Baby & kids · Custom cut-and-sew · 300 pcs per style · US, UK, CA, AU & JP brands
Custom Kids & Baby Clothing Manufacturer: Boys, Girls and Babywear from 300 Pieces per Style
SDF Clothing is a kids and baby clothing manufacturer for brands in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Japan. We cut and sew baby, toddler, boys' and girls' clothing from your tech pack from 300 pieces per style, with colours and sizes split inside the 300. Fabric, GSM, colour, fit, trims and labels are written into one approved spec, and bulk is built to it and inspected to AQL 2.5.
For newborn styles see our baby clothing manufacturer page, and for ages one to three our toddler clothing manufacturer page.
- 300pieces per style
- 0-14years, baby to kids
- AQL 2.5final inspection
- 48 hquote turnaround
Order structure
300 Pieces per Style: How Colours and Sizes Split
The minimum is 300 pieces per style. One style is one pattern, one fabric specification and one set of trims, and the 300 pieces are divided across the colours and sizes you choose. Baby styles usually run five age sizes and kids' styles five height sizes, so the 300 spreads across more sizes than an adult S to XL run. A second style has its own 300.
The ratio is yours to set. The two tables are illustrations of how a split can look, not fixed rules. Each colour is dyed in its own lot, so we confirm the colour split at quote to avoid a shade that cannot be dyed economically at its share of the total.
| Colour | 0-3M | 3-6M | 6-12M | 12-18M | 18-24M | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cream | 15 | 25 | 30 | 25 | 15 | 110 |
| Sage | 15 | 25 | 30 | 25 | 15 | 110 |
| Navy | 10 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 80 |
| Style total | 40 | 65 | 80 | 70 | 45 | 300 |
| Colour | 2-3Y | 4-5Y | 6-7Y | 8-9Y | 10-11Y | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 20 | 30 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 110 |
| Heather grey | 20 | 30 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 110 |
| Forest | 10 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 80 |
| Style total | 50 | 80 | 80 | 55 | 35 | 300 |
Custom cut-and-sew
What "Custom" Means: More Than a Logo on a Blank
Custom kids' and baby clothing is built from a specification, not applied to an existing garment. Kidswear is not adult wear scaled down: the neck opening, snap placement, seam comfort and trims all follow different rules at small sizes. This is what goes into the spec for each style.
| Area | What is written on the spec |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Fibre, yarn count, spinning method, knit structure and GSM, written on the spec |
| Colour | Lab dip matched to your Pantone or swatch, one dye lot per colour |
| Pattern and grade | Age or height based grading, neck opening and snap placement checked on the sample |
| Construction | Seam types, SPI, needle, thread and where tape or stay stitching goes |
| Trims | Snap tape, snaps, elastic, rib and any cord, with the market's age rules applied |
| Decoration | Screen print, embroidery or transfer, with placement measured from a fixed point |
| Labels and packing | Woven or heat-transfer labels, care and tracking labels, polybag, carton assortment |
| Inspection | AQL level, defect classes, measurement tolerance and wash test plan agreed before bulk |
If you have a sketch rather than a finished tech pack, our tech pack service and pattern making cover that stage, and the grading service covers age-based size runs.
Fabric
Fabric, Yarn and GSM for Baby and Kids' Clothing
Four numbers decide most of the feel and wear of a kids' garment: fibre, yarn count, knit structure and GSM. Yarn count (Ne) is fineness, and a higher number is a finer yarn. Combed ring-spun yarn has short fibres removed before spinning, which gives a smoother surface and less pilling against skin; carded open-end yarn is coarser and more economical. We write the spinning method on the spec so "cotton" is never left undefined. GOTS organic cotton is available for baby wear, and many baby styles are run in it. See organic cotton clothing manufacturer and the GSM converter.
