The children’s clothing market is experiencing slow, but steady growth. Sales should reach $45 billion this year, up 2.5% versus last year. By 2020, sales should grow 5% compared to 2015 to reach $47.2 billion. These forecasts assume that birthrates continue to stabilize and eventually increase. Population growth trends for children under 12, particularly among Hispanics and Asians should support the market. Overall, parents continue to struggle with issues related to sizing and would likely welcome solutions that address this. In-store shopping is preferred over online shopping given that parents often need their children to try on clothes, but online purchasing should become more prevalent in the future. Furthermore, dressing children in stylish and fashionable clothing is important to many parents, several of whom get inspiration from their children themselves, from other parents, or from social media.

For the purposes of this report, Mintel has used the following definitions. This report covers the market related to shopping for children’s clothing up to and including preteen clothes, and includes the following groups:

• infant (<1 year)

• toddler/preschool (1-5 years)

• young boys and girls/preteen (6-11 years)

The principal types of clothing covered in this report include:

• sleepwear

• underwear

• daywear

• outerwear

Excluded from this report are children’s footwear, accessories/jewelry, and hats/gloves.

This report builds on the analysis presented in Mintel’s Children’s Clothes Shopping – US, November 2013, Shopping for Children’s Clothing – US, September 2011 and November 2010 as well as Children’s Clothing – US, August 2009 and the 2007 report of the same title.