Buying Children’s Clothing as a Gift

Whether you're shopping for trendy and hip childrens clothing or a practical gift like a new winter coat, getting the right size is very important. Knowing the right size is key to making sure that your gift will be well received.

The most obvious way to make sure you buy an outfit in the correct size is to ask mom or dad. When shopping for childrens clothing, it's always a good idea to ask the parents about sizes.  While this may be the best way to find out, you may not always get a straight answer. Many times size varies slightly, depending on the brand name You may very well get responses such as; “Usually she wears a 6 in pants, if they have an adjustable waistband, if not, she wears a 5, but it has to be a long 5.  With her tops, she can usually fit into a 6 or 6X, sometimes a 7, but she does have a few that are size 8 and they seem to fit good.”

While you may not always get an easy, straightforward answer, at least you now have an idea about the sizes to consider. You could go a step further and ask for measurements.  Waist, arm length, leg length and the width of shoulders are good measurements to ask for.  There is no need to have measurements for chest and hips, as they're not usually needed for childrens clothing.

You could ask the experts, the salespeople. While a store salesperson is not going to know what size would absolutely fit the child you are buying for, they will know whether their clothing runs large, small or true to size. Use the measurements, if you have asked for them, to see which sizes will fit best.  Remember to allow for shrinkage in all cotton garments.  Also, keep in mind that children grow quickly, so allow for some extra room.  One important detail to keep in mind; unless you know the size and brand exactly, don’t purchase pants and dresses as choosing something even a little too big or too small can make these garments unusable.

The time of year you buy in versus the season the outfit you purchased can be worn in makes a big difference.  There are lots of great sales going on out of season. If you're buying out of season, the right childrens clothing size to chose would be a size or two larger than what they're wearing now.

If you still don’t feel confident that you are buying the correct size, the best option is to buy something that can be exchanged. Buy from a store that has locations in the recipient's town.  Most national chain stores will usually issue a gift receipt so the clothing can easily be exchanged for the right size.  If you order gifts from the Internet, make sure you order from a site where returns and exchanges can be made from anywhere.  Always check the company's return policy before making a purchase, especially if it's an expensive item.