Toddler clothing question

[sparty04]

DS is 2 and currently wears a 2t in shorts with the waist cinched. Last summer he wore 12 months most of the summer, 18 towards the end. Is it safe to assume he'll probably be in 3t next summer? I know nothing is guaranteed, but I'm trying to take advantage of clearance sales. Toddler sizes confuse me

[karinothing]

DS still fits in his 18 month shorts and he is almost 3. I feel like shorts last longer than pants. To me the big huge difference between 2T and 3T is length, but it sounds like your guy is bigger than my DS so it should be fine.

[Deleted]

It's hard to know. DD who is perfectly average moved up sizes right on cue for the longest time. Then she wore 2T for the longest time and skipped right over 3T to 4T which she has been in for 6plus months already.

[Deleted]

We reused last year's shorts because he potty trained over the winter - so last year he was in 18m or 2T shorts with a diaper. This year, same shorts without (and we have to flip the waistband to hold some up). I suspect next year he'll still wear many of the same shorts. I'm going to get rid of the 18m ones but keep anything 24 m and bigger.

[Deleted]

It's hard to say. DS is very tall and chunky, he was in 24m clothes at 10 months old. He was in 2T this winter, I moved him up to 3T in the spring shortly after he turned 2. I agree with karinothing and @tokenhoser that shorts seem to last longer. The big difference in toddler sizes is length. I will be buying 4T shirts and 3T pants for the fall, he'll be 2.5ish.

ETA: I think PJs run way small. He's in 4T PJs already.

[sparty04]

Ok, this helps. He has a skinny waist but is really tall so I haven't even bothered with anything smaller than 2t this summer (too short). Worst case scenario I lose a few bucks as a result of trying to plan ahead. Thanks!

[megs193]

I would buy the 3T. Even if you use the 2T again next summer you should still be able to use the 3t the following summer. I have a tall skinny kid and I have never reused shorts from one summer to the next because they all seem too short.

[cayl]

We're actually using quite a few shorts and pants from last summer. Shorts are just shorter, and pants make good capris. My girls are very petite (not sure where they got that from!) so we're getting lots of use out of their clothes.