Dumb Question

Updated on November 28, 2007
G.K. asks from San Bruno, CA
30 answers

What is the difference between size 24 months and 2T, 36 months and 3T, etc.? I like to buy super-cheap clearance clothes in advance for my son and want to make sure I'm not duplicating sizes!

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W.W.

answers from Sacramento on

Leg length for some and waist width for others! My advice is to buy clothes for the next size up when they are on sale. I do this for my 4 year-old weed, I mean child and my baby. It works great. Labels for babies/children are just like labels for women. Don't look at them! If it fits or will fit (for kids) buy it. FYI - the 4T/5T is VERY different than the XS (4/5) in big kid clothes. The 4T and 5T is much smaller - almost 2" in the waist and leg/arm length.

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C.N.

answers from San Diego on

I usually find that clothes labeled by month 24mon, 36mon, etc. are onesie type shirts or pants with snap openings on the bottom, usually for kids not yet potty trained.

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C.N.

answers from San Luis Obispo on

Dear G.,

I think that 2T is a little bit longer, find a 24 month and a 2T and put them on top of each other to see. C. N.

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K.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

NOT A DUMB QUESTION!

My advice is to go with the 2T or the 3T... in my experience they are about an inch longer!

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T.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

There is a difference. 24 months is an infant size, it is after 18 months. 2T is a toddler size, it is before 3T. The difference is nearly the difference between 12 months and 18 months, or 2T and 3T. The 2T is also going to be a little slimmer and longer in comparison to the 24 months clothes.

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C.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

I've been told that the only difference is that in the 24 months wnd the other months sizes the crotch is cut longer for the diaper to fit whereas the T sizes are cut shorter for those who are out of diapers

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T.S.

answers from Honolulu on

24 months & 2T are the same except for the length. As well as 36 months and 3T except for the length. I have a grandson (2years 7 months) who is out growing 2T shirts and shorts.

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E.T.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi G.,

Not a dumb question as it is VERY confusing. From what I've found, 24mo & 2T are very similar in size, but the 2T's are usually for bigger kids (heavier and taller). Often, the 2T's don't have snap legs where as anything with "mo" after the # is designed more for babies and ease of diaper changing. I tried searching online but didn't find too much information. I do know that my 2 1/2 year old can wear 2T in some things but 4T in others, so always look for a size chart on the item (manufacturers seem to have different sizing, too) and KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS!!!

E.

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D.B.

answers from Sacramento on

Some stores just label them differently, but some stores make them so they fit differently. For example, Children's Place only does 24 months, not 2T, sometimes these fit better because my daughter is super skinny, but length wise, still needs a 24 month or 2T. The 24 months tend to be smaller in the waist. So NOT a dumb question, don't worry and good luck!

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K.B.

answers from San Francisco on

It would be fine to buy bigger sizes now, but I recommend you go thru those clothes you buy a LOT as he is getting bigger. There are a lot of clothes that just are not true to there sizes. Organize them by what size they "look" like, if that makes sense? Say you have a shirt that says size 4, but you hold it up and it actually looks the same as a size 2.

But the biggest thing is the children barely grow the same as there sizes. Or even. My son is 3, he wears a size 4 pants, but I have him in size 5 shirts because they fit nicer. And he is not chubby, more skinny really. And with shirts, you always have to make sure they fit over their head!

So...we are not all meaning to scare you. The best advice I can say is just try on the bigger close often! And...dont forget you have them!!! LoL

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N.M.

answers from Chico on

I recently learned the difference between 24 mos and 2T and I'm happy to have a chance to share my revelation. I bought pants in 24 mos and my mother-in-law bought the same pants in 2T. We compared. The 2T is exactly same except the legs are longer. My MIL ventured the guess that they make them taller because the kids are obviously getting taller, but they don't make them wider because that's around the time they start to get potty trained and lose their bulky diapers. So I've been buying 2T an rolling them up -- I figure I'll get more use out of them that way.
N.

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P.C.

answers from Fresno on

The difference between them is just a little a bit. Maybe about an inch or so. and the Length.

