Size charts suck

[Leila]

No, seriously! I go out of my way to actually measure my kids so I can order the proper size pants/shorts for them since they're oddly built. I finally found jeans that they can wear without having the leg be eleventy billion inches too long. (JP's short and stocky, Devin is tall and reed thin these days.) I decide I'll go back to that store for shorts (Crazy8, btw), so I remeasured them this morning before school. According to the chart, Devin, with his 25" waist, needs a size 12. I'm sorry--I can fit TWO Devins into a size 12. He's wearing 7s in their jeans--and they're big (the slims were too short). And JP, who wears their 8 Husky in jeans needs a--oh wait, he can't wear their shorts because they don't come husky and he has a 28" waist. See the problem?? I run into it every store I check too. Am I crazy for wanting their clothes to FIT and not be around their knees??

If anyone has suggestions, I'd appreciate it. Just for kicks, here are their stats:

Devin is about 60lbs (fluctuates between 58-62), he's 51" tall and has a 25" waist.

JP is 75-80lbs, 53" and has a 28" waist. He also has a bubble butt, so I typically have to buy him either husky pants or a size larger to accomodate the booty.

I'm trying to avoid actually going to a store at all costs. I hate shopping with these two!!

[mnm_y2]

Im starting to have this issue. My boys are pretty much able to wear the same size shorts ---but jeans are a whole'nother issue.

Sometimes DS2 can wear 6 Husky... or 7 Reg.... but sometimes the size 7's don't fit... sometimes the 6 Husky is too big.. I HATE shopping for clothes for him.

DS1 is just starting to get into size 8's but they are too long for him right now.

[jessica31876]

my son is really husky and I buy most of his shorts/pants at Walmart. They have tons of husky sizes there and while they do run a tiny bit big on him he can wear a belt and they are fine. As for thins I dont know because none of my kids wore thin. It was always either regular or like for my youngest husky. Walmart does have alot of thins too though. Ummm another place that I found for my youngest is Target has some elastic waist shorts that are like khaki type shorts (in lots of different sizes) with a drawstring on the waist which are also good for kids with a bigger frame. I have some that I bought my 15 year old son when he was in 4th and 5th grade that my 11 year old can now wear and they still look really good

[Joan]

I find sizes, period, suck. There's no consistency.

[Leila]

Originally Posted by jessica31876

my son is really husky and I buy most of his shorts/pants at Walmart. They have tons of husky sizes there and while they do run a tiny bit big on him he can wear a belt and they are fine. As for thins I dont know because none of my kids wore thin. It was always either regular or like for my youngest husky. Walmart does have alot of thins too though. Ummm another place that I found for my youngest is Target has some elastic waist shorts that are like khaki type shorts (in lots of different sizes) with a drawstring on the waist which are also good for kids with a bigger frame. I have some that I bought my 15 year old son when he was in 4th and 5th grade that my 11 year old can now wear and they still look really good

My kids can't wear Wal*Mart pants at all. We used to depend on them for Devin, but since he's lost so much weight this year (nearly 20lbs--a much needed weight loss!) nothing there works anymore. Everything is too big, too long, too not right.

Neither of them likes elastic waist pants. I'm good with that, I hate them. Both of them say that the elastic waist is "pinchy" and uncomfortable. It drives me nuts that my mother basically forced JP to wear them for years since he couldn't button. So, buy him snaps or slide closures. They're out there.


Joan, ITA. I hate sizes too. The lack of consistency is crazy-making. If I find something that works, I buy several to get through the season. I also tend to stick to that store, but this chart crap has me nuts!!

[mnm_y2]

I'll have to check Walmart.. we usually get all our stuff at JCP because we get an additional 20% off there.

[jessica31876]

See that is so funny because my son absolutely hates button pants and the ones with the adjustable waist things inside the pants with buttons he asks me to cut them out. He prefers elastic waist shorts. Says they are much more comfortable. Well JCPenneys does have husky sizes too but they never seem to quite fit right for my son. I think also The Childrens Place has a good size range + good/decent prices.

Originally Posted by Leila

Neither of them likes elastic waist pants. I'm good with that, I hate them. Both of them say that the elastic waist is "pinchy" and uncomfortable. It drives me nuts that my mother basically forced JP to wear them for years since he couldn't button. So, buy him snaps or slide closures. They're out there.

[Leila]

I'm not a big fan of TCP quality though. I've had issues with their product in the past, so unless I have no choice, I avoid that store. Old Navy is ok, but mostly for shirts. I get a good amount of stuff from Kohl's as well, but again--sizing is difficult there. Crazy8 was an amazing find for us this year. I think we might have to road trip to an actual store to find some shorts. Sigh...

