WTH Plus size clothes for kids!?! vent

[Cindyluwho]

I was trying desperately trying to find a pair of jeans and a pair of sweat pants for my DD11 yesterday, she is extrememly hard to fit with a small waist and very long legs. I grew up that way and it can be very frustrating. We checked first at Target - the size 12s were too big in the waist and too short. BUT - for the first time in my life I saw they had plus size pants for girls. They only had a few pairs, I didn't think much about it, I would guess it would be equally hard to find shorter legged pants that are large in the waist. Headed to the mall and went to JC Penney's. Now, I'll admit I only go there maybe once a year but I really didn't want to spend $40 on sweatpants at Limited Too and was hoping for a less expensive pair. Did you know that Penney's has a whole section of plus size clothes for girls? I'm sorry, flame away if you must, but don't parents realize that they're putting their kids' lives on the line when they let them get overweight. I started looking around the mall and noticed that the majority of the kids AND parents that were shopping in the mall were HUGE!! I'm not talking about a few pounds overweight here or about kids that are chunking up getting ready for a growth spurt. What is happening? Don't the parents get how unhealthy it is for kids to carry around this kind of weight. If an adult wants to eat unhealthy and not get enough exercise then I guess that's their decision, but setting your child up for a lifetime of poor health is inexcusible in my opinion. Stop buying potato chips, sodas, McDonald's, etc and let these kids have a life! BTW-it also annoys me when I see young kids (6,7,8 years old) with Soda Pop. What are these parents thinking? Oh, and the pair of jeans that we found that finally fit my daughter? $68 at the Limited Too, not one pair and Penney's, Children's Place, Macys, etc.
Since people replying to my post have not bothered to read the entire thread I'd like to add:
I'm NOT talking about chunky or overweight kids. I'm talking about kids who are obese because their parents either don't know or don't care enough to teach good eating habits and the benefits of exercise. If an adult wants to be overweight, that's their business. But forcing a child into that lifestyle is cruel. It will effect the rest of their life.

 

[mickman1962]

this one should be fun.

 

[RitaZ.]

I have been looking for jeans for DD and noticed that at TheChildren'splace.com. They did have some regular jeans on sale, sizes were lmited, but lots more in Plus sizes. Check out TCP online, they have the adjustable waistbands and did have some good prices on jeans. I ended up getting 3 for DD at a little over $5 a piece.

 

[DisneyPhD]

That age can be a hard one to find cothes that fit for girls. Every body is so differenent at that age. Some girls are tall and thin, some a bit more short and not as thin. (as my DN was.) She wasn't fat but if we wanted to get kids size cothes we had to get plus size pants because her waist was much bigger then her lengh.

We finally just gave up and moved to adult sizes for pants and then later all her cothes. They fit her fine. She wore a size 4 peite back then. Hardly fat, but she was more curvy then many other girls at her age (mostly hips.)

People come in all sizes and shapes. So do kids. I am glad they have more options. As a teenager she doesn't wear plus size cothes.

Just be happy your kid has a small wasit and long legs for now. The next frew years are going to bring about some changes. Get ready for it.

 

[kristen821]

this one should be fun.

I'm with you on this one!


I too have the same problem as the op with my ds7. He is too thin for his length!
I do think that some children are just born to be bigger and I really don't give the bigger children much thought. I feel bad that they get judged. I have seen big children turn in to very nice looking adults.

 

[Cindyluwho]

OK, I understand carrying clothes of all sizes but a whole special section for Plus Size kids? For heaven's sake, I almost feel that it's encouraging them, well not necessarily encouraging them but like it's saying it's OK to be obese. Once again, let me clarify- I'm not talking about a few pounds overweight or chunking up to get ready for a growth spurt.

 

[janette]

My 11yo DD wears the + sizes at JCP. She's not obese at all but they just fit the way she wants better. My 14yo DD always needed slim sizes and now needs very small talls. Thankfully the stores don't make a judgement on what size kids should be but stock clothes for the sizes they are.

