“Help! My little one is outgrowing all their 5T clothes and I’m not sure what comes next!”
Keeping your kids properly clothed is practically a full-time job. Not only are they constantly growing out of sizes, but you also have to rotate clothing from season to season. It’s exhausting!
To add insult to injury, the person(s) who created sizes for kids clothes made it even more complicated than it needs to be.
There are size ranges (0-3 months, 6-12 months, etc) clothing with T at the end (2T, 3T etc), and overlapping clothing sizes (18-24 months and 2T).
Don’t even get me started on the gigantic jump when you have a 9 year old and the only options are the single size 10/12.
Today, however, we are going to focus on clothes for your littles and most specifically what size comes after 5T.
If your son or daughter has grown out of size 5T and you’re not sure what size clothing to buy next, read on to find out what to do!
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What Measurements Does Size 5T Fit (Usually)?
It’s important to note that there can be variation of sizes between brands. While sizes vary less drastically with children’s clothing versus adult clothing, you should still expect that sometimes one brand’s size 5T will fit differently than another brand.
Generally, clothing that is size 5T will fit children with these measurements:
| Height | 41″ – 44″ | 104 – 111 cm |
| Weight | 38 – 45 lb | 17 – 20 kg |
| Waist | 21″ – 22.5″ | 53 – 57 cm |
| Hip | 23″ – 24″ | 58.5 – 61 cm |
| Chest | 22″ – 25″ | 56 – 63.5 cm |
| Inseam | 17.5″ – 18.75″ | 44.5 – 47.5 cm |
| Arm Length | 19″ – 20.5″ | 48 – 52 cm |
What’s the Difference between Size 5 and Size 5T?
When shopping for kid’s clothes, you’ll find that there are two options for size 5 clothing: size 5 and size 5T. So what is the difference?
The “T” in Size 5T stands for Toddler. Toddler clothing sizes range from 2T to 5T.
The biggest difference you will find between a Size 5 and Size 5T is that the 5T will often have a little extra room in the hip and bottom area to allow for a diaper. If the child wearing the size 5 is potty trained, you should go with the straight size 5 instead of the 5T.
Do You Move on to the Smallest Kids Sizes After 5T?
Now to the question of the day…do you move to kids’ sizes (small, medium and large) after your child has grown out of his/her size 5T clothing?
Surprisingly, the answer is no! There is actually overlap between the Toddler sized clothing and youth sized clothing. In fact, the smallest size in kids’ clothing (XS or S) will actually be smaller than size 5T. This is because the hips and bottom of an XS or 4/5 will be narrower because there is no diaper allowance and also because the body shape of toddlers is quite different than older kids that are short in stature.
So, What Size Comes After 5T?
Instead of moving from size 5T to the next size up (XS or extra small) you will most likely need to jump to size 6/6x which is Small or possibly Medium depending on the brand.
Some clothing brands size their children’s clothing using numbers (4/5, 6/6x, 7/8, 10, 12) while others use letters (XS, S, M, L). You should always look at a brand’s sizing chart to make sure but often the sizes correspond like this: XS= Size 4/5, S= Size 6/6x, M= Size 7/8, L=Size 10, XL= Size 12.
| Number Size | Letter Size |
| 4/5 | XS (extra small) |
| 6/6x | S (small) |
| 7/8 | M (medium) |
| 10 | L (large) |
| 12 | XL (extra large) |
How To Take Your Child’s Measurements
Your best bet for a good fit for your child’s clothing is using that particular brand’s sizing chart. To successfully do this, you’ll need to know how to take your child’s measurements!
What You’ll need: a measuring tape, a tape measure, your child(ren) and possibly some extra patience.
Height
Have your child stand with their back against the wall. Make sure their legs are together and their heels are touching the wall. Have them look straight ahead and mark from the top of their head with a light pencil mark on the wall. Using the measuring tape, measure from the floor to the mark.
Waist
Have your child lift their shirt. Using the tape measure, measure around their stomach, in line with their belly button. Make sure they aren’t sucking in their tummy or pushing it out.
Hip
Wrap the tape measure around their bottom at the largest part (not necessarily where the hip bones are).
Chest
Have your child take off their shirt. Measure with the measuring tape around the widest part of their chest. Try NOT to measure them with their arms up…if arms are hanging loosely at their sides you’ll get the most accurate measure.
Inseam
An inseam is a measurement from the floor to the inside of your child’s crotch. There is an easy trick to make this measurement less uncomfortable for everyone. Have your child put on shoes that they normally wear. Next, have them stand against a wall with their legs slightly apart. Using a small hardbound book, slide the book in between their legs until it reaches the crotch. Have them hold the book with their legs. Mark the top of the hardbound book lightly with a pencil on your wall. Have the child move and measure from the floor to the top of the mark to get the inseam length.
Arm Length
Have your child place their hand on their waist. Measure at the point of the shoulder (where a tank top strap would end) over their bent elbow to their wrist for long sleeves. For short sleeves, measure from the point of the shoulder and down to the length that the shirt sleeve would be.
PRO-TIP: Keep a note in your phone with your children’s measurements and current shoe size. This comes in handy when you are shopping without your child or a relative asks for their sizing!
The Final Word on What Size Comes After 5T
If moms were in charge of the world, I’m fairly certain all of these clothing sizes would be easy to understand and body positive! Until then, we hope we have cleared up the mystery of what size comes after 5T.
Remember to consult size charts for the brand you are shopping to ensure the best possible fit and don’t be afraid to purchase the clothes that fit well even if the size isn’t what you expected. Happy Shopping!