OT -- Need to find school clothes for a somewhat "chubby" 4 year old girl -- HELP!

[Hunnybee]

Hello!

I need help! My DD (4) needs school clothes. The problem is she is 4 years old but needs a 6X for her tummy. However, the length is way too long in 6X. Also, even some of the size 6 clothes don't fit because they are SKIN-TIGHT which apparently is the style right now. When I try to get a long-sleeve shirt the sleeves are way too long.

Anyway, enough of my sob story, does anyone have any stores they can recommend to me that cut their clothes a little larger? We've tried Meijer and Target. Tomorrow, we're heading out to the mall to do some shopping. Also, we are on a budget so I can't afford to spend a ton -- I still need to buy clothes for big brother too.

Do any of you have the same problem? Have you found any stores that work for your kids? Any suggestions you have would be appreciated.

Thanks so much!

 

[ceecee]

Sears carry plus sizes for girls, maybe you could try there.

 

[cccm]

Lands End has plus size clothes as well.

 

[forr2grls]

I feel your pain.Been there,done that,still doing it.The only thing that I can really suggest is to start hemming the pants and shirts.You don't even have to sew.Buy a decent fabric glue and follow directions!Hope this helps.

Paula

 

[pperfectmom]

I feel your pain. My four year old DD weighs 57 pounds! We rely on hand-me-downs from her 3 older cousins but I think she is passing them right now. They are all skinny minnies. I hate opening up a bag and seeing 6 slim. We don't even bother trying those on. What I have the most luck with is the Sonoma brand at Kohl's. They are fairly inexpensive and most have elastic waistbands. She isn't terribly tall for her age but their 6 works for her. Good luck!

 

[scrappinmom]

ANother vote for Land's End. I buy many of their dresses every year. I have to have them hemmed. but they fit nice

JC Penney also has girls plus, as does Sears

My 8 yr old is 88 pounds. She runs, plays soccer, basketball, does hip hop, and her favorite snack is a bottle of water and a baggie full of carrots....so...I live the clothes issue every year.

Good luck!

 

[cmurray234]

Unfortunately, often when children get to 6x size, they start to thin out through the waist whereas toddlers and preschoolers still tend to be round. My daughter is almost 7, my son just turned 5. She weighs about 12 pounds more than he does and probably has 5 or 6 inches on him - but their waists are the same size - 19 inches. Which means that you get MUCH more length and not a whole lot more in term of waist size.

My friend has this issue with both her children. She ended up purchasing legging-type pants for her daughter and had to hem her son's pants.

 

[Mickeyorbust]

I know how you feel. Had the same situation with my oldest when she was young. That was before most of the major retailers started carrying girls plus sizes. Most of the time a larger size and seam tape, the iron on kind, to hem them up would work. I am sewing challenged. A sales clerk at one of the stores suggested boys pants as they have inseam and length making easier to fit her size. I did buy her a pair of boys jeans. Made sure they were very gender nuetral design. And they were the best fitting pants she had. Just don't tell her they're boys pants.

 

[mrsklamc]

I don't know if this holds true for girls or not, but my sister's little boy is chunky and they had the best luck with the 'husky' sizes at old navy.

 

[gorams]

We have this problem too. The solution for us has been stretchy knit pants only. Yoga pants from Gap Kids are great. You don't have to worry about the length because you can get the right size. Shirts I just go bigger and hem the sleeves if necessary.

 

[PlutoPup]

Hanna Anderson and Gymboree (husky) has nice clothes that run big. hth

 

[StephMK]

My oldest DD was the same way. We had the best luck at Penney's. Their plus sizes worked great for her & they had some style but still age appropriate. Since it's after Labor Day, you should find some pretty good sales & coupons are available pretty regularly.

 

[KerriMc]

I too share in your agony of shopping for your little one!! I have a six year old who I've had to shop for and now my four year old has developed quite the belly (looks exactly like me at that age!!)

