• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Feathers and Stripes

Boston lifestyle blog | Boston mom blogger | motherhood, travel, home | making momlife easier

  • About
    • About Alyssa
    • Collaborate
    • Newsletter
    • Contact
    • #50before50
    • Privacy Policy
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
    • Home
  • Motherhood
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
  • Travel
    • Travel with Kids
    • New England
    • USA Travel
    • International Travel
  • Instagram Looks
  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Best Baby Clothing Brands for Tall Babies

February 13, 2019

I didn’t realize just how “off” baby clothing sizing could be. The first couple of weeks after we had E, it seemed like I was throwing piece after piece into a pile of stuff that just didn’t fit right. It’s literally like women’s sizes, where a small in one store is a large in another. And when you have a baby who’s tall and thin, it can be tough to find clothes that fit well.

Where to find the best clothes for a tall baby, tall and skinny baby. Pajamas, tops, sweatshirts, dresses, leggings, pants for tall babies. from feathersandstripes.com blog

I had bought all of these cute little onesies from stores like Old Navy, only to find out that my baby fit into a size 0-3 months for weight and a 6-12 months in height in that brand. I searched all over the internet for a guide to the best baby clothes for tall babies, and I kept coming up short, so I decided to write my own.

Read down for each brand’s stats on clothing, plus what worked for us.

The best clothing for your tall, skinny baby

I’ve shopped practically every baby brand, so if you’re looking for the best clothing brands for your tall, skinny baby, you’re in the right place.

For reference, Elle was around the 75th percentile for height and somewhere around 4th percentile for weight in the first year. So when I say that she was a “tall and skinny baby,” I’m not kidding!

Onesies for Tall Babies

There are two places where I found the best onesies for our little lady: Carters (the store) and this European brand. For onesies at the Carters store, this may sound weird but the graphic onesies (aka the ones they sell as one piece separately) never fit well. Go for the multi-packs (usually in solid colors). The European brands (like Petit Bateau) in general tend to run leaner, so in general they work well for my tall, skinny kiddo. We also had great luck with Monica + Andy, specifically in the footless rompers.

Petit Bateau makes some adorable bodysuits with a little more style than the typical basic bodysuit. They’re the perfect fit for our little one, which is great (that they fit) but not great (that they’re not cheap) at the same time. I watch out for sales and buy for the next year. You can also find them on Amazon.

You might also like The Best Gifts for a 1 Year Old

For the most basic things, like white onesies and kimono tops, Carters at Target brand has the best prices and cutest prints! (Size up in this brand.)

 

Where to go apple picking in Massachusetts, Parlee Farms apple picking September

striped onesie and navy cardigan both this brand

 

best onesies and pajamas for tall and thin babies

As far as pajamas go, my favorites are from Monica + Andy, Hanna, and Little Sleepies. I want pajamas that still look almost brand new after washing them 10+ times… Something you can hold onto if you plan to have multiple kids. Many of the Hanna jammies don’t have feet, so they will last longer on taller kiddos.

best clothes for a tall baby, including pajamas, onesies, leggings, and dresses at feathersandstripes.com

Pants and Leggings for Tall Babies

By far the best pants that fit E are leggings. We love Hanna Andersson (basic leggings), Carters (only certain styles) and Petit Bateau (their own site is closed online but supposedly reopening soon!). We have also found that H&M’s leggings run fairly long compared to other brands. Another brand that fits really well? Little Marc Jacobs!

For brands that aren’t the best fit but work fine: Cat & Jack at Target (you need to size down if you have a skinny baby, especially for anything not a legging style, like joggers or sweatpants) and Burts Bees (NON-pajamas).

best summer baby clothes for tall babies

princess bubble – similar princess bubble (also comes in a princess dress for toddlers/walkers)

Brands that are hit or miss: Baby Gap, Old Navy (tend to be for babies who are in the “average” percentile in both height and weight), Janie and Jack (super cute stuff, but again for babies who are not tall and skinny! Their pants are not as wide and short as Old Navy’s, but they’re pretty close). Cloud Island at Target isn’t a great fit, either- they tend to be short and wide, so they fall down on a small waist.

Suggested post: How to Be Productive As a Working New Mom

Sweaters and Sweatshirts for Tall Babies

The best cardigan sweater we had for E was from Petit Bateau, and she wore it almost every day of the fall when she was a newborn. I actually purchased it in the 12M size because we loved it so much, and she still wears that.

For play sweatshirts, I love Harper Canyon. It’s a Nordstrom brand but you can find it at Nordstrom Rack, too. The best selection is definitely online vs. in store for Nordstrom Rack.

I also really like this brand for sweaters. They are skinnier in the arms than a lot of other sweaters, which works well for a svelte baby!

You might also like Favorite Non-Electronic Toddler Toys

Best Holiday Outfits/Special Occasion Stuff

For special occasion wear, I’ve found some great holiday pieces on this smocked clothing site, and the prices are reasonable. This is where I bought Elle’s summer bubbles and rompers last year. Huge bonus? Almost everything can be monogrammed!

This brand is also a great find. It’s available on Amazon, fairly affordable, and has the look of much more expensive brands. (It’s a similar style to Janie & Jack.)

