Tesco and M&S back survey of children’s clothing sizes

The research, sponsored by M&S and Tesco, aims to update existing standards which were published in 1990, based on measurements collected in 1978.

Research agency Select Research will manage the project, providing data on more than 600 babies and toddlers aged 0-4. The first phase, which was sponsored by retailers including Next, Monsoon and Asda, looked at children aged 4-17.

Rebecca Thompson, head of innovation and quality for kidswear at M&S, said: “We’ve long supported clothing sizing surveys to ensure we offer the best fit for our customers. This new survey will help provide further insight for retailers into the changing body shape of babies and toddlers across the nation.”

It is hoped that the results will be useful to clothing manufacturers, retailers, sports scientists, academics and for the development of the new obesity measurement, the Body Volume Index.