Problem Getting Toddler Pants to Fit Right in the Waist

I have that problem too. My kids are thin. Either look for jeans that scrunch up in the waist or cotton pants that do that. You just have to keep searching. I hate that too.

Good luck.

D.,

My first son is really skinny. I buy his pants at Old Navy. Most of their toddler pants have adjustable waistbands. If you shop the sales, you can get stuff very reasonably.

:-)T.

I have a similar problem...I try and find pants with adjustable waists...Gap and Gymboree have them in most of their pants. It seriously helps!

-M

Gymboree and Gap Kids have pants/shorts with adjustable waists.
There is an elastic strap in the waistline and you can notch it smaller or bigger. It's totally comfortable.
I used those for both my son and daughter.

Or you cold also try Carter's brand.

Mainly, also try to get ELASTIC waist shorts/pants. I find it better than the non-elastic waist band types.

Or, buy "capri" length pants.
Or, buy a size up or a size down, per the age of your child.

Hope this helps,
Susan

Most pants these days come with the "adjustable waist". I wouldn't have known it until someone showed me, but there is elastic on the inside of the waist with buttons. Undo the button, pull and then refasten the button to the size you need. They are great!

I have that problem with my boys too! GAP and some other brands make adjustable waists...you can button elastic in the waist to make it a better tighter fit. It's worked for me. Just search for adjustable weight to find the brands!

Hi D.,
When my sons were small, I found the best answer was to use the shorts and pants that have no waists and button or hook at the shoulders. The buttons or hooks are either adjustable and can be moved or adjusted to be comfortable in the crotch and also when they grow. If you sew, I am sure you can easily find patterns for them ones with the button fastenings. Oshcosh makes ones out of denim with fancy metal hooks that go over a metal button.
Hope this might help.
H.

I think it is very common. I had this same problem - I tried belts, rolling the pants at the waist, buying only elastic etc....until I discovered Gap Kids!!!. they have an adjustable strap inside the waistline of the pants (not visible at all!). I believe Old Navy sometimes carry them also.

As my daughter grew into her youth years - Lee jeans worked well for us (very slimming). I'm sure Lee jeans have similiar type of jeans for boys.

good luck

I try to find the pants with internal belts. that way you can buys the pants that are long enough and then just let the belt out as they grow.

Yes, I had this problem but now they have pants that have a sninch waist. It is basicaly a piece of elastic that runs through the waist and has buttons on the sides that you just pull and button how tight you need it.They work great. I have found old navy has them and I even found a pair of levis with it. Good luck
S.

Hi D., my daughter is tall and thin, right now she is almost 20 and she wears a size 2 jeans, great figure, but she was tall and thin as a child so to get pants long enough for her, the waist was to big, so I just took them in on the sides, worked like a charm. J. L.

Hey D.,

I feel you on this subject. I have two girls, both as skinny as can be. And they eat, I promise you. That's just their build. My just turned 11yr old has a size 8 waist but is SO tall. I have a really huge problem finding pants that fit her in the length and waist. They always fit in length, but are falling off at her waist. I have been finding that old navy has adjustable waist jeans and they also have slims. The slims really seem to work for her. The length is great and they fit better on her waist then the regular. Sometimes she still needs a belt but it's more comfortable for her because they are falling off, but just a little loose. The adjustable waist pants are like a dream for me. Those are the best ones since you can fit it just right to her size. I just bought her a pair of skinny jeans from old navy.com in slim and they are great. She loves them. I know places like justice have the slim sizes too. That where I was having to get her pants because I couldn't find them anywhere else, but there like 40 bucks for a pair of jeans. I just couldn't afford that. So old navy is great. Hope this helps!

M.

I've had this problem with both of my kids. You just need to just shop around for the slimmer brands. I have some hand me down garanimals that fit really well in the waist and length. Also, by about age 4 you can start finding slims - jcpenney and gymboree have slim sizes. If all else fails, you can get some goofy suspenders. I've been thinking about it for my 3 year old son. I read that alot of people like the elastic waist - with my daughter I had to cinch them so tight to keep them on that they were too bunched up to be comfortable for her. Also, stay away from size 3T, and just get plain size 3. The toddler (T) sizes are bulkier in the waste and bottom to accomodate a diaper.

