The In-Between Stage: When Kids Aren’t Little… But Adult Clothes Still Don’t Work

There’s this strange stage in childhood where kids aren’t little anymore… but adult clothing kinda sucks.

The proportions are still not right, the styles feel a little too grown up.. and you kid is bummed to be shopping in the adult section. 

They’re still climbing trees, riding bikes, building forts, and running through puddles — but suddenly the racks labelled “kids” start to disappear around size 10 or 12. It’s a size that families stop shopping at the children’s store for, and the children’s brand stop carrying them. 

But youth sizing does exist, and we can make it live and long prosperous life.  At Nest & Sprout, we’ve been quietly expanding our selection for bigger kids because we know this stage well. Very well.

Mostly because my own 9 and 10 year olds are already wearing size 12–14. We love quality clothing from brands with sustainable values and ethos, so we are always on the look for fantastic boutique brands across Canada. 

And they still want clothing that feels like kids clothing.

Not mini-adult outfits.
Not beige everything.

Not the thin stuff from Old Navy or George.
Not clothes that assume they’ve suddenly stopped playing.

They still want colour, fun prints, and clothes that can handle kid adventures.

What We’re Bringing In

Over the past little while, we’ve been working on expanding what we offer for bigger kids. It’s a slow process  but we’re building it intentionally, listening to the kids who come into the shop and the adults they bring with. 

Right now you’ll find:

• Youth shoes up to size 6–6.5
• Bigger kids clothing up to 12–14Y
• Pieces designed for real play and everyday life
  

And yes one small but wonderful perk:

Kids clothing up to a 14/16 is still PST exempt in BC.

That matters when kids are growing as fast as they do.

Why Bigger Kids Are Hard to Shop For

The honest truth is that many brands simply stop at size 10. There’s not much incentive to carry the bigger sizes when people don’t shop it. 

Others technically offer 12–14Y, but only as special order sizes or limited seasonal runs.

For a small independent shop, that means we can’t always bring in large quantities of those sizes right away. Sometimes the brands require pre-orders months in advance, and sometimes those sizes just aren’t available in the styles we love.

So we’re approaching it carefully; experimenting with sizes, watching what families need, and growing the selection over time. We wish big kids had more kid options that were sustainable, fun, and designed for childhood. 

Help Us Build the Big Kid Section

If you’ve ever walked into a store and thought:

"Why is it so hard to find clothes for my big kid?”

You’re not alone.

And honestly, we’re trying to build something that fills that gap.

If there’s something your child needs, a certain size, style, shoe, or brand, tell us.

Many brands will allow custom orders for sizes 10–14Y, even if those sizes aren’t normally stocked.

We’re always on the lookout for:

• Better footwear options for growing feet
• Durable outdoor gear for bigger kids
• Clothes that are still colourful, comfortable, and kid-appropriate
  

Because bigger kids still deserve clothing that feels like being a kid.

The Dream (and the Experiment)

The dream is simple: To become your local big kid store.

To give you boutique options that will pass your kids sensory needs and not wear out. That will wash and launder with ease. 

But like many things at Nest & Sprout, we’re doing it the thoughtful way — testing sizes, learning what families need, and growing the selection step by step.

Because the truth is… When your child jumps from size 8 to size 12 overnight, the shopping options suddenly shrink.

We’d love to help change that.

So if you’re raising a big kid who still loves colour, adventure, and being a kid — come chat with us.

📍 Nest & Sprout – College Heights, Prince George
Your local shop for growing families… and growing kids.