Many US buyers think in ounces. One ounce per square yard is about 33.9 GSM, so a 5.3 oz fabric is roughly 180 GSM. The guide below is typical for each garment type; the actual GSM, yarn and knit are fixed per style at quote with a ±5% weight tolerance.
| Garment | Knit | GSM (typical) | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby bodysuit, romper, sleepsuit | Single jersey or interlock | About 160-200 | Soft hand against skin; interlock is more stable and less sheer |
| Kids tee and polo | Single jersey (piqué for polos) | About 140-200 | Lighter for warm climates, heavier for a retail feel |
| Cuffs, neckbands, waistbands | 1x1 or 2x1 rib with a little elastane | Matched to the body fabric | Recovery matters more than weight |
| Hoodie, jogger, sweatshirt | French terry or fleece | About 220-300 | Brushed back adds warmth and weight; check shrinkage on the heavier knit |
| Leggings and fitted pieces | Cotton with elastane | About 180-220 | Stretch and recovery tested on the sample |
Shrinkage and twisting are the two failures a parent notices after the first wash. Knitted fabric is relaxed and compacted before cutting, and the shrinkage target is 5% or less after a wash test, written on the spec. No cotton garment is completely shrink-free, so the right question is how it is measured and where the number is recorded. Spirality, the twisting of side seams, is measured separately. See the shrinkage calculator.
| Test | Standard | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric weight | ASTM D3776 | GSM against the target and tolerance |
| Dimensional change | AATCC 135 / ISO 6330 | Length and width change after laundering; target 5% or less, stated on the spec |
| Spirality | AATCC 179 | Side seams twisting around the body after wash |
| Colourfastness to washing | AATCC 61 / ISO 105-C06 | Colour loss and staining; check dark colours first |
| Colourfastness to rubbing | AATCC 8 / ISO 105-X12 | Dry and wet colour transfer onto skin and other clothes |
| Colourfastness to perspiration | ISO 105-E04 | Colour change and staining from sweat; relevant to baby wear |
| Pilling | ISO 12945-2 / ASTM D3512 | Surface fuzz on knits that rub in wear |
Custom colours are approved through a lab dip, a small dyed swatch matched to your Pantone or physical sample before bulk dyeing, and dark colours are checked for colour bleed in the first wash. See lab dips and the dyeing service. If you want baby fabric independently tested, ask for the OEKO-TEX product class on the certificate, since Class I is the class defined for baby articles.
Pattern and cut
Pattern, Grading, Marker and Cutting for Children's Sizes
Each style starts from a tech pack or reference garment with points of measure (POM): chest width, body length from the high point shoulder, sleeve length and neck opening. Baby sizes are graded by age band and kids' sizes by height in cm, with the grading rule written on the spec. The neck opening and snap position are checked on the proto sample against a child's proportions rather than carried over from an adult block. See the POM guide and international size chart guide.
Before cutting, knitted fabric is relaxed so panels do not shrink after they are cut. The marker, the layout of pattern pieces on the fabric, nests the size run to keep fabric waste down without compromising grain direction or print placement. Panels are laid on grain, which keeps side seams straight after washing, cut, sorted by shade lot and bundled so one garment never mixes shade bands. See fabric cutting explained.
Sewing
Sewing Specifications: SPI, Stitch Type and Seam Comfort
SPI means stitches per inch. A baby garment needs a seam that is strong enough to survive repeated washing and flat enough not to mark a newborn's skin. More stitches is not automatically better on a knit, because a very tight stitch can perforate light jersey and weaken the seam. The table shows our default kids' build. Anything in it can be overridden in your tech pack. See the stitch quality and SPI guide.
| Point | Default build | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Side and shoulder seams | 4-thread overlock, shoulder taped on request | Joins and finishes the knit edge; tape stops the shoulder dropping under weight |
| Baby neckline | Envelope (lap) shoulder or snap shoulder | Lets the neck stretch over a baby's head without a tight rib |
| Neck rib | 1x1 rib attached with cover stitch | Rib width, weight and recovery are specified separately from the body |
| Sleeve and bottom hem | 2-needle coverstitch | Stretches with movement and finishes cleanly inside |
| Next-to-skin seams | Flat seam (flatlock) or covered seam on request | Reduces the raised ridge that can chafe a newborn |
| SPI | 10-12 typical; up to 14 on fine jersey | Fixed in the tech pack; very tight stitches can perforate light knits |
| Needle and thread | Fine ballpoint needle matched to fabric weight | Prevents needle holes and skipped stitches on light jersey |
| Stress points | Bartack at snap tape ends and openings | Reinforces where the garment is pulled most |
| Labels | Heat-transfer (tagless) or soft woven label at the neck | Avoids a scratchy neck label |
| Needle control | Needle detection on bulk, metal-free pack | A broken needle is a critical defect, so it is checked and logged |
Safety construction
Baby and Kids' Safety Construction: Snaps, Cords, Necks and Sleepwear
Children's clothing is regulated more tightly than adult wear, and the rules change by age band and destination. The sensible order is to choose the destination market first, then decide the construction. Below is how each feature is handled at pattern stage. The market-by-market rules follow in the markets section, and the US brands page covers CPSIA in more depth.
