Newborn vs 0-3 Month Size Baby Clothes: What's The Difference? - Mommy and Love (2024)

What’s the difference between newborn and 0-3 month size clothes? It can be confusing to figure out what size your baby needs, especially since they grow so fast! In this guide, we will break down the differences between these two sizes. We will also provide some tips on how to choose the right size for your baby. Let’s get started!

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Clothes are Sized by Age

Generally, baby clothes are sized depending on their age range. Newborn baby clothes are labeled as NB, infant clothes are marked by month (such as 0-3 months), and toddler clothes are labeled by age (such as 2T size for 2-year-old toddlers). However, there are a few hiccups with this pattern.

Ask any parent and they will presumably inform you that their baby’s clothes did not perfectly match their age group. Perhaps they have worn newborn clothing fine into their 3rd month or perhaps they’re already in 3-6 month sizes at 9 weeks.

Thus, you pay attention to other aspects, especially your baby’s height & weight.

Other Factors for Baby’s Clothing Sizes

As soon as buying newborn baby clothes, reference the brand’s size chart for baby clothes and buy the size that fits the baby’s height & weight instead of their age group. You probably don’t need the exact measurements to fit babies, but a general idea of what each brand’s size guidelines are.

The fact is that babies grow quickly, so you will get an accurate fit while you go off the bundle’s size instead of their age. However, in this article now, we are going to discuss all newborn to 3 months baby clothing sizes. Let’s check out the entire article to know more…

What’s Newborn Clothing Size?

Newborn vs 0-3 Month Size Baby Clothes: What's The Difference? - Mommy and Love (1)

Generally, baby clothes are sized depending on their age range. Newborn baby clothes are labeled as NB, infant clothes are marked by month (such as 0-3 months), and toddler clothes are labeled by age (such as 2T size for 2-year-old toddlers). However, there are a few hiccups with this pattern.

Ask any parent and they will presumably inform you that their baby’s clothes did not perfectly match their age group. Perhaps they have worn newborn clothing fine into their 3rd month or perhaps they’re already in 3-6 month sizes at 9 weeks.

Thus, you pay attention to other aspects, especially your baby’s height & weight.

New baby clothes are usually for full-term babies. On average in case your baby weighs somewhere between 5 to 8 lbs, they must be well fit in newborn baby clothes for a good few weeks or so. However, you might be amazed at some of the height and weight size differences at different vendors.

In case your newborn is average in size, then do not spend plenty on their clothing as they’ll quickly outgrow them. You are presumably better off purchasing more 0-3 months size clothing and you can even buy 3-6 months size clothing for your newborn baby.

The clothes may look slightly baggy on your newborn, but you’ll get maximum use out of those clothes and get the worth of your money. You can easily roll the longer sleeves & legs to make the clothes a little bit tiny than it actually is!

In case you are having a premature baby or a smaller child, it will make sense to spend a little extra on newborn clothes!

How to Measure Baby Clothes Sizes

When you are shopping for baby clothes, it is important to make sure that you are getting the right size. Babies grow quickly and they will outgrow their clothes very quickly if you do not get the right size.

The first thing that you need to do is take a measuring tape and measure your baby from the top of their head to the bottom of their feet. This will give you an idea of what size clothes they will need. Next, you need to measure your baby’s chest. You will want to measure around the fullest part of their chest and make sure that the tape measure is level all the way around. Finally, you need to measure your baby’s waist. This is important because you want to make sure that the clothes will not be too tight around their stomach.

Once you have these measurements, you can start shopping for clothes! It is always a good idea to buy a few different sizes so that you have options. You can also buy clothes that are a little bit bigger than your baby’s current size so that they can grow into them.

What Is The Perfect Newborn Baby Clothes Size?

Whether you are seeking the perfect clothing to bring your newborn home, or simply filling up your future child’s closet with a cute wardrobe, it is essential to think about the size to stock up on for your newborn baby.

It might seem like common sense to purchase the “Newborn” size clothing for your child, but it is even smarter to slightly size up.On average, “Newborn baby” clothes fit only babies up to 8 lbs — which for maximum babies, does not last that long (even some newborns enter the world bigger than that size!). So, plan according and size up a little.

Newborn vs 0-3 Month Size Baby Clothes: What's The Difference? - Mommy and Love (2)

Even though sizes 0 to 3 months must fit your newborn up to 12 lbs, you can roll up the sleeves and legs while your baby grows into a bigger size.

