Ten years ago, owner of Kids Stuff Boutique, Kathryna O'Driscoll, said that the average size of communion dresses was from age 8 – 10 but there has been a significant jump in size with them now stocking up to age 14.
"I've been selling communion dresses for the last ten years. The range of sizes we stock has expanded significantly over that time," O'Driscoll told Today with Keelin Shanley.
"Rather than say an age 8 to 10, it would really be from an age 6 to 14 with varying chest sizes as they get bigger. The children are bigger all over. They're both taller and possibly a bigger build than previous generations were."
O'Driscoll added that every child looking for a communion outfit wants to feel as special as the next.
She said often children are lacking in awareness of their size and that, by and large, parents are also unaware if their children are bigger than average.
She added that some children are very upset and self conscious of their weight and sometimes children are too embarrassed to come out of the changing room.
