How do I add growth room to children's clothes?

Build in room that can be released later, rather than making the garment too big now. A garment sized up two years does not fit and is not worn, so nothing has been gained.

Deep hems. A 6 to 8 cm hem on trousers, sleeves and dresses can be let down twice. Press the fold well and topstitch rather than blind-hemming, so the old crease is easier to release. Expect a fade line where the original hem sat, and choose fabric that will not show it badly.

Turn-back cuffs. Cut the sleeve or leg long and fold the cuff back. It looks deliberate, and it unrolls over a year or two.

Elastic and adjustable waists. Elasticated waists give the largest single amount of tolerance. Buttonhole elastic in a casing, with a button inside the waistband, allows real adjustment rather than just stretch.

Adjustable straps. Buttons and buttonholes on dungaree and pinafore straps, spaced 3 cm apart, give a season or two of adjustment for the cost of two extra buttonholes.

Choose knits where the design allows. A jersey that genuinely stretches accommodates growth in every direction, which no woven does.

Raglan sleeves and drop shoulders tolerate growth far better than set-in sleeves, because there is no fitted armhole to outgrow.

And add length before width. Children usually get taller before they get wider, so length is where the room is needed.