 

[DisneyPhD]

OK, I understand carrying clothes of all sizes but a whole special section for Plus Size kids? For heaven's sake, I almost feel that it's encouraging them, well not necessarily encouraging them but like it's saying it's OK to be obese. Once again, let me clarify- I'm not talking about a few pounds overweight or chunking up to get ready for a growth spurt.

So then, are really fat kids just supost to go naked?

That doesn't sound like a good plan to me (especailly in winter.)

Manufacturs make things to fill a need.

If my kids were starting to have a weight problem I would do something about it. Make sure we ate healthy meals and got regluar exersise. (oh wait I already do that.) Anyway I would still love them they were they are and keep them in cothes that fit.

 

[CanBeGrumpy]

Well, plus-size clothes for girls have been around since I was a kid, and I'm 38 years old. I remember having to get the "pretty plus" version, or whatever they were called. Not to worry, though, when I hit puberty I slimmed down to 102 pounds (I'm 5'5" tall) and when I got married at 28, I weighed 112--very thin. Now, two pregnancies later, I weigh in around 130--still a decent weight, although I'm trying to lose a little bit of the "mommy middle".

Although I agree that as a nation, our eating habits are completely out of control, I do not agree that every chubby girl that has to shop in the plus-size department is doomed to a life of obesity. A lot of things happen when puberty hits!!

I have the same problem as the OP, except my child is a boy. I have had great luck with the Arizona brand from JCPenny. They carry slim, and they also have odd sizes like 9 slim and 11 slim that I haven't really found anywhere else. Unfortunately my second child is just slightly thicker around the middle, so I am unable to pass the slim jeans down to him! So my thin little nephew gets them all!

 

[Kaycee]

A lot of adolescent girls go through a chubby stage even though they were thin children and will grow up to be thin adults. I know that has happened to a lot of friends and family members, and it happened to me. I was always very thin, then when I turned 10 or 11 I got really chubby. I slimmed back down when I was 14 and I've been thin ever since (with the exception of right after giving birth). At age 12, I weighed more than I do now. I was 5'2" and weighed 125. Now I'm 5'5" but I weigh 112. I wish when I was going through that chubby change I would've been able to find clothes that fit. I still remember, decades later, how embarrassing it was to have to buy "old lady" clothes because that was all that would fit.

 

[Snowysmom]

There have been plus size clothes for kids since the 60's at least. At Sears it was called Chubby Girls sizes. I know, I wore them. It was nice to get some pretty clothes that fit well. Go ahead and flame but kids who are heavy have enough issues. Finding nice looking clothes that fit should not be one of them. I don't think kids and parents go around thinking that since they make clothes for heavy kids, let's just get heavy! I am sorry that you are finding it so hard to find clothes for your child but I don't think that flaming kids and parents who are heavy is helping any situation.

 

[pearlieq]

While I totally understand what you're saying and even agree with you to some extent, I'm actually kind of glad they're out there. I would rather have these girls have the option of getting nice, age-appropriate clothes instead of having to shop for "grandma clothes" as I called them as a kid. I was the only 12 year old with a floral applique sweatshirt and it wasn't really a positive experience.

I agree that the ideal would the that these girls would not be overweight in the first place, but in the meantime, I think making them feel bad about themselves by not being able to dress like their peers isn't going to help anything. Being "normal" is so important at that age--I know not being able to dress like the other kids made me feel bad and didn't do anything to help me with my weight problem.

 

[dismom9761]

I do agree that parents need to be more responsible in what children eat.Please do not assume that every "large" child eats that way though.Unfortunately this is what I am facing.I am glad that I am able to find a variety of clothes for my DD6.She eats a healthier diet than any child I know.She cannot wear regular clothes though.Her tummy is round and doesn't fit in alot of regular clothes.I also am glad that their are alot of slim sizes too.My DS8 wears slim with tabs that I have to tighten.

