Carter's
Here’s how Carter's fits your child compared to other brands you might be considering, so you know before it’s in your cart.
Find your child’s size in Carter's
Enter your child’s measurements once — we’ll size them in Carter's and at 100+ other brands, each from that brand’s own published chart. Height and weight are required; add chest, waist, hips and inseam to sharpen the fit.
Your child wears one size in Carter's. What should you buy elsewhere?
Pick the size your child wears at Carter's to see which brands have the same label and measurements (twins) and which run shorter or longer (strangers) — based on each brand’s own chart.
Show the full cross-brand table (every size)
| Carter's | Size twinssame number fits the same | Size strangerssame number, different cut |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 5lb0–17" | None — consistent across brands | |
| Preemie0–18" | None — consistent across brands | |
| Newborn18–21.5" | ||
| 3M21.5–24" | ||
| 6M24–27" | Il Gufo↓ shorter | |
| 9M27–28.5" | Il Gufo↓ shorter | |
| 12M28.5–30" | ||
| 18M30–32" | New Balance Kids↑ longerH&M Kids↑ longerAdidas Kids↑ longerEddie Bauer↑ longerPuma Kids↑ longerTommy Hilfiger Kids↑ longer+1 more | |
| 24M32–34" | New Balance Kids↑ longerConverse Kids↑ longerEddie Bauer↑ longerJacadi↑ longerTommy Hilfiger Kids↑ longer | |
| 2T35–36.5" | Garanimals↓ shorterMacy's Epic Threads↓ shorterMacy's First Impressions↓ shorterThe Children's Place↓ shorterWalmart Wonder Nation↓ shorterGerber Childrenswear↓ shorter+7 more | |
| 36M36.5–39" | None — consistent across brands | |
| 3T36.5–39" | Garanimals↓ shorterMacy's Epic Threads↓ shorterMacy's First Impressions↓ shorterWalmart Wonder Nation↓ shorterCalvin Klein Kids↓ shorterGerber Childrenswear↓ shorter+3 more | |
| 4T39–41.5" | Tommy Hilfiger Kids↓ shorterKyte Baby↓ shorter | |
| 440–42.5" | Il Gufo↓ shorterBonpoint↓ shorterMini Mioche↓ shorterConverse Kids↓ shorterPrimary↓ shorterTea Collection↓ shorter+2 more | |
| 5T41.5–44" | Tommy Hilfiger Kids↓ shorterCalvin Klein Kids↓ shorter | |
| 4-542.5–45" | ||
| 542.5–45" | ||
| XS42.5–45" | Mango Kids↑ longerTea Collection↓ shorterReebok Kids↑ longerNike Kids↑ longerBoxLunch↑ longerPuma Kids↑ longer+5 more | |
| 645–48" | Bonpoint↓ shorterIl Gufo↓ shorterConverse Kids↓ shorterU.S. Polo Assn.↓ shorterMini Mioche↓ shorterLevi's Kids↓ shorter+1 more | |
| 6 / 6X45–48" | None — consistent across brands | |
| 6X47–49" | None — consistent across brands | |
| 748–51.5" | Converse Kids↓ shorterLevi's Kids↓ shorterNext Kids↓ shorterMonica + Andy↓ shorterU.S. Polo Assn.↓ shorterMagnetic Me↓ shorter+5 more | |
| S49–51" | Nautica↓ shorterTea Collection↓ shorterVans Kids↓ shorterAmazon Essentials Kids↓ shorterJ.Crew Crewcuts↓ shorterReebok Kids↑ longer+3 more | |
| M51–54" | Nautica↓ shorterVans Kids↓ shorterAmazon Essentials Kids↓ shorterReebok Kids↑ longerTea Collection↓ shorterPuma Kids↑ longer+5 more | |
| 851.5–53.5" | Il Gufo↓ shorterBonpoint↓ shorterU.S. Polo Assn.↓ shorterNext Kids↓ shorterMini Mioche↓ shorterJacadi↓ shorter+8 more | |
| 1053.5–56" | ||
| 10-1253.5–59.5" | JoJo Maman Bébé↑ longer | |
| 1256–58" | Noralee↑ longerRylee + Cru↑ longerMayoral↑ longerHanna Andersson↑ longerJacadi↑ longerMagnetic Me↑ longer+13 more | |
| L56–59.5" | Nautica↓ shorterVans Kids↓ shorterAmazon Essentials Kids↓ shorterReebok Kids↑ longerPuma Kids↑ longerTea Collection↓ shorter+3 more | |
| 1458–59.5" | Petit Bateau↑ longerLacoste Kids↑ longerMini Mioche↑ longerMonica + Andy↑ longerRylee + Cru↑ longerConverse Kids↑ longer+21 more | |
| XL59–63" | Vans Kids↓ shorterAmazon Essentials Kids↓ shorterMango Kids↑ longerPuma Kids↑ longerJ.Crew Crewcuts↓ shorterReebok Kids↑ longer+4 more |
Sizes shown use Carter's girls’/unisex chart where the brand splits by gender; boys’ sizes at the same number can run slightly taller.
In short
Where the number just works. At Up to 5lb, Preemie, 36M, 6 / 6X, 6X, Carter's lines up with every brand we track — the size carries straight over.
Where labels drift. The exceptions are the “strangers” above — e.g. at size 5, Il Gufo, Converse Kids, Levi's Kids cut the same number differently. Check those before you trust the label.
Bottom line: for most sizes, a Carter's number is a safe bet elsewhere — measure once, then double-check only the handful of “stranger” brands above.
Curious about a size that isn’t your child’s here? Every size, compared across every brand, lives here: Browse all size comparisons →
Fit & the transitions that trip parents up
Carter's-specific things the size number alone won’t tell you — drawn from its own charts.
