July 2012 Mom needs some help

Sportsmomacc · April 2012

I have purchased so many outfits (newborn - 6 mths) from Gymboree that I have a bunch of Gym Bucks I need to use by this Sunday. I want to buy clothes for next Spring/Summer but I'm not sure if I should buy 6-12 mths or 12-18 mths.

Here is where I am hoping you all can help. What size is your LO currently wearing? If you shop at Gymboree, do the sizes run big/small/true to age? I know babies vary in sizes but I just want to be able to make my best educated guess.

Ok, you can all stop laughing at me now! ;-) I know I'm over thinking this and making it much harder to shop than I should be. Thanks for everyone's help in advance!!!

swimiz500 · April 2012

Not laughing at you, I have been there! I have clothes all the way up to 3T already, so clearly I have issues

My DD has been very "true to size"- she has been in 3 month clothes at 3 months, 6 month clothes at 6 months, etc. Right now she is 9.5 months and is wearing a combo of 6-9 and 9-12.

That being said, I was super lucky, because I did buy so much in advance. I know a lot of babies on here vary quite a bit, either being in much larger sizes or much smaller sizes. I don't know the specifics about Gymboree clothes, but here is my advice: Buy stuff that you know LO will wear no matter the season. Like, obviously you'll need pajamas, onesies, pants, etc no matter what season it is. I would skip snowsuits and tank tops until you have a better idea. There is some stuff I have that DD never even wore because seasons changed before she could wear stuff. Good luck, and congratulations!!

lucylea · April 2012

swimiz500:
I don't know the specifics about Gymboree clothes, but here is my advice: Buy stuff that you know LO will wear no matter the season. Like, obviously you'll need pajamas, onesies, pants, etc no matter what season it is. I would skip snowsuits and tank tops until you have a better idea.

This would be my advice too. Neither of my kids were ever true to size. Right now my 4 year old is just barely beginning to fit into 3T pants and my 9 month old is in 3 month clothing. No matter what they will use short sleeve onesies (you can layer a long sleeve under if its cold), lightweight pants, undershirts/onesies, and PJs.

Specific to Gymboree, we were just there last night and at least their t-shirts seemed to be on the wider side in the infant sizes.

tawillers · April 2012

What about using the bucks for non-clothing items like blankets and books? I did a quick search of their site and it looks like they have these things, but I don't know if they carry them in their stores.

pettycrocker · April 2012

My LO started wearing 12m at 6m, and currently is in 18m at 8.5m. I would definitely go for the bigger clothes. There are very few babies that actually stick to those sizings. Remember you can put clothes on LO that are a little big with no problem, but it's kind of hard to jam a big fat baby into something too small!

hecallsmecat · April 2012

What Swimz said! Buy things that baby will wear no matter what the season. My daughter is 9 months, but wearing mostly 12-18 months now. She has a few gymboree dresses that seem a bit on the small side, but she has very long limbs. I don't even know how much to buy for my own this summer because I don't know if she will still be in 12-18 months by the end of the summer.

Even if you know your baby will be big or small (DH is 6'5" so I knew she would be huge), they hit growth spurts and then slow down for a while so it's a bit hard to anticipate. Get pj's, onesies, things like that.

aeklotz · April 2012

lucylea:
swimiz500:
I don't know the specifics about Gymboree clothes, but here is my advice: Buy stuff that you know LO will wear no matter the season. Like, obviously you'll need pajamas, onesies, pants, etc no matter what season it is. I would skip snowsuits and tank tops until you have a better idea.
This would be my advice too. Neither of my kids were ever true to size. Right now my 4 year old is just barely beginning to fit into 3T pants and my 9 month old is in 3 month clothing. No matter what they will use short sleeve onesies (you can layer a long sleeve under if its cold), lightweight pants, undershirts/onesies, and PJs.
Specific to Gymboree, we were just there last night and at least their t-shirts seemed to be on the wider side in the infant sizes.

Same here..my 9 month old still fits 3 month clothes. Try to find onsies that could be layered (with baby jeans and a sweater).

katie4253 · April 2012

Dresses and skirts and shorts are pretty forgiving too they can get shorter and it's okay because...let's face it...it's a baby! For example, even though my dude is small (he was born early) he will still be wearing 12 month shorts because it doesn't matter if they are a bit big on him. Unlike pants which are a pita because he has super short legs. He's in 9-12 month size on top and 3-6 or 6-9 on the bottom.

Also, things like socks and shoes don't matter for seasons. Also think about: bathing suit for next summer, hats, etc. Our daycare requires babies to have: jacket, shoes, hat, swimming trunks/suit for summer play. So, if you plan on using childcare they will likely have similar requirements.

Footed sleepers (cotton), onesies (short sleeved and even long sleeved) can be worn in most seasons.

