European Baby Clothing Sizes Explained (50, 56, 62, 68...)
European baby sizes are the child's height in centimetres, not their age. Size 62 means a baby who is 62cm tall, which is typically around three months but varies widely. This is why a German or Austrian brand's sizing feels confusing if you are used to UK or US labels that go by months.
Once you know it is height, the whole system becomes obvious and considerably more useful than age-based sizing.
The full chart
- 44 - premature. UK/US: prem or tiny baby.
- 50 - newborn to 1 month. UK/US: newborn.
- 56 - 1 to 2 months. UK/US: 0-3 months.
- 62 - 2 to 3 months. UK/US: 3 months.
- 68 - 3 to 6 months. UK/US: 3-6 months.
- 74 - 6 to 9 months. UK/US: 6-9 months.
- 80 - 9 to 12 months. UK/US: 9-12 months.
- 86 - 12 to 18 months. UK/US: 12-18 months.
- 92 - 18 to 24 months. UK/US: 18-24 months, or 2T.
- 98 - 2 to 3 years. UK/US: 2-3 years, or 3T.
- 104 - 3 to 4 years. UK/US: 3-4 years, or 4T.
- 110 - 4 to 5 years.
- 116 - 5 to 6 years.
- 122 - 6 to 7 years.
- 128 - 7 to 8 years.
Sizes step in 6cm increments, which is roughly one size per growth phase rather than one per month.
Why height beats age
Age-based sizing assumes every eight-month-old is the same size, which anyone with two children knows is false. A 75th-percentile baby can be a full size ahead of a 25th-percentile one at the same birthday.
Measuring the child solves it. Take height from head to heel with the baby lying flat, round up to the nearest size, and you have the answer regardless of what the birth certificate says.
This is also why German and Austrian brands rarely print ages on labels. They are not being unhelpful; they are giving you a measurement rather than a guess.
How to actually measure
Lie the baby on their back on a flat surface. Mark where the top of the head is and where the heels are - a wall and a book work fine - and measure between the marks.
Do it every couple of months in the first year. Growth comes in bursts, and a baby can move through a size in a fortnight and then stay put for three months.
Which size to buy
Buy the size above their current height, not the one they are in. Two reasons.
Clothes that fit exactly today fit for about a month. A size up fits for three or four, and a slightly roomy sleepsuit is harmless. A tight one is uncomfortable and gets abandoned.
And wool and cotton knits, particularly untreated wool, can shrink a little on first wash even when washed correctly. Starting with room in hand is sensible.
The exception is anything where fit is the function - wool nappy covers need to be snug around the legs and waist, and a size up leaks. Buy those to fit.
The sizes that catch people out
44 and 50 are close together and both sold as "newborn". 44 is genuinely premature sizing. 50 suits an average newborn for about four weeks.
Sizes 50 to 62 pass very quickly. Three sizes in the first three months. This is the range where buying a lot is most likely to be wasted.
86 and 92 often look identical on a hanger and are the point where many brands switch from babygro-style to separates.
Above 92, the numbering continues to match height in cm, but ages diverge more and more. By 128, the age range on a label is close to meaningless.
French sizing, and the mixed-up middle
French retailers commonly label in months rather than centimetres, and some use both. To make it more confusing, French taille numbers for older children also refer to height in cm, so a French 104 and a German 104 are the same garment.
The practical rule when shopping across borders: if the number is between 44 and 128, it is centimetres. If it says a number of months, it is an age, and you should convert using the chart above and your child's actual height.
Frequently asked questions
What age is baby size 62?
Around 2 to 3 months, but 62 means 62cm tall. Measure rather than assume - a large baby may be in 62 at six weeks.
Are German and European baby sizes the same?
Yes. German, Austrian, Scandinavian, and most other European sizing all use the child's height in centimetres, in 6cm steps.
What is size 50 in UK sizing?
Roughly newborn. Size 56 corresponds to UK 0-3 months.
Should I size up in baby clothes?
Generally yes, by one size, since a snug fit lasts about a month. The exception is wool nappy covers, which need to fit closely to work.
Do European sizes run small?
Not exactly - they are precise rather than small. An age-based UK 3-6 month garment is cut generously to cover a range, while a European 68 is cut for a 68cm child.