Oh my gosh, I don't think my son has worn a size 18 month since he was 9 months old! LOL He is huge - 21 months, 3 feet tall, and now up to 34 pounds as of yesterday when I put him on the scale. He is wearing a 3T or 4T. It is hard to find clothes that look like a little boy in those sizes, so when I find cute things that don't have huge tractors and racecars all over them, I stock up. I think it totally depends on where you live too. I am in GA and our winters are very mild and short, so I buy lots of short sleeved things and not many cold weather things. I know I can always find good sales on fleece and coats and stuff like that here because there isn't much of a market for it, but the stores all start selling it in the fall. By Nov. when it really does start to cool off, it is all at least 50% off.

I also have 2 boys so I don't hesitate to buy in bigger sizes for my oldest because I know that if he doesn't wear it, the youngest will. The oldest (6 1/2) pretty much wears his clothes out by the end of the season so the only things that get saved are golf shirts and church clothes. The t shirts and shorts and jeans are just beat by the time he gets too tall for them. The one thing I am getting burned on with this little one of mine is shoes. His feet are growing SO fast (already a size 71/2) and they are very fat, so there have been several pairs that I bought ahead that never did fit. I am getting better about it. Live and learn.

I bought ahead all the time for my children but now that they are 9 and 11 I have stopped doing it except for there winter coats. I will just have them try them on and buy the one that is bigger than what they wear this season. It seems it is difficult when children grow at such different rates of speed. My son is so small for his age that sometimes he cant even wear the size that he should be in because he is so slender. The only thing that saves us now are the cool adjustable waist pants. I will try to just always get things on clearance for the season that we are in. I love the second hand stores also where you can find nice things for children for less. If you buy the name brand stuff at the goodwill it is a BIG savings and the stuff lasts longer.

Check with the store policy because some stores (such as Gap) allow you to return the clothes if they do not fit the next season.

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"It's one of the most beautiful compensations in life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have learned that my kids are generally in the size double their age as babies and then after about 3, they are one size up from their age. They just are big kids that take after their dad's side of the family. It really can be a guessing game!

Don't worry your boy will grow into them sometime. So there's no chance of not using them. Just don't do what I have done not get them out the next year. I forgot about a box and by the time I found it they were too small.

Shorts and t-shirts have a lot of leeway for them to fit. My girls have worn shorts for years they just keep getting shorter. And the same for t-shirts. I try and get their clothes big on purpose. The same shirt you 'waited' for him to grow into will be too small before you know it.

My best advice is keep them handy so you can get to them.

Kacy

I usually buy one size bigger than what they currently are. I always have gotten the girls clothes at the end of the season. Target is pretty good too with there clearance. They move the merchandise fast. Old Navy is really good too. I love when they have the clearance half off. Last year I got the girls a bunch of jeans & thin long sleeve shirts that they can wear in the fall for back to school. Also when I am in Target I check out the shoe dept. and they seem to always have shoes on sale and I get the girls sneakers about 1 size up for usually $3.00 each.