In case your baby is expected to be small, or you have got a premature delivery, then Newborn babies or premature babies’ sizes make sense.

What’s 0 To 3 Month Clothing Size?

Newborn vs 0-3 Month Size Baby Clothes: What's The Difference? - Mommy and Love (3)

This is the next 1 size up after those newborn baby clothes sizes. For the 1st year, newborn baby clothing sizes move up in sets of 3 months, for example, 0 to 3 months, 3 to 6 months, 6 to 9 months, and finally 9 to 12 months.

There are tiny differences between vendors on the exact sizes for the 0 to 3-months sizes, but on average it is for kids who are around 8 to 12 lbs in weight as well as around 21.5to 24 inches in height.

Baby Clothes Size Chart By Weight

Maximum U.S. clothing companies base their clothing sizing on average newborn baby weight. While exact sizes can differ by brand, here is an all-around guide for clothing sizes of all age groups by weight:

  • Preemie (marked as P) sizes: Up to 5 lbs
  • Newborn(marked as NB) sizes: 5-8 lbs
  • 3 months sizes: 8-12 lbs
  • 6 months sizes: 12-16 lbs
  • 9 months sizes: 16-20 lbs
  • 12 months sizes: 20-24 lbs
  • 18 months sizes: 24-28 lbs
  • 24 months sizes: 28-30 lbs
  • 2T sizes: 29-32 lbs
  • 3T sizes: 32-35 lbs
  • 4T sizes: 35-39 lbs
  • 5T sizes: 39-43 lbs

Are Newborn Clothes Similar To 0-3 Months’ Clothes Sizes?

Newborn baby clothing size means an average kid at birth up to 21.5″ in height and around 5 to 8 lbs in weight. In terms of how the weight of a newborn baby relates to the 0 to 3 months clothing sizes, the range is generally 8 to 13 pounds, but there are also some other relations to take into account — such as length and different brands have slight differences.

Well, when you ask if newborn babies’ clothes are the same as 0-3 month baby clothes or not then the answer is NOT REALLY.

Newborn vs 0-3 Month Size Baby Clothes: What's The Difference? - Mommy and Love (4)

Newborn baby clothes are slightly smaller than the 0-3 months baby clothes. However, buying newborn baby clothes does not make much sense.

So, it is better to buy 0-3 months baby clothes. Although 0-3 months baby clothes a bigger than newborn baby clothes it does not harm your baby.

Can Newborn Babies Fit Into The 0-3 Month Clothes?

Newborn vs 0-3 Month Size Baby Clothes: What's The Difference? - Mommy and Love (5)

The average baby size is between 19-20″ — with a normal range going from 18-22″ — and around 7 lbs, 5 ounces, but isn’t unusual for even entirely healthy full-term newborn babies to be shorter, and many newborn babies are much bigger.

In case your newborn baby fits into a 0-3 month size, then simply go ahead.

European baby clothes sizes

The main difference is that European sizes are based on the child’s height, while American sizes are based on the child’s weight.

Another difference is that European sizes are usually given in centimeters (cm), while American sizes are usually given in inches (in) so sizing charts can seem confusing at first. This continues until they are big kids and even adults!

To make things even more confusing, some brands use different sizing systems for different countries. It would make everything easier if brands used the same size guidelines, so once you knew what fit your baby in one brand, will fit across a range of brands.

BOTTOM LINE

Always follow your baby’s weight and height instead of the baby’s age while choosing the perfect baby clothing sizes.

As soon as you buy clothing, always pick the next size ahead of your baby’s body, baby’s shape, baby’s size, and actual age so that you get to use them more than usual. Most 6-month-old kids can wear clothing in sizes 9 to 12 months and the larger size should last longer.

In case you are purchasing for your future baby, generally, it is best to purchase 0-3 month baby clothes sizing, as newborn baby size clothing can quickly be outgrown, I always found that as soon as I stocked up, baby had growth spurts!

It is essential to never dress your newborn baby in clothes that are way bigger than their size, particularly sleepwear. Because bigger clothing may pose a suffocation risk!

Newborn vs 0-3 Month Size Baby Clothes: What's The Difference? - Mommy and Love (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between newborn clothes and 0 to 3 months clothes? ›

It can be confusing to determine the difference between Newborn and 0-3 month clothes, but typically Newborn sizes cover babies in the 5-8 pound range while the 0-3 month sizes fit 8-12 pound children.