[mnm_y2]

Ive never heard of Crazy8. I'll have to look it up and see if there's any around here.

[Leila]

The closest Crazy8 to me is about 90 minutes from here. I buy from their website most often. We did manage to go to a store in February when we visited Andrew's mom. There was one about 10 minutes from them.

[Julie Billingsley]

Hey Leila!
I've been an assistant manager for a kid's clothing store for years and believe me you are not the only one with this problem! Take my advice with a grain of salt since I'm not there to see them... but... here goes.

First, shorts are typically easy! You don't have to normally worry about the inseam, which for huskys and slims is a really great thing. With pants, you have to stress about fitting the inseam and the waist... and often times it isn't a perfect fit both ways. Luckily, you are looking for shorts though

So, for the Gymboree/Crazy 8/Gymboree Outlet/Janie and Jack brands (they are all one company) the sizing is pretty much the same. Allow for a bit of shrink in the Outlet and Crazy 8 items, but otherwise the sizing should be pretty right on for the sizing chart.

For Devon, I'd recommend a size 10. Now you should remember there isn't a big increase in sizes in the waists. For example, the difference between a size 7 and a 10 is about 1 1/2 inches in the waist! Not much at all. Now some shorts, like cotton jersey ones with the elastic waist can often really fit a range of sizes. My son has size 4s that fit him and he is 6. But if I was to get jean shorts, I'd have to buy size 6 for him.

For JP, honestly, I'd go look in the adult section for shorts. 28 inch waist is about when my oldest needed to go in the adult section. It was a little hard because of the inseam issue, but again, for shorts isn't that big of a deal.

Anyway, that is my advice! LOL... and of course, trying on always helps and if you order, buy extra sizes and return.

[stayawake]

my children have no waist and no bum (1.5 year old boy, 3.5 year old girl) so no pants fit them. I've seriously got my daughter in a size 5 shirt, and size 2 shorts today! What's with that? Even with those elastic bands with button things on the inside both my kids drop their pants all the time. Long torso, long arms, no shoulders, no waist, pot bellies, shorter legs. My poor kids! I can't take handmedowns from friends, usually, or shop at used stores because I have to be sooo choosy to make sure clothes stay on them. Old Navy pants do stay on my skinny kids most of the time, but sadly hardly any stores ship online to Canada.

I feel your pain, and I hope you find the solution soon!

[Stacey42]

I can never fit my kids by size chart. Heck, I can't even fit myself by size charts. (waist size 8, hips size 12, rise size 14)

Every so often I take them 75 miles to the mall (with DH along) and make them try on clothes in various stores & write everything down for a starting point. Then I just order the next size up when they start to outgrow things from those stores.

Mostly I take them to local thrift or consignment shops for their shorts & pants though.

[AnnieBananie]

I have to find size 6-long pants for Faith... otherwise they're falling off of her or might as well be capris.

I also find it amusing that my kids are different sizes in shirts and pants (ie: Dom is a 6 in shirts and a 5 in pants) so then I can never get them those cute matching sets. They've both been that way from birth.

I feel like I'm rambling... k... yeah... feel for you... size charts are teh suck.

[jessica31876]

That is same thing for me!! Im like a 10 in my waist/12 in my hips and 10 in my legs. So if I buy a 12 it is usually to big and if I buy a 10 it is tight across my hips/butt. Why cant there be like a universal sizing chart that every garment goes by? LOL

Originally Posted by Stacey42

Heck, I can't even fit myself by size charts. (waist size 8, hips size 12, rise size 14)
.

[rachaelsscraps]

My son is very tall for his age, he's 3 years old but has had to wear size 4T pants, but those end up too loose in the waist.... I LOVE carter's clothes for kids, because most of their pants (and shorts) have this inner elastic belt thing that is just perfect!!! No more falling pants for my boy!!!

[sprauncey1]

Well at least when they grow up they will have men's sizing and not women's! Who knows how women's sizing works anyway!

My oldest has no rear to speak of so we've always shopped at TCP for him because their pants always had the adjusters (then everyone else did too eventually it seems) but even then they would slide on him some or be too tight! I think the only thing worse than shopping for boy pants is shopping for a swimming suit for yourself!

[lauren grier]

clothing sizes are just totally jacked up.. I have these issues with ce too.. length wise he needs like a 6 boys.. but waist wise he needs like a 3t thank goodness for those adjustable waists.