AsOctoberFalls · April 2012

Almost all of DS's clothes are from Gymboree. He's in mostly 12-18 month clothes right now, but he wears 18-24 month shirts. It's impossible to predict what sizes you will need! I had tons of cute 3-6 month clothes that DS barely wore because he outgrew them so fast. FWIW, he is 29.5" and 24 lbs right now, so he's in the 90th percentile or so.

AsOctoberFalls · April 2012

Oh, and also, Gymboree has the BEST onesies. They are by far my favorite brand. And their cotton pants are AWESOME and very forgiving on size. The jeans, not so much.

Amitchell0626 · April 2012

My daughter is small, she's still in mostly 6m clothes, but tall so onsies and sleepers are 12m. I've been buying ahead and have mostly 12-18m stuff for summer.

clineak · April 2012

In my experience, Gymboree sizing is NOT consistent. At all. Pajamas always run small. We have several pairs of leggings, all the same size, but some are long, and some look like capris on DD (and they're not supposed to be capris).

That said, DD will be 9 months next week, but is still in 3-6 month clothing, with room to wiggle! I used my Gymbucks to get stuff for next summer, and purchased 18-24 month stuff.

So, I guess what I'm saying is...you never know! Sorry, I know that's not helpful!

CocoBrynne · April 2012

LO is wearing 6-12 and 12 mo from. I think Gymboree runs a little smaller than Baby Gap's 6-12 size. They're 100% cotton so all their stuff shrinks slightly.

jillybean222 · April 2012

spring/summer is tough to pre-buy for a few reasons: first, they are in it for only warm months. you can almost always throw a l/s shirt on a baby but a cute little skort and tank only works in the summer. today was 60-something and DD was wearing yoga pants and a l/s tee b/c of the breeze, so definitely not summery clothing yet! second, you could have a kid like 2 out of 3 of mine - tall and VERY skinny!!! my july baby wears 12-18 and 18-24 now (she's a beast) but skirts and shorts that are the same sizes fall off her. third, you can't buy one piece dresses no matter how cute they are b/ c they are not practical - you will most likely have a crawler and they will just get in the way and she will hate it.

AmandaP678 · April 2012

I think I would stick to generic things like onsies because it;s so hard to pre buy for a new baby. My first is a peanut and is still wearing all his clothes from last year, my youngest is already in 18 -24 months now. At Christmas time, I told people to get lo 12mo only for him to outgrow it shortly after.

starz57182 · April 2012

It's so hard to tell. I agree with Swimiz's idea of just getting basics that will work in any season. Partly because you don't know the size, but also, honestly, the weather itself has been pretty unpredictable around here. I did buy clothes ahead, and I had Winter clothes for Jan - March and it was SO warm that she didn't really need all the jackets and sweaters and wore a lot of Spring type clothes.

To throw in my opinion, I will say that Summer clothes seem more forgiving to me. If you have Summer clothes that end up fitting in the Winter weather, you can always layer over tanks, and put leggings under dresses. And they don't need to be bundled when they are inside anyway.

To answer your question, my baby is tiny and I feel like Gymboree stuff runs big on her, and sometimes wide. So does Baby Gap. So, she's 9 months in a few days and is wearing 3-6 months from there. But, because of the wideness, it can be tricky as it might fit in length but be too big around the neck and chest.

starsjaime · April 2012

Seems like you have LOTS of responses but if it helps, my DD is currently wearing 12-18 month of Gymboree. And it should last for the remainder of summer (fingers crossed).

Good Luck!

MamaCoffin · April 2012

I agree with everyone else.

Every baby varies..... and every outfit varies.

Lucy is tiny... only 17 lbs. But tall... nearly 30 inches. Lengthwise she needs 12 months, so things like onsies, footie pajamas etc. but you could fit two of her in there. Things that don't make a difference with length, like skirts, shorts, t-shirts etc., she can still wear 3 months. I agree with swim about getting things that won't matter seasonally and just use them when they fit. Or as another poster said get blankets, toys etc.

My LO definitely has things she will never end up wearing because we were given so many seasonal outfits that will not fit her at the correct time.

Little&BigPea · April 2012

My DD has been true to size as well. I personally think that with baby clothes putting them in clothes that are a little bigger isn't going to hurt much... Whereas, clothes that are too small are bad for growth... So, I always shop up a size and the worst case she is wearing clothes that are a little baggy.

Sportsmomacc · April 2012

All of you rock!! This really did help me. I like the idea of getting basic pieces and blankets. I don't know why it didn't occur to me until reading your replies but my DH is 6'4" and I'm 5'11" so our baby will probably be pretty long. Due to that likely possibility, I will definitely stay away from jeans and pants Thank you all so much for your guidance!!

BTW, I LOVE seeing your baby pics in your siggys! They are all so adorable!!

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