0-3 vs 3-6 Month Baby Clothing

baby clothes for a 3-month old child

Babies come in all shapes and sizes, but they do grow quickly, particularly in the first year. You may find trying to find the right size clothes a real challenge. Let’s take a look at the differences between 0-3 and 3-6 month clothing. When should you switch? What are the differences? And what other things should you consider?

What is 0-3 months clothing?

This size is for babies up to the age of 3 months. Although the height and weight can vary a little between different brands, on average it is for babies who are 21.5-24” long and who weigh from 8-12lbs. 0-3 month clothing is the next size after newborn and just before 3-6 months.

What is the equivalent size in the UK and Europe?

The UK also has 0-3 months as a size which makes things easier to compare. This is for babies who are 22-24” long and who weigh 9-12lbs (so very similar to US measurements)

In Europe they use the metric system so the equivalent to 0-3 months is 56-62cm. You may also just see 62cm as a label though.

Can you put a newborn in 0-3 month clothing?

You can definitely put a newborn in 0-3 month clothing, especially if their birth weight is above average. In fact, it’s not a bad idea as it will save you a bit of money because you can use the clothes for longer. The clothes may be a little loose, but that’s ok.

We put our baby boy straight into 0-3 month size clothing as his birth weight was around 8lbs.

How long will babies wear this size?

It depends on the size of your baby. By the very definition of the label, on average your baby should be ready to move up to the 3-6 month size when they around 3 months old. However, all children are different so it’s certainly possible that they’ll need a bigger size when they are around 2 months. On the other hand, if you have a smaller baby they can stay in 0-3 months clothing until they are 5 or 6 months old.

What size is a 3 month old baby?

For boys, the average weight at 3 months is around 14lbs (6.37kg) and for girls, around 12lbs 12oz (5.8kg). For length, you’d expect a 3 month old baby boy to be around 24” and 23.5” for a baby girl.

Source: https://www.healthline.com/health/baby/all-about-your-3-month-old-baby#growth

What is size 0-3 months in different retailers?

Here is 0-3 month size in some different stores. In general, Walmart seems to cater for slightly smaller babies, and Nordstrom looks a good bet if your baby is bigger than average.

  • Walmart: 6.5-12lbs weight; 20.5-23” length.
  • Carters: 9-12.5lbs weight; 21.5-24” length.
  • Target: 9-12lbs weight; 20.5-23.5” length. (You can find their size charts when you look at individual items of clothing on their website)
  • Nordstrom: 10-14lbs weight; 21.5”-24” length.

What size is 3-6 months?

Once your baby has outgrown the 0-3 month size, it’s time for something a little bigger. Size 3-6 months is generally for babies who are between 12-18lbs in weight and 24-27” in height. However, just like other sizes of baby clothes, the length and weight range can alter a bit between various retailers.

How does this size compare to the UK and Europe?

The UK uses a similar scale to the US from newborns to 24 months and then things are a little different for toddler sizes. They also use 3-6 months as a size label which is for babies who are 24-27” long and who weigh 12-18lbs.

In Europe the equivalent to 3-6 months is 62-68 cm. Sometimes you may just see 68cm as a label though.

When do babies wear 3-6 month clothes?

As you’d likely expect, for the average size baby on the 50th percentile, they should wear this size clothing when they around 3 months until they are 6 months old. However, in reality it’s not that simple. Your baby may be slightly longer than average, but have a lower weight (or vice versa). It’s also possible your 2 month old baby may need 3-6 month clothing, but it’s also fine for your 8 month old to still wear this size if they are smaller than average.

Furthermore, there are slightly different measurements for this size at various retailers. You might find one brand fits your baby a lot better than another (see below).

Can a newborn wear this size?

This size would be simply too big for a newborn baby to use from birth, even if your baby has a high birth weight (only around 9% of newborns weigh more than 8lbs 13oz from birth). That being said, if your baby is in the 75th percentile for weight or higher, they can start wearing this size when they are around 30-50 days old (once they reach around 12lbs). It’s ok if the clothes are a little loose.

Are 6 month clothes the same as 6-9 months?

This can confuse some parents, but as a rule you should always look at the bigger number on the label when there is an age range. 6-9 month clothing is designed for babies who can fit into them up to the age of 9 months. If you see a 6 month label on some clothing, that really falls into the 3-6 month bracket.

Is 6 months the same as 3-6 months?

Yes. Some brands don’t use 3-6 months as a label, and just have 6 months. It shouldn’t be this confusing should it! Fortunately, it’s not that common. 3-6 months means for children up to the age of 6 months.

What size is a 6 month old baby?

The average weight of a 6 month baby girl (in the 50th percentile) is 16lb 1oz, and for a boy it’s 17lb 8oz. You’d expect a girl to be 25.9” in length and around 26.6” for a boy.

What is size 3-6 months in different stores?

Having outlined the differences in 0-3 month sizes in various stores, here’s a look at 3-6 months.  

  • Walmart: 12.5-16lbs weight; 23.5-26” length.
  • Carters: 12.5-17lbs weight; 24-27” length.
  • Target: 12-16lbs weight; 23-26” length. (Check out individual items of clothing on their website to find size charts)
  • Nordstrom: 15-18lbs weight; 24.5”-27” length.

Here we can see a very similar thing to 0-3 months. Walmart and Target look like a good choice for smaller size babies, but Nordstrom cater for slightly bigger boys and girls.

0-3 vs 3-6 month clothing sizes

How many 0-3 month and 3-6 month clothes do you need?

In general, many first time parents buy too many clothes for their newborn, especially in the newborn size. It’s possible that this size might be too small from day 1 or after only a week!

For 0-3 month and 3-6 month clothing, if you’re thinking about how much to buy of each item, there is a guide over on Babylist which offers some good advice:

  • 7 bodysuits
  • 3-5 pants
  • 2 hats
  • 5 pairs of socks
  • 2-3 swaddles
  • 4 sleepers or gowns.

 However, there are a number of other factors to consider:

  1. How often you’ll do laundry? If you are only planning to do this once a week, you’ll need around double the number above.
  2. Summer or winter months? If your baby is going to be between 0-3 or 3-6 months in the summer, you’ll also need a summer hat and a couple of light blankets. If it’s in the winter months, you’ll need a coat, some sweaters, some extra socks, booties and mittens.