What Size Comes After 5T? A Guide to Transitioning to Kids’ Sizes

As a first-time mom, you may have gone perusing the clothing racks looking for the next size up now that your little one’s 5Ts are getting snug.

But… why doesn’t there seem to be anything bigger?

What size comes after 5T?

The reason you’re not finding anything is that 5T is usually still found in the baby and toddler section, and most stores separate the sizes after that into the gendered “kid” clothing sections!

Unfortunately, that “kid” clothing section opens up a whole new can of worms.

You may have even bought an item or two there before because strangely enough, those sizes start at 4 instead of 6.

It can be pretty confusing to know what “order” your child should be fitting in these clothing sizes.

We’re going to go over all of it in detail so you can make an educated decision on what the next clothing size should be for your little one.

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What size is 5T, exactly?

If you already know your child is about to outgrow 5T in tops, bottoms, or both, knowing the typical measurements of this clothing size may help you determine what kids’ size clothing you need to shop for next.

All brands are different, of course.

(I know, I went to a lot of them and measured the clothes myself!)

But this table provides narrow ranges that cover the measurements of most brands found at common kids’ clothing stores like Walmart, Target, Old Navy, and Carter’s.

Average 5T Size Measurements

The Difference Between Size 5T and 5

What makes a “regular” 5 different from a 5T?

In some brands, the two aren’t separated – only one type of size 5 exists – and the difference is just a preference in brand labeling.

But many stores do carry both, and there are small differences.

5T bottoms tend to have more room for diapers and pull-ups so your child isn’t overly constricted while still potty training.

Furthermore, 5T bottoms tend to be more frequently tapered at the ankles than regular 5s (as are most baby and toddler pants).

In general, regular size 5 clothing is both longer and bigger around than 5T so they can last longer on your child.

This is also when you may start to notice more prominent differences in cut and style based on gender.

Many brands combine size 5 with size 4 (ie. 4/5 on the tag).

Based on my research in stores, a 4/5 shirt tends to be the same length as a 5T, but the 5T is usually a bit wider.

The pants, however, are shockingly different!

4/5 pants are usually both smaller and shorter than 5T pants.

In fact, 5T pants are very close in size to a regular size 6.

This really illustrates how 5T pants are made to accommodate the extra padding of a diaper underneath.

The Difference Between Size 5T and 6

For both boys and girls, size 6 tends to be more fitted around the waist and bottom than 5T, but that’s the only part that may fit smaller.

You’ll see virtually no size difference in the waist of bottoms during this transition, but the legs will be much noticeably longer.

(If you find your child does need more room in the waist or they have very long legs, size 6X will probably be your best bet.)

Long sleeves will also be longer, if not bigger around.

This is usually an age when kids hit a growth spurt and grow up instead of out, so you’ll need extra length more than anything.

Average Size 6 Measurements

Height	47-51 inches	119-129 centimeters
Weight	42-50 pounds	19-23 kilograms
Chest	23-25 inches (similar to 5T)	58-64 centimeters
Waist	22-23 inches	56-58 centimeters

Signs It’s Time to Buy New Clothes

If your child’s wrists and ankles are hanging out of their long sleeves and pants, it’s probably time to buy new clothes.

Other signs include your child being unable to take their own shirt off (when they previously could) or their underwear (and even booty crack!) peeking out of the top of their pants.

However, if the weather is changing from cool to warm, you can always change the way their 5T items are treated as part of their wardrobe.

Pants that still fit at the waist but end at the calf can be worn as capris.

Dresses that aren’t tight on the shoulders and chest but are too short can be worn with leggings (or those “new” capris!).

If you really do need to buy new clothes, buying children’s clothes a little bigger (looser) is better than buying them with a close fit.

This way they will last longer. After all, you already know how fast kids grow!

Just don’t buy their clothes too big.

Children deserve to be comfortable in their clothing, and need the freedom to be active without getting tangled up in or tripping over their clothes.

What size comes after 5T?

Size 6 is the next size after 5T.

Some parents do buy regular size 5 clothing once their child is potty-trained because a size 6 is noticeably larger than 5T and might be too big.

Toddler (T) sizes in the United States are labeled solely by the age when your child is expected to fit into them.

Once you’ve passed 24 months in baby clothes (which usually fit babies between 18 months and 24 months old), 2T is generally expected to last throughout the next year.

3T is expected to last through the age of three, and so on.

But non-T American children’s clothes are more about size and measurements than age.

