Maternity shoppers usually buy their pre-pregnancy size in a garment cut for a bump, so a first order should be weighted towards M, L and XL rather than a standard curve. A clear maternity wear size chart, with garment measurements and a note on which stage each style suits, does more to cut returns than any other listing detail.
Every style in our white label maternity and nursing wear range runs from S to 3XL. The minimum is 50 pieces per style, and sizes can be mixed within it. This post explains how to read the chart for each style, how to present it to shoppers, and how to split your first order.
How maternity sizing differs
Ordinary womenswear sizing assumes a body that stays roughly the same. Maternity wear has to fit a body that changes through pregnancy and again after birth. Our styles handle this through the cut, with extra room through the bust and front, and through adjustable details such as tie waists, gathered panels and wrap fronts.
That is why most shoppers can stay close to their usual size. The garment does the growing, not the size label. Your size guide should say this plainly, because many first-time maternity shoppers assume they need to size up a long way.
Which measurements matter per style
| Style | Key measurements | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Maternity dress | Bust, under-bust, front length, back length | Front length should be longer than the back, so the hem stays level over a bump |
| Feeding kurti | Bust, hip, length, opening length | The opening must sit where it is usable |
| Nursing top | Bust, length, overlay depth | The overlay must cover the slit fully |
| Maternity nightwear | Bust, hip, length | Relaxed fit; length matters for nightdresses |
When you list a style, give garment measurements for every size, not only body measurements. Shoppers compare a garment’s numbers with clothes they already own.
Presenting the size chart to shoppers
A good maternity size guide answers three questions:
- Which size should I buy? Usually the size you wore before pregnancy, with a note on what to do if you are between sizes.
- Will it still fit later in pregnancy? Say which styles have adjustable details and how much room the cut allows.
- Will it fit after the birth? Feeding kurtis, nursing tops and nightwear are designed for both stages; say so.
Keep the chart in the same units your market uses. If you want numeric sizes on your size labels instead of letters, tell us the mapping and we will label to your instruction. Labelling requirements vary by country and are confirmed at quotation.
Splitting a first order
With no sales data, weight the order towards the middle and upper sizes. Here is one way to split 50 pieces of a feeding kurti:
| Size | Pieces |
|---|---|
| S | 5 |
| M | 12 |
| L | 14 |
| XL | 11 |
| XXL | 5 |
| 3XL | 3 |
This is a starting point. Adjust it for your audience and the style:
- Nightwear and nursing tops have relaxed fits that cover a wider range per size, so you can keep the spread narrower.
- Maternity dresses with a defined bust need a fuller spread, since each size fits a smaller range of people.
- If you sell mainly online, a wider spread helps, because shoppers cannot try on before they buy.
- If you sell through a store, look at what sizes the store sells in its other womenswear.
If you order a style in two colours, apply the ratio to each colour. A small second colour may only need M, L and XL. The colour split per style is confirmed at quotation.
Using the sample to confirm fit
Order the sample in M or L and try it on more than one person if you can: ideally someone in mid pregnancy, someone later in pregnancy, and someone who is nursing. Check:
- The front length on a bump: does the hem stay level?
- The feeding opening: is it at a usable height and fully covered when closed?
- The bust and under-bust: comfortable, with room to grow?
- Any tie waist or wrap: does it adjust easily across a range?
If the shoulder, length or opening position needs a change, we confirm whether it can be done within white label or needs a private label quote.
After the first sale period
Track sales and returns by size. Maternity returns often come from size uncertainty rather than poor fit, so read the return reasons. If shoppers keep exchanging an L for an XL, your size guide may need clearer wording, or your next order may need a heavier XL. Reorders are quoted per style, and the size split can change every time.
Our post on choosing fabric for maternity and nursing wear explains how stretch in cotton jersey affects fit compared with woven cotton and rayon.
Send us the styles you want, your proposed size split and the market you sell in. If you are unsure about the split, tell us the sizes your audience usually buys and we will help you shape the first order.