FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * PETTY JAMES C   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol CARTERS INC [CRI] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) President Retail Stores (Last) (First) (Middle) 1170 PEACHTREE STREET, SUITE 900 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 03/12/2009 (Street) ATLANTA, GA 30309 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 03/12/2009   A   7,000 (1) A (2) 42,000 D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Employee Stock Option (Right to Purchase)

$ 27.06

(3)

06/05/2017

Common Stock

40,000

40,000

D

Employee Stock Option (Right to Purchase)

$ 14.18

(4)

07/01/2018

Common Stock

75,000

75,000

D

Employee Stock Option (Right to Purchase)

$ 18.14

03/12/2009

A

25,000

03/12/2010(5)

03/12/2019

Common Stock

25,000

(2)

25,000

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
PETTY JAMES C 1170 PEACHTREE STREET SUITE 900 ATLANTA, GA 30309			President Retail Stores

Signatures

/s/Brendan M. Gibbons, Attorney-in-Fact for James C. Petty		03/16/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	These shares are subject to restrictions that lapse in four equal annual installments beginning on March 12, 2010. However, as long as the reporting person remains an employee of the issuer, the reporting person is subject to a policy of the Issuer under which the reporting person may not dispose of the shares until March 12, 2013.
(2)	Granted at no cost to the reporting person.
(3)	These time options are exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning on June 5, 2008.
(4)	These time options are exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning on July 1, 2009.
(5)	These time options are exercisable in four equal annual installments beginning on March 12, 2010.

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