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The Animals Observatory
Here’s how The Animals Observatory fits your child compared to other brands you might be considering, so you know before it’s in your cart.
What size is (and isn’t) like The Animals Observatory at other brands?
Find your child’s The Animals Observatory size on the left. Twins wear the same number the same way — your size carries straight over. Strangers use the same number but cut it shorter or longer, so don’t trust the label alone.
In short
Where the number just works. At 36M, The Animals Observatory 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 4Y, Petite Plume, Il Gufo, Bonpoint cut the same number differently. Check those before you trust the label.
Bottom line: for most sizes, a The Animals Observatory 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 →
Specialty & inclusive fits
Which trimmer, roomier, or adaptive cuts The Animals Observatory 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 The Animals Observatory’s own published chart; the notes here come from public parent discussion.
The Animals Observatory cuts much of its current kids’ line loose on purpose — but independent fit feedback is close to nonexistent. We could not find parents discussing how TAO fits, so this rests on the brand’s own words. TAO says its sizes follow standard European sizing, that some collections have ‘a slightly looser fit,’ and that it flags each product’s cut as oversized, regular or slim; its advice is to size down one for a more fitted look and up one for a more relaxed one. In the current collection the graphic T-shirts, sweaters, sweater vests and polos are described as oversized and the knit pants as relaxed, while plain logo tees are pitched as everyday basics; earlier seasons leaned more regular. Most pieces are GOTS-certified organic cotton, and the care advice is gentle — cold hand washing or a delicate cycle, inside out. It is a premium-priced brand.
Based on anecdotal discussion from multiple publicly available online sources; your experience may differ.
Should you buy The Animals Observatory?
Consider it if…
- You like a loose, easy fit — TAO describes its current graphic tees, sweaters and polos as oversized, which layers well and leaves some room.
- You want organic cotton — the brand says it primarily uses GOTS-certified organic cotton.
- You’re after bold animal graphics — the illustrated prints are the point of the brand.
- You like a brand that states the cut — the cut is flagged on each product, with a stated rule for sizing down or up.
Think twice if…
- You want a close, tailored fit — on the looser pieces TAO itself suggests one size down for a fitted look.
- You rely on parent reviews before buying — we found almost no independent fit feedback, so the picture here is the brand’s own.
- You need throw-it-in clothes — TAO recommends cold hand washing or a gentle cycle no hotter than 30°C for its knits, inside out, and warns that overwashing tires the fabric.
- You’re price-sensitive — TAO sits at the premium end of kidswear.
Skip the cross-referencing — let Little & Youth do it.
Enter your child’s measurements once. We’ll show their The Animals Observatory size and their size at 100+ other brands, each from that brand’s own chart.
Find my child’s size →Shop The Animals Observatory ↗A few things parents ask that the chart won’t tell you
Does The Animals Observatory run big or small?
By design, much of the current line runs roomy: the brand describes many of its tees, sweaters and polos as oversized and says some collections have a slightly looser fit. There is too little shopper feedback to confirm how that plays out on real kids.
Should I size down?
Only if you want a closer fit. TAO’s own advice is one size smaller for a fitted look and one size up for a more relaxed look; otherwise match your child’s measurements to the chart.
How can I tell how a specific item fits?
Read the product description. TAO flags pieces as oversized, regular or slim (some product notes say relaxed) and says each product notes when a garment is cut looser or more fitted.
How should I wash it?
The brand suggests a gentle cold hand wash inside out, or a delicate machine cycle no hotter than 30°C, and spot-cleaning when you can. Denim should go in inside out to protect the indigo.
What measurements do I need to size The Animals Observatory accurately?
The Animals Observatory publishes height, chest, waist, hip in its size chart. Height is the primary driver, and the chest/waist figures let you confirm body fit for a child between sizes.
How do The Animals Observatory’s sock sizes work?
The Animals Observatory’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.
Where do I buy The Animals Observatory?
The Animals Observatory is sold on its own site and through select retailers.