Aztec children’s clothes

The Codex Mendoza has the answer: its drawings of Aztec children at different ages tell us much about their clothing - and about how little these changed as kids grew up! It shows (see pic 1) Aztec children being taught by their parents, from the ages of three to six. Before the age of three, most Mexica kids ran around naked! Dad and son are on the left, mum and daughter on the right. NOTE: count the blue dots to tell the child’s age...

Pic 1: Aztec boys and girls learning from their parents, Codex Mendoza

By 4 (see second row, pic 1), though the boy still hasn’t got a loincloth, the girl now wears a short skirt to go with her plain blouse.
At 5 (see third row, pic 1), the daughter, now wearing a longer skirt, is being taught how to use a spindle, to weave with. Meanwhile, two boys, each clad only in a cape, are sent outside the family home to bring back light loads of needed materials... Here the boys are using their capes to carry the burdens...

Pic 3: Boys at an Aztec school

So, BOYS only started to wear a loincloth from the age of 13. A short cape tied at the shoulder, however, was definitely the most common piece of clothing for a young Aztec boy.

GIRLS, on the other hand, wore the usual blouse from a very young age; soon they would add a skirt - though it started short, it quickly dropped down to the ankles as the years sped by...

Pic 5: Aztec girls wearing blouses