| Feature | How we handle it | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Snaps and buttons | Snap tape or flat nickel-free snaps on baby wear; no loose buttons on baby wear | Fasteners are pull tested to the destination's method. Force values differ by age grade and market, so the spec states which test applies. |
| Cords and drawstrings | No neck or hood drawstrings on children's upper outerwear in the age ranges the rules cover | Fixed cords, flat elastic or no cord instead. See the market table for the standard to check. |
| Neck opening | Neck stretch checked on the sample against a head-size reference | A tight neck is the most common baby-wear fit complaint |
| Sleepwear | Treated as its own category with flammability rules in most markets | Decide whether a style is sleepwear before pattern work starts |
| Elastic | Width, tension and recovery specified for cuffs, waists and legs | Too tight marks the skin; too loose fails to hold the garment |
| Small parts | No detachable trims on styles for children under three | Use sewn-down or printed decoration instead of loose parts |
Print, embroidery and labels
Printing, Embroidery and Private Labels for Kids' Clothing
Screen print and embroidery run in-house. DTF and sublimation run through partner facilities that we manage and QC, which adds a few days. On baby wear, the aim is a soft hand and nothing hard against the skin, so print method, backing and label type are chosen with that in mind. Every print is approved on a strike-off on the real fabric before bulk. See screen printing, embroidery and printing methods compared.
| Method | Best for | Where | Watch-out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen print, water-based | Soft hand on light jersey | In-house | Dark fabric may need discharge or an underbase |
| Screen print, plastisol | Opaque, durable graphics | In-house | Heavier hand; check against a baby's skin sensitivity |
| Embroidery | Chest and sleeve logos on kids' styles | In-house | Cut-away backing with a soft cover; keep dense areas away from baby necklines |
| Puff print and applique | Raised graphics on older kids' styles | Per style | Check wash durability and edge security; avoid on baby wear |
| DTF | Small runs, many colours | Partner, QC by SDF | Approve hand feel and wash performance on the real fabric |
| Sublimation | All-over print | Partner, QC by SDF | Polyester only |
Full private label is available on every style: woven damask, printed satin or heat-transfer (tagless) neck labels, care labels written to the destination market, the US permanent tracking label where it applies, hangtags with barcodes, and individual polybags carrying the suffocation warning where it is required. See the garment labels guide.
Quality control
Quality Control: AQL 2.5, Needle Detection and Wash Tests
AQL is a sampling plan, not a promise that every garment is perfect. Inspectors pull a random sample from the finished lot and accept it only if the defects found stay within the plan's limit. We inspect to ISO 2859-1 at General Inspection Level II, with zero tolerance for critical defects, AQL 2.5 for major defects and 4.0 for minor defects. A lot of 281 to 500 pieces falls in sample code H, so a 300-piece style draws a sample of 50. The AQL calculator works out the sample size for any lot, and AQL inspection explained covers the method.
| Defect class | AQL | Examples on kidswear | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical | 0 | Broken needle, detached fastener, illegal or missing label | Zero tolerance. The lot is held. |
| Major | 2.5 | Open seam, hole, shade lot mix, print crack, wrong size label | 50 pieces sampled; accept up to 3, reject at 4 |
| Minor | 4.0 | Loose thread, small oil spot inside, minor stitch irregularity | 50 pieces sampled; accept up to 5, reject at 6 |
| Stage | What is checked |
|---|---|
| Fabric | GSM, shade and defects checked before cutting |
| Lab dip and PPS | Colour, fit and construction signed off before bulk starts |
| Trim check | Snaps, elastic, labels and cords checked against the spec before they reach the line |
| Inline | Seams, SPI and measurements checked while sewing |
| Wash test | Shrinkage, spirality, print and colour after wash on a sample from the lot |
| Final | AQL 2.5 on the packed lot before shipment |
| Packing | Size and colour ratio, labels, polybag warning and carton marks checked |
Third-party and buyer-nominated inspection are also possible; see the quality inspection service.