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A.S.

answers from Sacramento on

Not a dumb question...my understanding is that the 24 & 36 months clothes are made with more room in the rear area for diapers and 2t and 3t should be a little slimmer in that region figuring that your child is wearing underwear. Otherwise I think they are the same.

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A.W.

answers from San Francisco on

this one is easy. Size 24 months and size 36 months have extra room for diapers.

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G.D.

answers from Modesto on

12 months 18 months 24 months (this is for babies)

then the next is 2T...3T...4T...5T (this is for todlers)

then XS/5T S/6 M/7 L/8 XL/10 (this is for kid)

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J.H.

answers from Chico on

As far as I can tell, they are the same. I have never noticed any significant difference. But, as with all clothes, some sizes run different anyway, so keep in mind whether your son is generally bigger or smaller in the waist, has shorter or longer legs, etc. Then you're usually ok.

:) J. H

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K.E.

answers from Fresno on

There is no difference.

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A.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

no dumb question at all, I asked the same question w/ different stores and they gave me different answers too :) Anyway, I kind of see that it's depend on the brand. If the brand that carry both 24m and 2T, the 24m is a little bit smaller, and great for age 18-24 months. However, if brand that doesn't carry double size like that, then either 24m or 2T should be the same for. So I guess you just need to check for the brand and see what's the availability.

Good luck w/ shopping. BTW, The children's place outlet (there's one all the way in Ontario) have 2.99 sales, lots of good stuff for only 2.99. Check it out!

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D.W.

answers from Los Angeles on

24 months clothes are typically a little wider and shorter than 2T. The difference is pretty insignificant.

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K.C.

answers from San Francisco on

24 & 36 months are usually larger in the bottom to accomadate diapers. 2T & 3T are for the bottom with no diaper. Going be the childs weight & height taking into consideration the rise (groin) area make a differnece in the fit. I have a narrow child but she has a cubby bottom so I always go up a size in the pants so they don't pull in the wrong place. Hope this helps.

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J.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

So not a dumb question! There really isn't much difference, that I found. The only big difference is that clothes designed for 2T or 3T don't have room in the pants for diapers. 24months and 36 months still leave a little room for diapers.

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K.F.

answers from Sacramento on

I believe that the clothes with the T are a little bigger and longer.

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J.M.

answers from San Diego on

I believe it may be length. I know that with size 5 vs 5T that is the difference. Hope that helps!

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V.W.

answers from San Francisco on

24 months is shorter and wider - if your child has baby fat get the 24 months - if child is taller/thinner buy the 2T

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J.S.

answers from Stockton on

They're about the same I think. I'm not sure. But my kids could always wear the toddler sizes longer (ie i think they may be bigger) than the 24 months or 36 months sizes. I'm thinking it may be cuz they assume that toddlers no longer wear diapers so they may be cut differently too, made for walking rather than just fitting over a diaper.

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S.C.

answers from Santa Barbara on

any clothes in Month sizes are leaving room for a diaper. Any sizes with at T are going to fit over underwear.

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A.C.

answers from Sacramento on

It really depends on the store, but most of the time 2T is a little bigger than 24 months, and 3T is a little bigger than 36 months. However, some stores don't have 2T, so they only go from 24 months to 3T. In that case, the 24 months are a little bigger than they might be at another store. I know this is very confusing - sorry!
My son wears a different size depending on the store, so it's hard to shop in advance for him. He is 2.5 years old, and he wears 3T or 4T shirts, and 2T or 3T pants. It's impossible to buy a complete outfit because his sizes vary.
Good luck on finding the right sizes!

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L.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I think that when it comes to bottoms (pants, shorts, skirts) 24 and 36 months allows for more room for a diaper where as 2T and 3T may be cut differently for underwear.

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C.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

In my experience, the 24 months are smaller in fit than the 2T's & I have my sons wear 24 months when they are just outgrowing 18-24 months. I've never bought 36 months. I have also found that as they get bigger, size 3T is slightly smaller than size 3, and size 4T is slightly smaller than size 4.

C. : )

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L.M.

answers from San Francisco on

I thought the Toddler sizes fit a little different for beyond diaper wearing but I notice that the fit is exactly the same in most cases.

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