All children grow at different rates, so continuing to compare sizes based on age is not realistic.

You can either try clothes on your child to find the right number to start them at, or you can take a few minutes to take some simple measurements before buying new clothing.

You may find that your tall, lean child has plenty of room in a size 5 shirt but needs a size 6 in pants to get the right length.

Once your child is out of T-labeled clothing, they will be in “kids’” clothing until they are able to wear clothes from the Juniors sections.

Kids’ clothing in most brands goes from size 4 to size 14 (and sometimes to size 16).

Shirts

When your child is done with 5T, you may be surprised to find they can still fit in a size 4/5 shirt from the kids’ section! And you may have already been buying some of their tops in that size.

4/5 shirts are usually the same length as 5T, just not quite as wide around.

Size 6 shirts are a lot bigger than 5T and have a noticeable jump.

This is particularly true if they are labeled as a combination 6/6X size.

Pants

You’ll almost certainly move right into size 6 pants once your child has outgrown 5T.

Size 5 pants are not usually longer than 5T, and may even be snugger in the bottom area (the 4/5 combination sizes definitely are).

Underwear

Moving out of 5T bottoms may mean needing to buy underwear for the first time!

Underwear sizes are not at all like pants sizes, which can make it difficult to choose the right number.

(You won’t even find odd-numbered sizes in most little girls’ underwear!)

On the bright side, underwear sizes usually don’t change as often as baby and toddler clothing sizes do.

To choose the right underwear size for your child, it’s really important to know the measurement of their waist; knowing their weight can make a difference, too.

I’ve included the average underwear sizes based on the size charts from Hanes and Fruit of the Loom.

Average Girls’ Underwear Sizes

Size	Waist Size	Weight
4	21 inches	28-38 pounds
6	22 inches	39-49 pounds
8	23 inches	50-67 pounds

Average Boys’ Underwear Sizes

Size	Waist Size	Weight
4-5	22 inches	34-43 pounds
6-8	22.5-24.5 inches	44-68 pounds

Is there a 6T size?

For toddlers, there is no other “toddler-sized” clothing after 5T in most brands (there are exceptions).

If your child has outgrown their 5T clothing, you’re officially the parent of a “little kid” now!

If your child is still wearing diapers or pull-ups, a size 6 pant will be better than a 4/5 label or a regular 5.

Until they’re fully in underwear, stick to pants with give like leggings and sweatpants rather than jeans or khakis.

If your child moves through sizes like lightning, you may want to move from a 5T right into a 6X to get the biggest bang for your buck.

What about size 4?

Some new moms think size 4 comes after 5T because it’s the first size in the “kids” section, but this is incorrect.

5T comes after both 4T and 4.

The regular size 4 (as opposed to 4T) can be seen as a size in between 4T and 5T.

Generally speaking, it’s intended for children who have been potty trained and no longer need to wear diapers or pull-ups under their clothing, because they are more fitted in the bottom.

This doesn’t mean diaper-wearing toddlers can’t or aren’t supposed to wear a regular size 4, though.

You just might want to stick to a regular size 4 for shirts or dresses and stick to the T sizes in the pants until they are potty-trained.

How to Measure Your Child for Kids’ Clothing Sizes

Knowing the differences in toddler and kids’ clothing sizes only gives you a good idea of what size your child will need next.

The best way to know for SURE is to measure them before shopping, especially if you’re ordering clothes online.

The measurements you’ll want to have handy are:

• Chest (around) – taken under the armpits at nipple level
• Waist (around) – taken right above their hip bones, close to the belly button
• Height
• Optional: Inseam – taken from inside the crotch to the ankle

These are the measurements most American retailers will have available for you to compare your child’s numbers against to choose the right size to buy.

Not all companies list the inseam, but if you have a particularly tall and lean child, it can be invaluable information when buying long pants!

(My daughter has this problem. Her ankles are always cold.)

If you’re ordering from a European clothing company, their sizes are based on height – in centimeters – so it might be more difficult to find the perfect fit for your child’s unique needs.

When in doubt between two sizes, go for the larger one.

The exception to this is British/UK sizes, which are based more on age, similar to American clothing (but still measured in centimeters).

Letter Sizes vs. Number Sizes in Kids’ Clothes

Number Size(s)	Letter Size	European Size
4/5	XS (Extra Small)	107-119
6/6X	S (Small)	119-129
7/8	M (Medium)	129-137
10	L (Large)	137-145
12	XL (Extra Large)	145-151
14	XXL (Extra Extra Large)	151-157