This is a question we’ve seen many times on British baby forums like mumsnet and netmums, and it’s a topic we feel frustrated about too. In fact it wants to make us wail like a teething 8 month old baby. Why can’t there be a standardised baby clothing system in the UK?! Why make it at all complicated?!
We don’t know the reason for this but unfortunately baby clothing sizing varies from one manufacturer to another in the UK: NICU baby, Premature Baby, Tiny Baby, Early Baby… and although the sizing is fairly similar between the manufacturers and retailers it’s not entirely consistent and many terms are interchangeable.
In continental Europe a baby clothing sizing system does exist that uses numbers, and it’s quite straightforward, but it’s not mandatory and typically used by central European countries but not others.
So what size are ‘Tiny Baby’ clothes?
The phrase ‘tiny baby clothes’ received hundreds of searches on Google per day and we suspect that many of these people are actually looking for clothing smaller than the typical high street ‘premature baby clothes’ size. I mean ‘Tiny’ means really really small right! But not in the world of premature baby clothing. Tiny Baby Clothes usually actually means babies born a little early or small; babies weighing roughly 4-7lbs.
This is true of our very own Tiny Baby Clothing collection, and we try and make that as clear as possible by adding (4lb-7.5lb) after the Tiny Baby wording, and within each Tiny Baby product we reiterate the size of baby it’s suitable for.
We're not big fans of Tiny Baby as a description for this category, but by following what most manufacturers do we try to make it less complicated.
So is the Premature Baby Clothing size different to Tiny Baby Clothing size?
Often not! Many brands use the term Premature Baby Clothes when producing or listing baby clothes that are suitable for 4lb-7b babies, and often they don’t make the sizing as clear as it could be.
Our Premature Baby clothing size is for babies 1.5lb-4lb, with each product page showing the sizing information. It’s true to say that many babies in the 4lb-7b size range will be premature babies, as the definition of a premature baby is one born before 37 weeks, but we decided to dedicate our premature baby clothing collection for babies born very early and small.
Summary
If you’re looking for clothes for a baby that is 4lb-7.5lb you need our Tiny Baby Clothes collection.
If you're looking for clothes for a baby that is 1.5lb-4lb you need our Premature Baby Clothes collection.
FAQs
The terms "tiny baby" and "newborn" are often used interchangeably, but they actually refer to two different stages of a baby's development. While a newborn is a baby that is up to 4 weeks old, a tiny baby refers to babies born prematurely or underweight. Tiny Baby clothing is typically for babies of 4lb-7lb.
What size clothes do premature babies wear? ›
Preemie sizes typically come in up to 1.5lb, 3-5lb, and 4-7lb which is often know as Tiny Baby size.
What is the difference between preemie and NB? ›
Preemie clothes are typically sized for infants weighing between 1 and 5 pounds and up to 17 inches in length. These sizes are smaller than those of regular newborn clothing, which is designed for babies who are born at or after 37 weeks of pregnancy and typically weigh between 5 and 8 pounds.
How long will my baby be in tiny baby clothes? ›
On average, “Newborn” clothes only fit babies up to 8 pounds — which for most babies, doesn't last that long (and some babies even enter the world larger than that!).
What size does a tiny baby fit? ›
Baby Clothing Size Guide - Mamas & Papas
| Height cm/in | Weight kg/lbs |
|---|
| Tiny Baby | 44cm / 17in | 2.3kg / 5lbs |
| Newborn | 50cm / 20in | 3.2kg / 7lbs |
| Up to 1 month | 56cm / 22in | 4.5kg / 10lbs |
| 0-3 mths | 62cm / 24.5in | 6.5kg / 14lbs |
7 more rowsA birthweight less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces, is diagnosed as low birthweight. Babies weighing less than 3 pounds, 5 ounces, at birth are considered very low birthweight. The average newborn weighs about 7.6 pounds, and about 7.6 percent of all newborns in the U.S. have low birthweight.
Is a 5 lb baby considered a preemie? ›
Babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy are considered premature or born too early. Many premature babies also weigh less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces (2,500 grams). They may be called low birth weight. Premature babies can have long-term health problems.
How long do babies stay in preemie clothes? ›
Once preemies outgrow their preemie clothes, they will need to be transitioned into newborn clothing to enjoy a more comfortable fit. The time it can take from a premature birth until your baby is ready for newborn clothing (or larger sizes) can be anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
What weight do preemie clothes fit? ›
Preemie clothing is the next size up, and these items usually fit babies up to 6 pounds in weight and 17 inches in length. Newborn clothing sizes vary depending on the brand, but are typically designed for babies up to 9 pounds in weight and 21.5 inches in length.
What week is no longer preemie? ›
Babies born from 38 to 42 weeks are considered “full-term.” Babies born 3 to 6 weeks early (34 to 37 weeks) are called “near-term” or “late preterm.” All infants born before 37 weeks are called “premature.” These babies may face different and more serious health problems than most full-term infants.
Definitions. What is a “preemie”? Preemie is a nickname for a premature, or preterm, infant.
Why do premature babies look different? ›
Some signs of being born too early include: Small size, with a head that's large compared with the body. Features that are sharper and less rounded than a full-term baby's features due to a lack of cells that store fat. Fine hair that covers much of the body.
What is tiny baby clothing? ›
Tiny baby clothing is suitable for babies of 5lb -7lb (2.3 – 3.1kg) in weight, whereas our early baby clothing is suitable for babies of 3lb – 5lb (1.3 – 2.3kg) in weight.
How long will a 7lb baby be in newborn clothes? ›
Amazon Essentials Sizing²:
| Label / Size | Weight (pounds) | Height / Length (inches) |
|---|
| N (Newborn) | 5 – 8 lbs | Up to 20” |
| 0 – 3 months | 8 – 12.5 lbs | 20 – 23.5” |
| 3 – 6 months | 13 – 16.5 lbs | 24 – 25.5” |
| 6 – 9 months | 17 – 20.5 lbs | 26 – 27.5” |
7 more rows“Newborn” (NB) represents an average baby at birth up to 21.5 inches long and five to eight pounds. Yep, “newborn” fits a wide range of sizes, so chances are your baby will fit into it at birth. “Parents should expect clothes to be a bit loose; no clothes are made to be grown out of in a week,” says Wing.
Are premature babies tiny? ›
A premature baby can weigh anywhere from one pound to 5 pounds. It can be a bit overwhelming to see such a tiny baby, especially for the first time. Rest assured they are pint size babies with 10 fingers and 10 toes. Premature babies have special needs due to their small size that require specialized care in the NICU.
What does it mean when a baby is tiny? ›
A small baby is a baby whose estimated weight puts them in the lowest 10% of babies at that stage of pregnancy. That means their weight is below 90% of other babies.
How small does a baby have to be to be considered premature? ›
Babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy are considered premature or born too early. Many premature babies also weigh less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces (2,500 grams). They may be called low birth weight.
Why was my baby born so tiny? ›
There are two main reasons: Preterm birth. Fetal growth restriction (also called intrauterine growth restriction or small for gestational age).