Hi D.,
Try looking for the pants with the adjustable waistband. The adjustable waistband are typically two pieces of elastic on the inside of the pant that can be cinched tighter and buttoned so the pants fit around the waist. My nephew is super skinny, and long, and these types of pants really work well on him. I believe we found them at Target and at Old Navy.

Dear D.:

I just want to say, "YES! This is a common problem!!!"

Just like the other mamas said, buy the pants with the elastics hidden in the waistbands. My kids have always needed those. My daughter is now 13 years old and she still needs those pants with the hidden elastics! What will I do when she's older? EEK! I guess she'll have some sewing to do!

Best wishes,

M.

Adjustable waist band. As everyone has said.
I have the same problem with my son.
Or a belt...just that the belt can get uncomfortable for toddlers. If you do get a belt get the canvas kind so it can bend. For cotton pants add a draw string or buy them with a draw string.

Also try drawstring pants.

I have the same problem with my daughter! She is 10% percentile in weight and 90% in height (tall and skinny), so pants are always either too short and fit at the waist, or they fit in length and are too big at the waist... certain name brands are better than others, so just keep trying different ones until you find one that works! ;)

Yes my son had this problem till just this last school year. He's filled out a little more and is wearing regulars. I always bought him slim fit, but we still had to find the cinch waists. Old Navy and Gap have the best fitting ones. Walmart has some too. It's all about the right fit. Check out the sales at Old Navy or Gap, clearance racks are the best.

Oh, can I sympathize with you!! My daughter is almost 10 and can still wear a size 7 slim. My son is the same way! I dont think you have a skinny kid - I almost feel like clothing companies are catering to larger people. I have had great luck with Old Navy and Gap...they have the adjustable waistband and still offer slim sizes. I found that the Boot Cut style is more fitted and the relaxed fit offers more room in the crotch area - both still come in slim sizes. Good luck from one skinny kid mommy to another! :)

I have experienced this too - both my boys are very tall and skinny - I have had to buy pants with the adjustable waist in order to ensure they are long enough - this has worked well for us. I also buy the "slim" sizes...with the adjustable waist - the length is right and the waist s very slim

Just about all the jeans I purchase seem to have the adjustable elastic waist. I shop Kmart, Target, and Gymbore.

There are a lot of adjustable waist pants. Old Navy, Gap, and even Target (the Cherokee brand). We have the same problem! Mine is 3.5 but will be wearing 2T swimming trunks this summer!

That happens to both my daughters. Sometimes kids are just taller than they are rounder...LOL. See if you can find him the pants that have an adjustable waist band. I love those for my girls. Now, I don't know if they make them for boys. But they work perfect!
Good Luck :)
L.

Constantly!! I use the pants that have the elastic waist insert, that you pull and button to the right size, it starts in a size 18months up to a 10/12! I have 3 boys and LOVE them. The girls(3 also) I cant find them. Sonoma,Lee,Faded Glory are 3 brands! Over alls work Wonderful too! Providing he is not in the potty training stage ;)

Our son is 4 and is tall and skinny. We pretty much have to take in all his shorts and pants at the waist. Even the one's that have the extra elastic on the inside to tighten up. If we make those too tight he's uncomfortable because of the button and the elastic sticking out, so we still take those in.
It's a pain in the butt, however we have no other choice.

I still have the same problem with my 5 yr old...ever since i can remember. So I always buy him the pants and shorts with the adjustible waist. I get minefrom children's place because thats what I prefer, but you can find them lots of places, I know Target has them too.

I have the same problem with my 22 month old so I buy childrens place jeans they have an adjuster in the waist that isn't noticeable and the seem to withstand all the washing and and rough play. they last through my son and when they are handed down to friends an cousins they still look pretty new and they can adjust right back.

Hi D.,

I love shopping for jeans at Old Navy or GapKids. A lot of their jeans have adjustable waist, where they have an elastic in the inside that you can adjust to the size of their waist. They are the best for thin kids.

