I introduced myself down in the adoption forum - I was a lurker over at Stylethread, but this site has pulled me out of lurkdom. :)
Anyway, I'm stumped when it comes to baby clothing sizes. We're adopting our daughter this winter (hopefully travelling to receive her between December and February). I'm having trouble buying clothes for her for a few reasons. First, her weight is really low compared to her height, so I'm afraid anything that fits her height-wise will swallow her whole (but she can't be walking around in pants that are too short! ). And second, sizes vary so much brand to brand (just like in adult clothes!) And the size ranges are different from brand to brand - like for instance, we bought her some jeans from Old Navy in the 12-18 month size (she's a little on the short side, so these will likely fit her height this winter) and then I bought some 18 month pants from somewhere else and they are literally about 3 inches longer. It's so hard to buy clothes for your child when you don't have her with you...
So, do you have any recommendations? I know this is kind of a general question, but I'd accept any and all ideas...
I know Madeline is in the 75% for height and only the 45% for weight. I say in the 12 month range things are made more for height, for example we LOVE Gymboree leggings because the lenght is good and there is a good amount of stretch in the waistband and they still don't leave marks around her little belly. Right now I'm buying 6-12months and I think they will fit until she is at least 10 months, she's almost 7 now. So I say go more by the lenght you think you'll need... How old will you daughter be when you get her? Congrats by the way, I think it's wonderful you are adopting!
She'll be 18 months in December, which would be the soonest we'd travel. Her height at 13 months was right at the 12 month height for a lot of clothing brands that I've looked at, so she'll likely still be a little shorter than 18 month clothes, but they'd be the ones that will fit her height best, I assume.
Good to know her weight probably won't be too much of a problem as far as finding clothes that will stay up! I love those soft knits on babies, so she'll likely be in cozy stretchy knits all of the time...
don't sweat it too much. seriously. they grow so darn fast that what fits them this month will be way small next month! go for fit according to her height. i don't think she'll look swallowed up in the clothing either. there is always going to be that phase when the clothes don't fit exactly right. my son has always been really tall compared to his weight, so i've always had to buy for length which means cinching waistbands or rolling them over for until he grows into it — at which point he's grown 2 inches and the cycle starts all over! fun stuff.
). And second, sizes vary so much brand to brand (just like in adult clothes!) And the size ranges are different from brand to brand - like for instance, we bought her some jeans from Old Navy in the 12-18 month size (she's a little on the short side, so these will likely fit her height this winter) and then I bought some 18 month pants from somewhere else and they are literally about 3 inches longer. It's so hard to buy clothes for your child when you don't have her with you... 