11 months clothing for tall skinny babies - best dresses for summer holidays for baby

from E’s 11 month post

Suggested post: Amazon Baby Shopping Haul

Brand Guide: Sizing by brand for baby clothes

I used a 6 month size (or 6-9 months or 6-12 months, depending on the brand) to show you the variation by brand in baby clothing from these popular brands.

Carters: 24-27 inches, 12.5-17 lbs

Cloud Island (Target): 26-27.5 inches, 16.5-19.5 lbs

Hanna Andersson: 26-38 inches, 16-20 lbs (aka 70 cm size)

Janie and Jack: 25-27 inches, 17-19.5 lbs

Just One You by Carters at Target: 24-26.5 inches, 12.5-16.5 lbs

Where do you shop for baby clothes? Any brands I should check out? If you have any suggestions for the best clothing for a tall baby, let me know!

You may also like...

  • Cutest Toddler Clothing BrandCutest Toddler Clothing Brand
  • Personalized Notebooks + Letters to my KidsPersonalized Notebooks + Letters to my Kids
  • 3 Months with Eleanor3 Months with Eleanor
  • 2 Months with Eleanor2 Months with Eleanor

6 CommentsFiled Under: motherhood Tagged With: baby, baby clothes, shopping, toddler

« How to Be Productive As a Working New Mom
My 2019 Commitment to Cruelty-Free Makeup + The Best Cruelty-Free Beauty Brands »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. SOORYA K BATEMAN says

    November 11, 2019 at 8:18 am

    Thank you for this article! I’d love to see an update now that your daughter is presumably in toddler sizes. Unfortunately, the cinched (adjustable) inner waistbands don’t start until 2T in most brands, and at 2.5 years old, my own tall and skinny daughter is still too thin for those.

    We rely heavily on leggings but it’s getting too cold to use them as her only layer. I’ve experimented a little with using tights underneath pants, plus legwarmers and knee socks, but we’re starting to potty train and those are a definite hindrance – not to mention she’s constantly taking them off!

    Anyway, I really wish children’s clothing manufacturers would make slim and/or tall options in toddler sizes – it seems they aren’t available until size 4 or XS in children’s.

    Reply
    • FeathersAndStripes says

      November 11, 2019 at 8:19 pm

      I’m happy to update this for toddler sizes! We’re in the same boat. Some of the 2T pants/shorts with waist-ties just fall right off my little one! I’ll put this on my editorial calendar to do. Make sure you sign up for emails so you get an alert when the post goes live!

      Reply
  2. Linda Robinsons says

    December 16, 2019 at 5:12 pm

    My grandson is almost six years old. He’s tall but he’s skinny. And department store jeans just fall off of him. He needs a skinny fit size 6. Where on earth do we find them?

    Reply
    • FeathersAndStripes says

      September 9, 2020 at 3:03 pm

      Hi Linda! Unfortunately there aren’t many options for skinny fit jeans. I did find a brand that makes jeans especially for skinny kids, called Pants for Peanuts. Let me know if you try it!

      Reply
  3. Christina K says

    September 9, 2020 at 1:23 pm

    I was excited to read this article but I’ve found Carter’s to be the worst at sizing. My sister has the same thoughts.. I bought a 6 month romper for my 3 month old and it wasn’t nearly long enough. Maybe you’re baby has long legs and mine has a longer torso but I definitely would not recommend Carter’s for a tall baby.

    Reply
    • FeathersAndStripes says

      September 9, 2020 at 3:02 pm

      Hi Christina, I do find Carter’s to vary depending on what you’re buying. If you have a baby with a long torso (you’re right, mine has long legs), try Primary. I find that their clothes run on the generous side length-wise. For rompers, avoid Carter’s at Target (or go up like 3 sizes). I like the bubbles from Smocked Auctions (linked in this post). I find that they are great length-wise so would probably work for a longer torso. If you find a brand that works well, please let me know!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Meet Alyssa


New England native, wife, and toddler mom. Frequent traveler, skinny jeans enthusiast. Here I share tips and tricks on making #momlife look effortless. If it saves you time or saves you a headache, I’m probably blogging about it.


Shop Our Home

Toddler Favorites

Subscribe

Recent Travels

Day at the Zoo

Day at the Zoo

Disney Packing List + 5 Days in Orlando Itinerary

Disney Packing List + 5 Days in Orlando Itinerary

Best of 2019: Travel Edition

Best of 2019: Travel Edition

More Travel Posts >>

archives

disclosure

feathers and stripes is part of affiliate programs, which means that each time a product is purchased from a specific link on this blog or any social media platform, I may make a small commission. I always disclose sponsored posts and items gifted from a brand (usually using “c/o”). If you have any questions, please feel free to email me!

NORDSTROM Anniversary Sale is here! Brand-new arrivals, super-sale prices. Ends August 5.







Footer



Copyright © 2021 · POWERED BY altDigital

This website uses cookies to provide you with the best browsing experience.

Find out more or adjust your settings.

Feathers and Stripes
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Read previous post:
How to be productive as a working mom - 9 tips to keep you organized
How to Be Productive As a Working New Mom

I wish someone had sat me down and given me a list of dos and don'ts when I was returning...

Close