For startups and growing brands
Starting a Kids' or Baby Clothing Brand at 300 Pieces per Style
For a startup, 300 pieces per style means committing to a style rather than to a large factory minimum. It works best when the design is settled and you want your own fabric, fit and label. Plan the first order around a small number of styles, a colour list you can sell through, and a size run that matches how your customers actually buy. Sampling comes first: you approve a proto sample, then a pre-production sample (PPS), and bulk is built to the PPS. Samples carry no fee; the 30% deposit is credited in full to your bulk order.
| Stage | Time | What is approved |
|---|---|---|
| Brief and quote | Quote within 48 hours | Styles, sizes, colour split, decoration, destination |
| Proto sample | 10-14 days | Fit, fabric hand, neck opening, construction |
| PPS (pre-production sample) | Required before bulk | The locked reference for bulk and reorders |
| Bulk cut-and-sew | 30-45 days | Production to the approved PPS |
| Final inspection and shipment | AQL 2.5, then FOB loading | Packed lot, documents, port handover |
If you want to test a concept before committing to 300 pieces, a print-on-demand or stock-blank service is a better first step. See sample service, the MOQ calculator, small batch clothing manufacturer and low MOQ clothing manufacturers.
Destination markets and shipping
US, UK, Canada, Australia and Japan: Rules, HS Codes and Export Documents
Choose the destination first, then plan testing and labelling around it. The table lists what to check in each market. These rules change, so confirm each one at the official source before you commit.
| Market | Safety rules and standards to check | Labelling to check |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Children's Product Certificate backed by third-party testing at a CPSC-accepted lab; permanent tracking label; flammability rules (16 CFR 1610, and 1615/1616 for children's sleepwear); no neck or hood drawstrings on children's upper outerwear sizes 2T-12 and limits on waist drawstrings (16 CFR 1120) | Fibre content, country of origin and care label under the FTC textile rules |
| United Kingdom | Nightwear (Safety) Regulations 1985 for nightwear; BS EN 14682 for cords and drawstrings; General Product Safety Regulations 2005 | Fibre composition labelling under the UK textile labelling regulations |
| Canada | Children's Sleepwear Regulations; Health Canada guidance on cords and drawstrings on children's clothing | Textile Labelling Act: bilingual English and French fibre content and dealer identity |
| Australia | Mandatory safety standard for children's nightwear (sizes 00-14); ACCC guidance on drawcords on children's clothing | Care labelling standard |
| Japan | JIS L 4129, a voluntary standard for cords and drawstrings on children's clothing up to 13 years | Household Goods Quality Labelling Act: fibre composition and care symbols (JIS L 0001) |
For classification, knitted garments for babies up to 86 cm body height fall under heading 6111, while older children's knitted garments follow the same headings as adult wear. Your customs broker confirms the national tariff line, because the rate and any preference depend on the fibre, the origin and the date, so we do not publish a duty rate on this page.
| Product | Heading |
|---|---|
| Knitted babies' garments, cotton (body height up to 86 cm) | HS 6111.20 |
| Knitted babies' garments, synthetic fibres | HS 6111.30 |
| Children's knitted T-shirts, cotton | HS 6109.10 |
| Children's knitted sweatshirts and hoodies | HS 6110 |
Production and export are FOB Chittagong from our cut-and-sew factory in Bangladesh. Cartons are packed by style, colour and size ratio. The shipping section of the t-shirt manufacturer page shows typical transit times by market, and customs clearance guide, Incoterms explained and the HS code tool cover the method.