 

[Beth76]

I almost feel that it's encouraging them, well not necessarily encouraging them but like it's saying it's OK to be obese.

Not necessarily. There's such a stigma attached to being "plus-sized" that it could be an awakening for them.

 

[inaminute]

All I can say is--it's about time! People come in all shapes and sizes--even kids.

They've had husky and slim sizes for boys for years. I'm glad they finally got around to noticing that girls grow differently from each other as well. Some are very tall and thin, some are preparing for a height spurt by carrying a little extra weight. Some develop earlier--but you wouldn't necessarily want them wearing clothing meant for teens. I think it's great they're carrying styles for girls in sizes that are a little larger.

Most likely truly obese children wouldn't be wearing those sizes anyway--they'd already be shopping in adult sizes.

 

[Keli]

My dd started to get chunky in her pre-teen years and we did have to watch her nutrional intake. She'd become a fan of too much junk food and she was eating at places other than home a lot more (grandma's, friends, etc) and I didn't realize how bad her diet had become. We also started making more time in our schedules to allow her to play more school and rec sports gave her a jr. membership to the gym her dad used. Dad would take her to the gym with him and she'd do the cardio machines (loved the bicycle one that allowed you to play a video game on it depending on how fast you went). It was a bit of work but well worth it for dd's health and well being. It's very hard on pre-teen and teen girls to be overweight from a social standpoint too.

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

OK, I understand carrying clothes of all sizes but a whole special section for Plus Size kids? For heaven's sake, I almost feel that it's encouraging them, well not necessarily encouraging them but like it's saying it's OK to be obese. Once again, let me clarify- I'm not talking about a few pounds overweight or chunking up to get ready for a growth spurt.

Wow. Just WOW. *boggles* What's Happening? Computers, Video Games, cell phones. Children don't play outside for fear of being snatched from their homes. America is becoming an insular nation.

I'm sorry this offends your sensibilities, but people, young and old, do come in all shapes and sizes. Some can help it, some can't. Some make poor choices out of ignorance, some because thats what they prefer. The world is not made up of cookie cutter people, if it were, what a boring place it would be.

Would you rather that the fat kids fit in and dressed appropriately or wore ill fitting clothes that were poorly made? Would that make it better? That way they could be made fun of for being fat -AND- out of style? Honestly, all it's saying is it's OK to be who you are.

I respect your opinion, but I applaude the stores for offering these choices to young men and women, because growing up, I was a big girl. Trendy clothing wasn't available, so my uniform was t-shirts and jeans. Now a girl can dress to flatter her best features, and play down the ones she doesn't like so much, and there's NOTHING wrong with that.

 

[kristen821]

Kids can be so mean to other kids with weight issues. A lot of adults too! I definately think each child should be able to dress as a trendy kid. It is so hard to fit in as a kid. Stores have slim sizes too and kids get made fun of for being to skinny. We certainly can't blame that on the parents and fatten those kids up. Why should anyone look down on heavier kids. I feel bad for anyone with weight issues, but it isn't always the parents or child's fault. It could be in thier genes. Thier could be medical issues or it could be money issues. Healthy food is more expensive and that is why low-income families have a higher risk for heavier kids. I am sure in most cases the parents are doing everything they can to help thier kid. Nobody wants thier child to have a hard time fitting in.

 

[Randi]

Just wanted to say that plus sizes for kids have been available since the 1940's. Yep, way before McDonald's, snack foods, etc. Most of the kids I knew, especially girls did put on weight between 5 & 12. But we rode bikes, played outdoors a lot, walked to school, etc. Then in the teen years, we slimmed down and grew taller.
Count me in as one who appreciates having cute clothes available in any size.

 

[Nickimouse]

Just a quick note to help you find pants to fit your DD. Go up a size and get slim fit. My neice is thin with long legs and this worked for her.