Finding Pants for Skinny Boys

Updated on February 21, 2011
B.R. asks from Oldsmar, FL
23 answers

I can no longer find pants that fit my son! He is into size 8 now, but it's very hard to find adjustable waistband pants in an 8 that also fit his long legs. Old Navy & Target are just too wide, even with adjustable waistbands, and while Kohl's was perfect last year for 7X, the 8's are just floating around his middle (Levi's, Urban Pipeline)! And this kid is not underfed - I don't know where he puts it all - he just has those genes from both sides of the family. I'll definitely get him a belt, but there's still just so much space in the waist - I'd really like pants that fit him better. I'll resort to having someone take them in if I have to (but did that for YEARS, was hoping I was done with that, & while it was fine for me to do it when he was littler, I wouldn't do a great job on these big boy pants). I hope someone knows of a dependable brand that is slim & long! Thanks!

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So What Happened?

Thank you so much ladies! I made it to Penney's & didn't do well there (kids are even skinnier than the slim adjustable pants there), but did awesome at Gymboree (did not make it to Sears at the far end of the mall). I appreciate having this place to come to ask all of you who know the answers!

Featured Answers

T.K.

answers from Dallas on

cowboys jeans are crazy long. I guess beacause they have to puddle just right on the boots. And they're slim - cowboys like jeans tight! My 9 yr old neice is super tall and skinny. Pants that fit her lenghtwise fall off her and pants that fit her waist are 4 inches too short. So, her super smart mommy started buying her Wranglers. She has to go to the western wear store to get them. But they are really long and really cheap. I don't know where to get Wranglers in Florida, and they may be more expensive for yall. We have Gebos, Cavendars, Sheplers, all kinds of western outfitters around here. Gebos is the cheapest. They may have a website you can order from.

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H.D.

answers from Miami on

I am in the same boat. My son is 8 and he was usually true to size, but I have the same problem, Not long enough or to big on waist. Try JC Penny or Dillard Club Class brand. I bought my son dress pants that fit great.
Good luck, there are other moms that are looking for Husky Sizes for their boys, so if it is not one thing it is the other!

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N.B.

answers from Toledo on

Sears has Toughskins that come in slim sizes. They used to replace them if your kid busted through the knees, too.

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J.T.

answers from Orlando on

Check out Gymboree. They have sales all the time and I know the girls come in slim sizes online, so I would think boys do too. My daughter is slim and I swear by them. We buy the regular size and use the adjustable waist. And they hold up really well.

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T.F.

answers from Eugene on

Have you tried JCP or SEARS? Also what you can do too is take the back and sinch it together and sew it together to tighten the waistline. It sucks I know - I'm not looking forward to this when my son gets older. That's part of the problem today - America has gotten so "Wide" and now it's affecting our children clothing too. I didn't get "Wide" until after my mid twenties, but my son right now is a beanpole. Also there was another post about cowboy jeans - that might be another route to go for sure!!!! Get some Wranglers or Rustle - you can still wear tennis shoes with them. No boots needed. I used to wear them when I was younger.

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C.T.

answers from Dallas on

Old Navy has slim fit, regular fit and husky fit in store. My son is 6 and wears a 6 in length, but could probably fit into a 4t in the waist. I bought him a pair of slim fit jeans at ON last year and they fit great! The Children's Place usually has some adjustable waist warmup pants that he can wear, too.

S.J.

answers from St. Louis on

We have good luck with GAP and The Children's Place. Both pricier than I would like, but they work, and I resell them on ebay after! You may want to check ebay before buying direct - you can find some good deals!

Good luck!

M.R.

answers from Rochester on

I am pretty sure that J C Penney has boys sizes in Slim, just like they often have "Husky" sizes (I hate those names!). My 3 1/2 year old wears between a boys' 5 and 7 for most of his clothes and for the smaller sizes they have adjustable waistbands, but the larger sizes they have Slim fits. I haven't tried them yet but I'm sure by next winter we'll be giving them a shot. Check online for sizing for in the stores--I had thought that Kohls had Slim sizes as well, but give a few department stores a try.

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K.K.

answers from Dallas on

We do levis slims, and Vans, but we do have to sometime do a belt when he first goes up in a size. I do usually keep a few old navy or urban pipeline around for back ups, because they are adjustable to let like size 12 or sometihng. But they look funny on him.

