Plus-sized clothes for children aged three

A HIGH street retailer is selling plus-sized clothing for children as young as three.

The range for girls and boys at Next – which has outlets across South Wales, including its flagship store on Cardiff’s Queen Street – offers larger waistbands to accommodate kids of all shapes and sizes, up to the age of 16.

School uniforms, jeans and tracksuit bottoms are all part of the 47-piece capsule collection, named “Plus Fit” and described as “more generous through the wait and hips for a comfortable fit”.

Plus fit trousers for three year olds have a waistband that measures 5cm larger than the standard waistband for that age, at 58cm compared to 53cm.

For 10-year-olds, the new range have a waistband of 69cm, instead of the 64cm waistbands of a regular pair.

Fresh details of the high street retailer’s move come less than a year after it was announced that more of a quarter of children in Wales are either overweight or obese by the time they start primary school.

In October 2016, Cancer Research UK discovered that around 36,500 children had started primary school overweight or obese every year since 2012.

At the time, Anneka Hughes, Cancer Research UK’s public affairs officer in Wales, said: “It’s sad to know that so many children start primary school carrying too much weight.

“We must give children the best chance for a healthy future. Measures like the sugar drinks tax can make a difference but they aren’t a silver bullet. The UK Government must do more.”

In response to Next’s Plus Fit clothing, Tam Fry, chief exec of the National Obesity Forum, said: “Next isn’t setting a new trend, they are catering for the market.

“Mothers wanting to clothe their fat children just can’t find the clothes for them.

“They are responding to the current state of affairs.

“It has been in a bad state for a long time but this just shows it has now gone beyond the point of a crisis.

“The UK is sitting on a time bomb of childhood obesity, children are several times fatter than they were in 2002.”

Parents have criticised the decision on social media.

Natalie Rainford commented: “Kids sizing is all wrong everywhere and needs reviewing.”

Marie Webb said: “That’s really going to make kids feel good isn’t it, plus size labels.”

Next’s schoolwear collection is made up by three different types of fits – slim, wide and plus.

The retail giant, which has branches in Cardiff, Bridgend, Talbot Green and Merthyr Tydfil, is understood to have originally launched its plus fit clothing in 2007, but with a new school term starting it is now being highlighted by concerned parents.

Next has been approached for a comment. The retailer is not the only brand updating its children’s range, as Clarks has announced that it will now offer unisex footwear for young people.

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