This may sound odd but I don't know what size shorts/pants to buy for my 6 year old. My first son was tall and thin, always at the top of the charts for height and bottom for weight. When he was 5, he wore size 5. When he was 6, he wore size 6. And so on. My second son is 6, he's tall and solid. He's always been at the top of the charts for height and 1/2 to 3/4 the way up the charts for weight. This past year he's grown like a weed and I'm having a hard time keeping him in clothes. He's still tall and solid, with a little bit of a belly. I'm finding the best choice in shorts/pants for him are those with an elastic waist band. But they sometimes are hard to find. For the waist to fit on shorts/pants with buttons or snaps, I need a size 10! But the rest of the pants don't fit right. With shorts, they are too long and very baggy in the crotch. Should I look for husky sizes? I once got him a pair of 7X jeans that fit ok. But I don't know what the 'X' means in boys sizes. The sales person at Kohl's thought it just meant they were longer. Where would be the best place to find shorts/pants for him? He wears a uniform to school with the options of navy, khaki or denim for the bottoms. Thanks mama's. It's already getting hot in AZ and I really need to get some proper fitting shorts for him.
Thanks mama's. Now that you mention it, I remember The Children's Place and Old Navy being a bit bigger (I had a hard time buying clothes there for my tall and skinny son). I like the idea of measuring him and looking on-line. Trying on clothes is pure torture for this kid....oh the whining I get. :-)
It's my experience that you really need them to "go with and try on."
Sizes vary largely from brand to brand. So until you find a brand/size that fits well, do t try to order/buy without his body there!
The only "X" I remember is 7X-- at the end of the boys 4-7 size department and it's a bit of extra room all over.
After that the next department is 8-18/20.
Try an 8 in track pants but you might have to hem them.
I would recommend getting out your measuring tape (or buying one if you don't already have one... they're cheap and worth owning) and taking his exact measurements... waist, hips, inseam... while you're at it, might as well do the shirt measurements too.
Then get on the websites for a few stores with consistent sizing (I'd do Oldnavy because they have their own brand so you don't have to worry that the sizing is different from one pair to another) and check his measurements against their size chart. That will be a lot easier than all of this guessing and checking.
It DOES sound like you need to be doing the "husky" sizes at this point if they regular sizes in the correct length are too tight for his waist, so as a matter of style, probably stick with those.
You might also want to stick with shorts/pants that are sized as S, M, L etc, rather than specific number sizes, because they tend to accommodate a wider range of sizes at each size than the number sizes which are very narrow (ie M might be sizes 8-10... which could probably fit your boy comfortably without looking silly). Target often has these.
Hope this helps.
T.
I wholeheartedly second the elastic waist.
We have had great luck at the Children's Place with their twill cargo pants. Go in with your son and get a few sizes... have him test them out. I have my son sit, bend over, and raise his hands up to the sky... sounds silly, but this way I know if they are going to slide off his tush or not.
X means plus size.
For instance a 7X is the same length as a regular 7 but wider all over.
The sizes are confusing sometimes due to each brand deciding what their size should fit and what to call it. So it's always best to make them try the clothes on before purchasing them just to be safe.
My younger son is a huskier build than my older son and we did the elastic waist pants for him. Childrens Place had the best pants and shorts for him. They have lots of cargo pants and shorts with elastic waist, and track pants and athletic shorts.
I have a thin kid and pants are impossible. As for pants, I have decided that I will simply have to buy the size that fits her inseam and take in the waist. You will likely have to buy to fit the waist and have them hemmed. Clothing stores don't cater to kids that are on the thin or thick spectrum.
Ok - I know that the elastic waist is much easier, and I do buy them in sports shorts for my son, but I was getting a little unsure as to if he would be comfortable having to pull them down to use a urinal instead of just unzipping which is a little more subtle. He is older than your son, though, so it may not be an issue for you. Not that my son ever really said anything, but since I never had to deal with it as a girl (so glad we have stalls with doors!) I just wanted to avoid any embarrassment for him.
I think look for Husky sizes. If you look online they usually have a sizing chart. Not that I would buy them online unless you find a brand and size you know work for him. I would have him try them first. But I also know that little boys are usually not into trying a ton of clothes on, so going online to get an idea first might save some time and frustration.
For shorts, you may need to hem them for the right length. Look for more "fitted" so they are not too baggy then hem the length.
And by the way, I am jealous of your weather right now. In Michigan I think another cold snap is on the way!
I have the same problem with my son, but he's 9 now and wears men's sizes in the waist. The rest hangs. So, I bought him women's capris for pants-and that works well. He will not wear anything unless it has an elastic waist.
I've also had clothes made for him in the past. It's cheaper than the websites that sell husky clothes and they are tailored to his measurements. Check your local craigslist-or ask local moms if they know anyone who takes in sewing work.
Try Frenchtoast.com. (Yeah, funny name...) They sell school uniforms. Their pants are blue, gray and khaki.
What I did was go to their website and click on places that sold their clothes. At the time, Target did, if I'm remembering right. I tried on what they had and then ordered the color we needed from the website since I knew what size fit them. After that, I figured out how Frenchtoast's pants fit and I just ordered them online as my kids grew.
My older son was solid too. However, husky was too big for him.
They have a good return policy too, if you have to send back stuff while you're figuring it all out...
Hope this might help.
Can you find pants that have the adjustable elastic waistbands? That is what we have to buy for our daughter.
Check out the websites for the stores you like to shop in. They may provide a size chart. Measure his waist and length and compare his measurements to the chart. I worked at Penney's 5 years ago and the stores had size chart both in the stores and on line. This will give you a place to start.
I like gymboree. i get the slim fit for my kids (now regular for my son), but they also have the husky fit. The jeans/pants have elastic band to expand or make tighter.
Wait for a sale. They usually have buy one get second half off or any pair for $15. These jeans have always lasted for my son and I think look great on most kids.
Many workers at several store just do not know the product. I do not think of 7X as longer. I looked up the sizing and everyone has an opinion. This is the most agreed on: "The 6x is the waist of a 7 with the length of a 6. All sizes with x's are the next waist size up and all slims are a waist size below." This is not true for all brands.
edit: Children's Place and Gymboree are sister companies just like Old Navy and GAP.
I've heard two different things for the X. 1) it's for skinnier kids in that size. 2) It's like a half size. So, 7X would be like a 7 1/2. I don't know either way.
As for sizing, go to your local thrift store, get a few different sizes, and have him try them on until you find what looks/fits the best.
