Custom stitching
Custom clothes for babies who don’t fit standard sizes
Long and slim, small and early, or chunky and short: when standard baby sizes don’t fit, how custom pieces help and which measurements to send.
Why standard sizes don’t fit every baby
Baby sizes like 0–3M or 6–12M are built around typical proportions for an age. Real babies vary a lot: some are long and lean, some short and round, some arrive early and small, some are big from day one. A baby can match a size in weight but not in length, and that mismatch is where ready-made clothes start to pull, gape or swamp.
Most of the time, choosing the right size solves it; our guide to baby clothes sizes by age, height and weight helps you pick by length and weight rather than age. When no single size works, a custom piece, or a custom change to one of ours, can.
Long and slim babies
Long babies often outgrow all-in-ones in length while the width still has plenty of room. The sign is a sleepsuit that pulls at the shoulders, makes the baby curl their toes, or rides up at the crotch. With a footed sleepsuit such as our Sky Blue Teddy & Stars Footed Sleepsuit, tight feet are usually the first clue.
For a custom piece, send the baby’s length and their shoulder-to-crotch measurement. Ask whether the length can be adjusted, or consider two-piece sets, which are more forgiving because the top and trousers can each be sized separately.
Sturdier babies with shorter limbs
The opposite pattern is a baby who needs a bigger size around the tummy and thighs but ends up with sleeves over the hands and legs flapping past the feet. Custom sizing can combine a wider body with shorter sleeves and legs. Send chest, tummy or hips over the nappy, arm length and inside leg. Elastic waists and snap fastenings also help, as they adjust to the body rather than asking the body to fit them.
Watch the neck and cuffs as well. Sturdy babies often have chubby wrists and short necks, so ribbed cuffs that grip and high, close necklines can leave red marks. Ask for softer, slightly looser cuffs and a neckline that sits flat rather than hugging the throat.
Premature and very small babies
Babies born early may be smaller than our smallest size, 0–3M, for several weeks. If your baby is in a neonatal unit, ask the nurses what clothing is allowed and what access they need, for example for monitoring leads or feeding tubes, before ordering anything. Many units have particular requirements.
Once you know, a custom piece can be made to the baby’s measurements with openings where they are needed. Front and side openings with snaps, rather than anything pulled over the head, are usually easiest.
What to send us
- Your baby’s age, length and weight, with the date measured.
- Chest and tummy or hips over the nappy.
- Shoulder to crotch, for all-in-ones.
- Arm length and inside leg, if limbs are notably long or short.
- Which of our sizes fits best now and exactly where it doesn’t fit, such as “width fine, too short in the body”.
- A photo of a well-fitting garment laid flat, if you have one.
Ordering
Send the details through our custom request page, or tell us which of our pieces you’d like adjusted: every product can be customised. We confirm what’s possible, the price and the making time before you pay. For step-by-step measuring, see how to measure a baby. Babies who don’t fit standard sizes often change shape quickly too, so re-measure before each order rather than reusing last month’s numbers.
Quick answers
My baby is 4 months old but fits 6–12M in length. What should I order?
Order by length rather than age, and check that the width isn’t too loose at the neck and arms. If it is, a custom adjustment to the length or a two-piece set may fit better.
Can you make clothes smaller than 0–3M?
Ask us with your baby’s measurements. For a baby in hospital, check with the neonatal team first about what clothing and openings they need.
Is it normal for babies not to fit their age size?
Yes, very common. Age labels are only a rough guide, which is why length and weight are more reliable for choosing a size.
Should I order two sizes for a long, slim baby?
A two-piece outfit is often easier to fit than an all-in-one, because the top and trousers each follow their own measurements. With a custom order you can send those measurements and have the outfit made to fit.