We have always had that problem with my Daughter. She is 4 now an it is almost impossible to buy her Jeans or other type of pants. Our solution is to just buy leggings, that won't work for a boy...... Even the pants with the elastic adjusters on the inside don't work for her because the seat will puff out and it looks terrible.

I have this problem with all four of my kids. Unless the pants have the built in elastic, which I love all the pants should have those, I just use large safety pins and bring them in that way. I have also sewn the back instead of pins. Either way has worked great for me.

I have that problem too with my 2yo... then I started using cloth diapers on her, and also found that some brands have an adjustable waistband! The Gap has them (at least for girls!) and a few other brands have them as well. I usually don't buy pants for her unless they have it!

Too bad clothing companies don't make things in "skinny"... Its easy if you have a tankish baby... just buy the next size up!

My six year old is the same way. I even tried getting "slim" pants for her but they are still all getting too short! It is so frustrating. If I buy size 7 for the length then the waist is huge. I always say that the people who design the pants most not actually have children of their own.

Just read all the responses so far, so now you know that adjustable waist pants are the way to go. Target has some as well as JCPenneys and Kohl's (good prices and the sales prices are hard to beat!) Happy shopping!

Chaps brand at Kohl's is usually more narrow in the waist, as well.

They have pants at Target and some of the other stores that have adjustable waists! They're the best ever for your skinny waisted kids! Try those! They're not too badly priced either and sometimes you can get them on clearance!!! :) Good luck!

I know that I am late here and seems that I have the same suggestion as the rest LOL, I have a 4.5 year old son who is TALL and thin, OLD NAVY is the only pants that I have found that will cinch up tight enough to stay on and still be long enough. But I am going to Target to try there pants now. Also I do not suggest a belt, especially at this age, seems like one to many steps to go thru to use the potty. My son is so tall and thin that jeans are all he can wear, the elastic type pants just don't stay on him if they are long enough, the waist will just sit on his hips and slide right down, I have not found one pair of sweats that will stay on his body. Shorts are a bit easier since I can get the size smaller, and these days shorts are so long that you can not tell that he is wearing a size smaller. Also I know that JCPennys carries SLIM for for boys, but they don't have the regular snap on them ~ it is more of a hook and eye combo and my son has trouble with them. Good luck

I have the same problem with my daughter. She's a 7 length and a 5 waist. Look for pants and shorts that have an adjustable waist. There are elastic bands that can be tightened in the waistband. These are doubly great because as your son grows, you can let out some of the slack and he'll be able to wear the pants longer. My daughter has pants in her closet that she's been wearing for more than a year!

Good luck!!

My 4 year-old son has this same problem. He's tall and skinny. I love the Old Navy brand jeans for this. They have adjustable elastic straps built in so they expand or shrink as your child needs them too. There are other brands that do this too but I can't think of any off the top of my head. I don't buy anything but an adjustable waistline for him though otherwise he's dealing with a belt which isn't always conducive to potty training.

Best of Luck!

J.

I will now only buy pants if they have the elastic adjuster inside the waist band for my 8 & 5 year olds. Otherwise nothing fits them. They are both tall and skinny. When my 8 year old was younger I could buy him nothing but overalls or sweat pants as they didn't make the adjuster waist that I could find. They only begin to fit the waist when the length starts to get too short. We keep a belt around all the times for those special occasion pants that don't have the waist elastic or are gifts from someone who doesn't know better. I don't know who decided how big a child is but I sometimes wonder if they've ever seen a child LOL

I have a tall skinny boy and I find Target to be the best. They have adjustable waist bands and are nice and long. Old Navy doesn't work well for us because they are so short.

