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.
What size is (and isn’t) like Carter's at other brands?
Find your child’s Carter's 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 labels drift. The exceptions are the “strangers” above — e.g. at size 5, Il Gufo, Magnetic Me, Converse 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 →
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 ↗On Amazon ↗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, hip, inseam in its size chart. Height is the primary driver, and the chest/waist figures let you confirm body fit for a child between sizes.