Is Carter's 3 months the same as 0-3 months? ›

So 3 month is essentially equal to 0-3 month for other brands and is similarly listed as 8-12.5 lbs. So you want to make sure you store you Carter's clothing with the appropriate sizes: 3 month with 0-3 month clothing, and 6 month with 3-6 month clothing, etc.

What does size 3 months mean? ›

Many parents will tell you (after experiencing this first-hand) a good rule of thumb is that the size on the label is often the max size. For example, size 3 months often means that it fits babies up to 3 months of age. Most 6-month-old babies wear 9- or 12-month-size clothing.

What are newborn size clothes? ›

Newborn baby clothes will show as “NB”. This will depend on your baby, but newborn clothing typically fits for 4-6 weeks after you bring baby home from the hospital. Newborn clothes are typically designed to fit babies 6-9 pounds and up to 21.5 inches long.

Can a newborn wear 0 to 3 months? ›

Whether you're trying to choose a coming-home outfit for your own little one or pick out something sweet for a loved one's new baby, newborn-size (NB) clothes, or something a bit bigger with some room to grow, such as 0-3 months, is most likely the way to go.

How long do newborns fit in newborn clothes? ›

Put simply, there is no straightforward answer to the question, “How long do babies wear newborn clothes?” But, here is a general rule of thumb: If your baby weighs eight pounds or less at birth, you can probably expect them to be in newborn sizes for about three to five weeks.

Can a newborn wear 3 month clothes? ›

Most baby clothes will fit up to the age...so 0-3 months should fit up to 3 months. You are right though, a lot will depend on the size of your baby. I did have a few newborn outfits and they fit him much better than 0-3. He weighed 8lbs 2oz.

How many onesies does a newborn need? ›

For a newborn, it is recommended to have 5-7 onesies, 5-7 sleepers, and 5-7 pairs of socks. A few hats and mittens can also be helpful, taking into account frequent changes and laundry, and adjustments should be made based on climate and personal preferences.

What size is 3 months in Carter's? ›

Carter's / OshKosh B'gosh Size Chart
Newborn5-817- 21.5"
3 mo.8-12.521.5-24"
6 mo.12.5-16.524-26.5"
9 mo.16.5-20.526.5-28.5"
9 more rows

What size does 0 to 3 months fit? ›

Size 000 | 0-3 Months

This one is good for newborns, too, as they grow big quickly, anyway. This size is best for up to 3 months, although you may want to double-check if the baby is at the tail end of that range. This size is best for babies who are approximate height of 62 cm in length and up to 6 kg in weight.

Is it better to buy newborn or 0-3? ›

No 0-3 means it will fit a baby typically up to 3 months so it will be large on a newborn. For my hospital bag I have packed newborn and up to 1 month sizes only. I've not packed any 0-3 months (unless you know you are having a bigger baby).

How do you know if an onesie is too small? ›

Your baby's clothes are too small if:
  1. The leg snaps pop open.
  2. You take off your baby's pants, and there is a line where the elastic or buttons irritated the skin.
  3. Shirts roll up over the belly.
  4. When you push the sleeves up, it cuts off their circulation.
Nov 1, 2022

How often should you bathe a newborn? ›

How often does my newborn need a bath? There's no need to give your newborn baby a bath every day. Three times a week might be enough until your baby becomes more mobile. Bathing your baby too much can dry out your baby's skin.

What is the best size to buy for a newborn? ›

"It's better to buy 0-3 months - but not too much"

"If going out, trust me, it's better to buy mostly 0-3, but not too much. I've sold most of his baby grows in that range as I had over 20 and I can say now that 12 is more than enough and the same with vests, etc.

Do newborns fit into newborn clothes? ›

“Newborn” (NB) represents an average baby at birth up to 21.5 inches long and five to eight pounds. Yep, “newborn” fits a wide range of sizes, so chances are your baby will fit into it at birth. “Parents should expect clothes to be a bit loose; no clothes are made to be grown out of in a week,” says Wing.

Will a 9lb baby fit in newborn clothes? ›

If the baby is around 8 lbs and 19" than yes. But if the baby is closer to 9lbs and 21 1/2" than no. Length has more to do with newborn clothes fitting than anything. For the most part babies that are over 8 lbs are for the most part going to be longer, on average 20" and longer this fitting better into 0–3 months.

Are newborn size clothes necessary? ›

This all depends on the size and weight of your baby once they're born. Some little ones need preemie baby-size clothes, some need standard newborn-sized clothes, and others may need clothes in 0-3 months from the get-go! It's a good idea to: Consider buying size 0-3 month clothes because babies grow fast.

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