issues will result. I hate that, so never did it.

P.S. Re: using diaper pins as ordinary fasteners... you could pin-tuck your daughters pants at the back instead of the front, just to put your mind at ease. Such a frugal/simple way to refit/re-size baby/toddler wear.