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Customs value, goods description, trade terms |
| Packing list | Cartons, pieces per carton, size and colour ratio, gross and net weight, CBM |
| Bill of lading or air waybill | Transport document for sea or air freight |
| Certificate of origin | Origin declaration, supplied where the destination requires it |
| Test reports | Lab reports for the tests your destination market requires |
Market pages: US brands, UK brands, Canadian brands, Australian brands and Japanese brands.
Frequently asked questions
Kids & Baby Clothing Manufacturer FAQ
What does 300 pieces per style mean for kids and baby clothing?
It means 300 pieces of one style, divided across the colours and sizes you choose. It is not 300 per colour or 300 per size. A baby style might run five age sizes in three colours inside the 300, and a second style has its own 300.
Can colours and sizes be split inside the 300 pieces?
Yes. You set the ratio and we confirm it at quote. Each colour is dyed in its own lot, so a very small colour share is checked for feasibility before the quote is issued.
Do you make boys' clothing as well as girls' and baby?
Yes. Boys', girls' and baby ranges are all cut-and-sew from your tech pack or a reference garment. Boys' styles such as tees, polos, hoodies, joggers and shorts use the same 300-per-style rule, with a size run graded by height.
Is this a good fit for a startup brand?
It suits a startup that has a settled design and wants its own fabric, fit and label. 300 pieces per style is a production minimum, not a studio sample run. If you only need a few dozen pieces to test an idea, a print-on-demand or stock-blank service is a better starting point.
Do you sell blank baby bodysuits or stock kidswear?
No. SDF cuts and sews to your specification and does not resell stock blanks. If you need branded blanks from a warehouse with no minimum, a blank distributor is the right supplier.
How are kids' and baby sizes graded?
Baby sizes are graded by age band and measurements, and kids' sizes by height in cm. The grading rule is written on the spec so every size follows the same proportions. Neck opening and snap placement are checked on the proto sample, not assumed from an adult block.
Which GSM and fabric do you recommend?
As a guide, 160-200 GSM single jersey or interlock for baby bodysuits and rompers, and 140-200 GSM for kids' tees. Heavier French terry and fleece suit hoodies and joggers. The exact spec is fixed per style, with yarn count and spinning method written on it.
What SPI and stitch types do you use?
Side and shoulder seams are 4-thread overlock, hems are 2-needle coverstitch, and SPI is typically 10-12 and up to 14 on fine jersey. Flat or covered seams can be specified on baby styles to reduce chafing.
Do you test snaps, buttons and trims?
Fasteners are pull tested to the destination market's method. We do not quote a single force value because it differs by age grade and market. Needle detection is run on bulk, and a broken needle is treated as a critical defect.
What inspection standard do you use?
Final inspection is AQL 2.5 for major defects and 4.0 for minor defects, with zero tolerance for critical defects, to ISO 2859-1 Level II. On a 300-piece lot, 50 pieces are sampled; up to 3 major defects are accepted and 4 reject the lot.
Which HS code applies to baby and kids' clothing?
Knitted babies' garments up to 86 cm body height classify under heading 6111 (6111.20 for cotton). Children's knitted T-shirts classify under 6109 and sweatshirts under 6110. Your customs broker confirms the national tariff line, and we do not publish a fixed duty rate.
Can you make a matching parent-and-child range?
Yes. A matching adult and kids capsule in the same graphic or colourway is a common request and needs no separate tooling when the print method is shared across both size ranges.
Can you put our own labels, tags and packaging on the garments?
Yes. Woven, printed or heat-transfer neck labels, care labels, tracking labels, hangtags, barcodes and individual polybags are all specified per style. Polybags carry the suffocation warning where it is required.
How long does a first order take?
A proto sample takes 10-14 days. A pre-production sample (PPS) is approved before bulk, and bulk cut-and-sew takes 30-45 days, followed by final inspection and FOB shipment.
Ready to brief a kids' or baby clothing order?
Send your tech pack or a reference garment, the quantity, the colour and size split, any decoration and your destination country. We reply with an itemised FOB quote within 48 hours, and you can request fabric swatches and a proto sample before you commit to 300 pieces.