No! It can be done – really! Here are a few tips to help with the biggest struggles you may run up against when attempting to measure a baby or toddler.

Don’t have a seamstress or tailor measuring tape?

They’re not that expensive and the best place to go if you want to actually find them in stock is your local sewing and/or craft store. Anywhere else, it seems to be just chance. Don’t try Dad’s tape measure or that yardstick in the corner to directly measure the child! You’re just asking for extra trouble and even worse, risking buying the wrong size. If that’s all you’ve got, you can use them, but in conjunction with another item.

Find any flexible (but not too stretchy) string like material such as string (of course), yarn, a soft belt/tie from a dress, a long shoelace or even a necktie. These should be long enough to measure a small child and small enough to manage easily. Using your “string”, place one end at the first point and then mark the “string” at the point where you would normally read the measuring tape. For example, if you are taking an arm measurement, place one end at the top of the shoulder and then pinch the “string” at the point where you want the sleeve to fall at the wrist. Now, take the “string” to whatever measuring device you do have available and measure the “string”. Continue in this way for each measurement that is appropriate for the garment you need the measurements for.

The size chart lists garment measurements rather than body measurements or height and weight?

While this may sound more difficult since it’s not the most common size chart format, you may actually find it easier to work with. Example Garment Measurement Size Chart Take the child’s measurements as described in the chart, or find a similar style garment that fits your child well and measure it. It’s that simple! Compare those measurements to the chart to determine the right size.

Baby is napping or just won’t hold still?

The most common thing I hear from parents is, “But he/she is sleeping, I’ll have to wait until later.” This makes sense since we all know what happens when we get on the phone! Most parents wait until the little ones are asleep to do their online shopping and other things that require some thought or concentration. Well, if you’ve got a particularly wiggly child, you may find this the BEST time to try to measure. This is also a good time to use an alternate measuring device such as a string (see above) to minimize any disturbance to the sleeping child because it can be easier to manoeuvre. Now this may not work with every child, but many parents have been successful with this technique.

Now, for a few things to keep in mind.

Laying down, a child’s leg length will be slightly longer, so don’t add a little for good measure at this point. When standing, the child will be slightly shorter. Remember when your doctor switched from measuring baby’s height with him/her laying on the table to a standing measurement? Baby didn’t really get shorter from his or her last visit, it’s just that standing compresses the joints, reducing the height.

When working with a size chart that gives garment measurements, pay attention to any recommendations on how to take the measurement. You’ll want to take yours the same way, from the same points that they did, for obvious reasons. Also note if they state a fitting allowance. You’ll need to add this allowance to the child’s measurement and compare that to the chart’s measurement. For example, if the child’s chest measurement is 22 inches and the chart says to allow 3-5 inches for fitting, add the child’s measurement to the allowance to get a 25-27 inch range for the chest. Next, refer to the garment measurement in the chart to find the size that will fit that range, not the actual child’s measurement of 22 inches.

If fitting a child who is not yet walking, you have a bit more room for error in the leg measurement for pants since you don’t need to worry about them dragging the floor or tripping him/her while walking. In fact, pre-walkers often need a little extra length in both pants and dresses as they tend to ride up during their regular activities, being held, etc.

Don’t forget your child’s proportions when you make sizing decisions. If he or she needs the room around the middle, consider getting the size to fit the larger measurement and get the garment hemmed. Pants and sleeves are pretty straightforward, but if choosing a dress, make sure hemming it won’t be a major project. You probably don’t want to have to take the whole thing apart at the waist to shorten the skirt. Also, if you’re preparing for a special event, leave yourself extra time to deal with alterations, if they become necessary. You don’t need the added stress of a last minute time crunch!

Although not every tip will work for everyone, and some may not be new to you, it never hurts to have another idea to use in the right situation. Happy clothes shopping!

Do you ever wonder just what your kids do to get those beautiful white shoes so dirty? It only takes a second and you’re left wondering if you’ll ever get them clean! Well, I still wonder, but not about how to get them clean. Use an ordinary baby wipe and just wipe the entire surface clean. Tougher spots may take a little elbow grease, but you should be able to get most everything off. Oh, and those silvery markings from rubbing the shoes on the metal of the desks and chairs at school? No problem! Done regularly, you can keep those white dress shoes and sneakers looking nearly new until they outgrow them!

I’ve found the best results with leather shoes. Some non-leather shoes do not clean up as well, but I still get better results than with any soap and water that I’ve tried. Plus, they’re ready to wear again immediately – no drying time required. I’ve used several brands of baby wipes and they all seem to perform the same.

You have just stumbled upon the opening post of a blog that has been many years in research and stalled for about 3 years in the creative department! I own and operate The Rosey Bear Boutique (www.RoseyBearBoutique.com). How is this relevant? Well, our vision is to provide service to our customers and not just throw product into boxes as fast as possible and have it rattle it’s way to the customer’s door. We assist with everything from choosing the appropriate item, determining proper sizing and even finding hard-to-find items. Through this personal service, we have spent many hours talking to parents across the country.

The years of research (also known as life experience), are what sparked the first idea, some years ago, of sharing tips and techniques that have made the difference in some of the more impossible situations in my home. Often asking the question, “Where IS the manual for this child?!”, we’ve turned to other parents for suggestions or just a little reassurance that we aren’t the only ones experiencing the same kind of struggle.

Well, knowing that many out there are going through the same sort of things, it only makes sense to share any successful methods that we find along the way. Now, we get to the point! (finally, you say?) So, we’ve extended our service to include this blog. If one customer found a tip useful, isn’t it likely that others might? Just because someone isn’t a customer, aren’t they just as likely to be interested in tips that could potentially make some small aspect of their lives easier? Although it’s not certain, it is possible. So, here we are at the Mom 2 Mom Tips blog. Maybe you won’t find anything here useful, but we hope you do. If we can save just one gray hair for just one parent, then I guess it’s worth it!