My 15 month old daughter is this way. She's in a size 3-6 month waist and a 12 month length. In addition to the other places you can get adjustable waist pants that were already mentioned, you can get them at Baby Gap and True Religion makes them, but the True Religions are pricey.
Good luck,
S. G

you can also add a draw string in the pants

lol (:
I thought I was alone in this issue too.
I ended up not being able to buy certain brands of pants because they just do not fit my son correctly. When I did find a pair that did fit they were way too short, and then I found brands with the adjustable elastic inside but even those brands (Levi,Hurly) were still too short. Fortunatly I found two brand that fit my son perfectly, but unfortunatly they are kind of expensive (Not at Wal-mart or Target) Volcom and Quicksilver make the custest,not overly baggy, straight leg pants that have adjustable waists with the needed length (: I do however have to save up to go to Macy's and by them, local skate and snow shops have them as well (: My son has worn his till there was holes in the knees, and then some (:
Hope this helps
Jp

Your pediatrician should update you on your son's height weight percentiles. Its not a big deal -- I suggest elastic waists and then just take them in by folding them over in the back or on each side and sewing a few stitches to hold them. I have the reverse problem -- too fat -- to get a waist to fit, have to hem all my kids pants -- every time.

Oh my gosh, I have the same problem with my 26 month old to this day. She has so many pants but only a handful fit her just right from the waiste. She is average height and weight. Thin but not skinny. She has my husbands long torso and small waistline (figures) that I have to still buy size 24 mos bcuz 2t is too big. The only pants that fit her are SPROCKETS bcuz u can adjust the waisteline with buttons inside. I found them at Mervyns and although mervyns no longer exists hopefully u can find them elsewhere. Good luck and I can't waite to read other responses. Thanx for asking this question!

Three words: Adjustable waist band....they are the only reason my two sons can wear pants..lol. I have had the same problem with both of my boths all their lives. My youngest is tall and super skinny which makes it impossible to find pants. Look for pants that have a hidden ajustable waist band inside. They have a stretchy elastic band sewn into the waist that you can adjust the size of the waist.

T.

I have the same issue with my 4 yo son. He has always been tall and skinny. So adjustable waist is the way to go or elastic waist for shorts. Most of his clothes comes from The Childrens Place. Or rather from the Salvation Army store used, but the brand is from TCP :).

Hi D.,

There are some great jeans for toddlers at some of the "better" kid's clothes stores...Children's Place, Gap Kids....to name a couple...they have jeans with adjustable elastic inside the waistband!

My son has the same problem and he and I both LOVE these jeans. I wish I could tell you exactly where to go to get them, but to be honest, I got them as hand me downs from a friend and am just telling you which ones I know have a label on them.

Maybe you could check online ...

Anyway, they work like a charm!

Blessings,
R.

The best belt that I have found is one from WAlmart. It is a black woven stretchy one, so you can put it on tight without it hurting or being uncomfortable. I have seen it there a couple of different times (maybe it is something they constantly stock?). Know that you are not alone. =)

I have a wonderful son of 9 who has had this same problem since he was little. What I found was Sears makes slim jeans that have the extra length he needs and still fit in the waist or Target has jeans that have an adjustable waist so I can buy the next size up for length. To adjust them there are button and elastic on either side of the waist, you just pull the elastic as small as you need and slide it over the button. Good luck!

D.,

I have that same problem with my son. He is average in weight and in the 80th percentile for height for his age. He just turned 2. When I buy him pants I look for one's that have an adjustable waist so I can make the waist fit and let them out as he grows. The length usually fits him with those.

Levi's (and some other brands including Target's) make jeans for kids with adjustable waist bands. They have the buttons and elastic that you can adjust to fit your son's specific size. They are great, especially if you have multiple kids who are different sizes.

I have an invention i think you could benefit from its callled "Quick Fit.'' Quick Fit is an iron on adjustable waistband that is great for people with small waist, twisting skirts, sagging, or pants with no belt loops. Quick Fit can easily be ironed into any garment and can be used for men, women and children. For a video tutorial go to youtube.com or for more info go to www.quickfitwaistband.com. thank you

Hello! I just found this blog, and even though I am several months late, I just wanted to say that I have the same problem with my son Drake and have decided to do something about it! I have ran across several mothers with the same problem. I own a website called Drake's Dresser at www.Drakesdresser.com selling baby and toddler clothes and have decided to create my own toddler jeans that fit! You can read about it and get 50% off when they are available here: http://drakesdresser.blog.com/2009/11/30/toddler-pants-th... or just go to www.drakesdresser.com and click on "blog" on the right-hand side or at the bottom of the page. When you go to the blog, please keep in mind I am new to blogging and have just started the blog site. I look forward to hearing your feedback!