A centimetre number on a baby clothing label — 52, 66, 90, and so on — refers to your child's height, and it maps to a specific age range in US sizing. The table below sets out that conversion in full, from 52 cm (Newborn) up to 160 cm (8–9 Years), because most baby and toddler clothing sold today, including a good deal of what's stocked by independent and boutique shops, is manufactured in Asia and labelled this way rather than with a simple age tag.
Once you know your child's height, or a reasonable estimate of it, finding the right size is mostly a matter of reading straight across the table.
cm to US baby and toddler size chart
| Label (cm) | US age size |
|---|---|
| 52 | Newborn |
| 59 | 0–3 Months |
| 66 | 3–6 Months |
| 73 | 6–12 Months |
| 80 | 12–18 Months |
| 90 | 18–24 Months |
| 100 | 2–3T |
| 110 | 3–4T |
| 120 | 4–5Y |
| 130 | 5–6Y |
| 140 | 6–7Y |
| 150 | 7–8Y |
| 160 | 8–9Y |
What the centimetre number is actually measuring
It's worth saying plainly: the cm figure describes your child's height, not the dimensions of the garment itself. A label reading "73" means the piece is cut to fit a child who stands roughly 73 cm tall — not that any part of the garment measures 73 cm. This is the sizing logic used across most of the world outside the US and UK, and in practice it tracks a child's actual growth more closely than a broad age label like "6–12 months," since two babies of the same age can differ by several centimetres in height.
If you have a recent height measurement from a check-up, that's the most reliable starting point for choosing a size — more reliable, in most cases, than going by age alone.
In-between labels: 60, 70, 85, 95
Some manufacturers fill the gaps between the sizes above with intermediate labels such as 60, 70, 85, or 95. These aren't a separate system; they simply split the difference between two neighbouring sizes on the chart. As a general rule, if your baby's height falls between two labels and only one is in stock, choose the lower, smaller neighbour rather than the higher one. A piece that's slightly snug and will be grown into within a few weeks is usually easier to live with than one so loose it bunches at the wrists, ankles, and neckline. The main exception is sleepwear and footed items, where a too-small fit affects comfort and movement more directly than it does with, say, a cardigan.
When to size up instead
There are a few situations where choosing the larger neighbouring size makes more practical sense than sizing down:
- Babies growing quickly. If your baby has consistently tracked toward the top of their growth curve, or has moved up a size in the last month or so, buying ahead by one size can keep a garment from being outgrown before it's had much wear.
- Layering pieces. Cardigans, outer layers, and anything worn over a bodysuit generally do better with a little extra room.
- Heirloom or occasion pieces. If something is meant for a particular season or event rather than daily wear, sizing up slightly extends the window in which it still fits.
- Exact height falls between two full sizes, with no in-between label available. Sizing up avoids a fit that's uncomfortably tight from the very first wear.
For everyday basics worn against the skin — bodysuits, sleep rompers — sizing to the closest accurate measurement, rather than buying ahead, tends to give the better fit for longer.
Measuring your baby at home
Without a recent measurement to hand, a rough one is simple to take:
- Lay your baby flat on their back on a firm, flat surface.
- Gently straighten one leg and mark the surface level with the top of the head and the heel.
- Measure the distance between the two marks.
This won't be as exact as a measurement taken at a check-up, but it's usually close enough to choose confidently between two neighbouring sizes.
Find your size at E For Egg
Our full size guide lists garment-specific measurements for every piece we carry, alongside this cm chart, so you can check a particular style before buying. Once you have a rough sense of where your baby falls, our collections are organised by size, ready to browse straight through — ever so softly, gently.