Labels are age ranges, not exact ages
A “3M” means 0–3 months, not exactly three — so read the range, not the number. Carter’s publishes chest, waist and inseam too, which gives you more than height to confirm a between-sizes fit.
Runs true, but the cotton can shrink
For an average build it fits true to size — buy your child’s usual number. Parents do report the cotton shrinking slightly in the wash, so a child near the top of a size often prefers the next one up.
One chart from newborn to big-kid
Carter’s spans baby through big-kid on one ladder, so a child can stay in the brand for years — handy, since the same size holds as they grow.
Sister lines: OshKosh, Little Planet, Simple Joys
OshKosh shares Carter’s exact chart (same parent), so tops and basics fit interchangeably. Little Planet is the organic line and Simple Joys is the Amazon value line — both are cut for volume and can fit a touch differently, so check the specific label.
Slim, Plus and Husky cuts (sizes 4–14)
In kid sizes 4–14, Carter’s offers Slim, Plus and Husky alongside the regular cut. Each keeps the same height and changes the fit through the waist and seat — useful for a lean or fuller build between the plain sizes.
Specialty & inclusive fits
Which trimmer, roomier, or adaptive cuts Carter's publishes alongside its standard sizes.
What shoppers say about the fit
Community consensus
Shopper opinion · not Little & Youth’s measurementThis is what parents report anecdotally — crowd sentiment, not a Little & Youth determination. Our sizing above is computed from Carter's own published chart; the notes here come from public parent discussion.
Carter’s runs true to size for an average-build child (around the 50th percentile). Two themes recur: Carter’s labels are age ranges — a “3M” means 0–3 months, not exactly 3 — and some parents report the cotton shrinking slightly in the wash, so a child near the top of a size often prefers the next one up.
Based on anecdotal discussion from multiple publicly available online sources; your experience may differ.
Should you buy Carter's?
Consider it if…
- You want one brand for years — it carries from baby through big-kid, so a child can stay in it as they grow.
- You want it cheap — one of the lowest-priced mainstream brands, with store-label value lines that go lower still and frequent deep sales.
- You want an organic option — its Little Planet line is GOTS-certified organic cotton.
- You like data to size by — it publishes chest, waist and inseam, not just height, so there’s more to confirm a between-sizes fit than most baby brands give you.
Think twice if…
- You expect the value lines to match the main line exactly — Simple Joys and Child of Mine are cut for volume and can fit a touch differently, so check the specific label.
- You want premium fabric or dressy pieces — Carter’s is everyday value basics, not an heirloom or occasion line.
- You’re placing a big order — brands revise sizing over time, so confirm against Carter’s live chart first.
Skip the cross-referencing — let Little & Youth do it.
Enter your child’s measurements once. We’ll show their Carter's size and their size at 100+ other brands, each from that brand’s own chart.
Find my child’s size →Shop Carter's ↗A few things parents ask that the chart won’t tell you
How much should I size up in Carter’s?
Only near the top of a size, or if you tumble-dry often. Carter’s fits an average build true to size, so most parents buy the straight size — the two times to bump up are when your child is at the tall or heavy end of a range, or when the cotton’s slight shrinkage would tighten an already-snug fit. When you’re between sizes, go by your child’s real height and weight rather than the age on the label.
What’s the difference between Carter’s, Simple Joys, Child of Mine, and Little Planet?
They’re all Carter’s. The main line sells at carters.com and department stores; Simple Joys is the Amazon-exclusive value line (multi-packs of basics), Child of Mine is the Walmart version and Just One You the Target version; Little Planet is the premium GOTS-organic line. Basics fit similarly across them, but the value lines are cut for volume, so confirm the specific label.
What do Carter’s age labels actually mean?
They’re ranges, not exact ages: a “3M” is meant for 0–3 months, “12M” for 9–12 months, and so on. Sizing by your child’s height and weight is more reliable than by age alone.
Where can I buy Carter’s?
Its own site (carters.com) and most major retailers — plus the store-exclusive value labels: Simple Joys on Amazon, Child of Mine at Walmart, and Just One You at Target. The organic Little Planet line is at carters.com and Target.
How does Carter’s compare to Cat & Jack or Gymboree?
At most sizes they’re “size twins” — the same number carries straight over. The comparison table above shows exactly which sizes match and which few run shorter or longer.
What measurements do I need to size Carter's accurately?
Carter's publishes height, weight, chest, waist in its size chart. Height is the primary driver, and the chest/waist figures let you confirm body fit for a child between sizes.
Do Carter's boys’ and girls’ sizes fit the same?
From the bigger sizes up, Carter's publishes separate girls’ and boys’ charts, so the same number can differ by gender. The figures on this page use Carter's girls’/unisex chart.
How do I choose between Carter's regular, Slim, Plus and Husky cuts?
Each of these is the same numbered size as the regular cut — same length, adjusted through the waist and seat (Slim trimmer, Plus and Husky roomier). So size to your child’s usual Carter's number from the chart above, then pick the cut by build: a smaller waist for Slim, a fuller waist and seat for the roomier cuts. You don’t need a separate measurement to choose.
How do Carter's shoe and sock sizes work?
Carter's carries kids’ shoes alongside its clothing. Kids’ shoe sizes go by foot length rather than age, and the same size number isn’t cut the same from brand to brand — so measure your child’s foot and check it against the chart. Carter's socks are sized by shoe size, not age — buy for your child’s current shoe size, and if they fall between two ranges choose the smaller so the sock stays up. See how every kids’ shoe brand runs and how wide each is cut on our kids’ shoe sizing guide.