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J.S.

answers from Tampa on

I struggle w/the same issue w/my 9 y/o/a son. His nickname is slim & he takes after his father. Since moving to FL almost 2 yrs. ago I find finding sweatpants harder to locate. Sometimes I have luck at Walmart. Good luck!

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D.R.

answers from New York on

i do great at old navy and lands end. they both have skinny jeans, so does levis, i found them at marshalls. old navy has the skinny fit jeans in a slim size with the adjustable waist, they are perfect for him. i dont do well at childrens place, they have the adjustable waist but the rest of the pants are wide and look crazy on him.

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K.W.

answers from Tampa on

My son is super thin and I have problems finding pants too. The best fit I found him is Osh Kosh, they have adjustable waist bands through size 12.

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M.4.

answers from Tampa on

You can always make the size 8's an adjustable waist yourself. That way, when he does grow into the size 8's you don't have to alter again. I do this for all my kids... Takes about 15 minutes for each pair. Best wishes!

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C.T.

answers from Denver on

Childrens Place is good but can be pricey. My nephew is same build as your son. His mom shops alot at Sears and JCPenney.

M.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

I have a super tall super skinny 7 year old. I definately have to buy pants labeled slims. Most I have to buy online as they don't carry them in the stores. Crazy 8 and Gap do carry slims in the store. Old Navy has them online but a crappy selection.

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S.K.

answers from Miami on

I have a very skinny, tall son, and the only place has been Target or Walmart. That's about it.

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J.S.

answers from Tampa on

Hi,
I have the same problem with my 9 yr old son, and I have had a lot of luck with JC penny. (The store, not ordering online) They carry jeans and pants for boys that are size 8longs slim, and they also have the adjustable waist. I actually had to get him 8 regular longs in one brans because the slims were too tight. LOL! That never happens!! I also get a lot of his pants, shorts, jeans, etc at old navy. As long as you buy the long/ slims you will be fine. They do sell them for little boys, and usually they all have the adjustable waist these days. (I have noticed that even walmart and target , etc have the adjustable waist too) The hard part is the slim and the longs. Good luck!

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R.K.

answers from Boston on

Children's place only sells adjustable waist pants even in their windpants. My oldest I get the regular my youngest is so thin that I have to get a slim. I also usually get them the boot cut they have a slimmer fit.
edit: He sounds like my youngest just so thin that even with the waist pulled they look and feel too big. Children's place pants are longer then most and try a slim there they still have the adjustable waist in the slim so even if it doesn't fit perfect you can pull the waist and it won't appear so large.
edited: after Mary S posted I wanted to add that we had the opposite problem every brand other then Children's Place have ripped in the knees w/ my sons.

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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

we have the same problem. The only kind that work are Levis skinny fit slim, I think they are Levis 541 but I know they are called teh skinny jeans and they make them in slim sizes.

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J.L.

answers from Atlanta on

I've had the problem since my guy was born, he's also 8 now. Too skinny for even most regular 8's now even tough he needs at least a 10 for the length. He used to wear shorts for 2 years because he just didn't grow in the waist. Now he's so tall that I have to get him slim to be fair to him.

Shorts, some pants, all swim shorts, anything for the bottom and some of the tops all come from Land's End online. The clothes are right on about 90% of the time. The occasional weird fit but the rest of it all really good, durable, wash and wear. A lot of his old shorts and pants just got handed to their fourth child!

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T.B.

answers from Boca Raton on

I have a daughter with the same issue. She is very tall but slim. We have had good luck at Macy's and Gymboree. I just make sure they have the tabs and use the dryer to shrink a little. Usually this works out well for her.

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M.S.

answers from Denver on

route 66 jeans from Kmart. the slims are actually slim AND have adjustable waists. my son is in size 8 so I'll vouch that at least the 8s have the adjustable. Also, they seem to hold up well but my son isn't too rough on the knees of any of his pants. Children's Place is great for girls but my son who had never put holes in his knees put holes in 3 pair of Children's Place jeans in under 3 months so I've never tried them again for boys pants. I just bought some dress pants from Sears. The slims fit perfect but also had an adjustable waist.

M..

answers from Ocala on

My boys need slim and tall as well.
We shop at JCP and Sears.

= )

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