My oldest is now 6 and she has gradually grown taller, but is solid still. She will never be a "skinny-minnie" and finding clothes has been a struggle. I live in Ontario, which is even worse than living in the Us for kids clothes. We seem to really like slim fit up here (eek!!) ... so I went shopping at the outlets in Birch Run, MI before school started. We had a lot of luck at the Gymboree outlet because their sizes go up to 12 yrs. She wears an 8 or 9 depending on size. We don't do button up pants, but elastic waists and she loves dresses and skirts. I also found some things for her at JC Penny. I though plus size would be our best bet, but to be honest the plus size is very big!! It just hung on her. When she was younger she wore a lot of nice Roots track pants and leggings type pants that were easier to roll a bit.

Now for my little one, who has grown quite the little belly lately. Again, we bought clothes for her at Carters (I will have to get a few pairs of pants hemmed though, but for $5 for someone else to do it is no biggie to me). We also got some stuff at JC Penney's for her too. That was actually the place we had the best luck in on the whole trip. (Buy one, get 2nd for 88 cent sale)

Neither girl had luck at Kohls (I find Sonoma tight over a real "poochie" belly - sticks right out!!) and no luck with Osh Kosh, Gap, or Children's Place (although we have here in the past for oldest).

The hardest part is not being able to buy the "cheaper" stuff. I do end up spending more on their clothing, but they look better in it than they would if I just bought everything way big and rolled, or hemmed cheap stuff. I am not as stressed this time around with the second, because I've been there done that. Heck I even have an awful time shopping for me!!!

It will get better as she grows taller!!!!

Good luck

KErri

 

[Hannathy]

I agree with Sears and Penney's. Some Walmarts have plus sizes.

I do have a suggestion for plain jeans. Go to the boys dept and get huskies. Boys jeans are cut shorter for the corresponding size than a girls! I found this out with my DD. A girls 6 will be 2 inches longer than a boys 6 so this worked out very well for my short DD.

 

[kctwinmommy]

I hate to say that I'm glad I'm not the only one frustrated with this. My 4 year old DD is only 37" but she's almost 40 lbs.!! And it's all in her tummy. So, there's basically NO jeans that will fit. They just don't have enough give in the waist area. So she's now stuck with a lot of leggings, sweats, and those kind of cotton pants. But, I did get some really cute skirts at The Children's Place (great sale right now too!) and they're longer, so with tights, it won't be too bad in the cooler weather.

It's just so darn frustrating that these companies think that every little girl wants her clothes looking like they're painted on and she needs all these fashion things. Just give me good, basic clothes, that fit my kid!!

Sorry I don't have much advice for the OP, it sounds like others have given some though. OH - but check TCP, they have uniforms there too, and I think on clearance now.

 

[kctwinmommy]

I agree with Sears and Penney's. Some Walmarts have plus sizes.

I do have a suggestion for plain jeans. Go to the boys dept and get huskies. Boys jeans are cut shorter for the corresponding size than a girls! I found this out with my DD. A girls 6 will be 2 inches longer than a boys 6 so this worked out very well for my short DD.

Really???? I'll have to check that out! Thanks! Of course, then we need to see if they fit the waist!

 

[autumnbaby9]

my DD is very short so all the clothing in her size are way too long for her.

I second looking at the boys sections.

I also buy capris and 3/4 length shirts. When my DD wears them the capris hit where normal pants would if she wasn't short and the same thing with the 3/4 length sleeves. This way she gets girly clothing without me having to alter all of it.

 

[disneymarie]

J.C. Penny
Has the same girls fashions in the Plus size section, stylish afforadable, lot's of sales and reduction. In a few weeks this will be half off, and then after that at least 70%. Last week I got sets buy one get the other for $1.00.

My daughter like loose fitting and is in that B'Teen size. I am able to find great comfortable clothes. Oh, they have the monkey seris of clothing.
dianne

 

[Mom-to-2-Princesses]

We have done well recently with Sears and Penneys = they have a nice selection, the same styles and reasonable prices.

In the past we haves also bought the boys brands - you get to go down in size as well. The pants have been good but especially the boys polos (my girls wear uniforms and the girls tops were all too tight)

Now if you want to "bling it up" or girl-ify it == just go to Jo Anns and buy a decal or decorative ribbon. You can make the boy item look total girly!

Good Luck!

 

[WDWHo]

Maybe think about changing the style of clothes. My step daughter had this build at this age and I put her in cute tights and flouncy tops. Very in right now too. More figure forgiving.