Hands up if you know your kid's shoe size? What about width? While you can measure your child’s feet at home and order shoes online, a professional shoe fitting is important for kids, say podiatrists. Here's why.

Remember squeezing into shoes that were too small or too tight when you were a child? Yep, us too. And unsurprisingly, it’s not good news for your feet ... 

According to children’s fitted footwear experts Start-Rite Shoes, around 70 percent of adult foot problems are caused by wearing the wrong size shoes as kids. That’s because the first 13 years of childhood is when feet are developing at their fastest rate. Wearing ill-fitting shoes can cause not only blisters but long-term damage. 

All of which means it’s super important to know your child’s correct shoe size. 

Taking your little one to a shoe shop hasn’t always been possible due to lockdowns. But with restrictions now eased, booking a shoe fitting couldn’t be easier. Start-Rite Shoes are stocked at shoe shops around the country – find your nearest Start-Rite stockist.

Fitted footwear – what is it and why is it important?

Ready for some fast facts about your child’s feet? Each foot has:

• 26 bones
• 33 joints
• More than 100 tendons, muscles and ligaments. 

(There’s also 250,000 sweat glands in each foot. No wonder they produce enough moisture each day to fill an egg cup – eww.)

The bones in your child’s feet aren’t fully formed until the age of 10 and instead are made of soft spongy cartilage. Wearing shoes the wrong size can cause lasting damage. If your child is very little, the nerve endings in their feet also won’t be fully developed. This means they won’t be able to tell you if their shoes are uncomfortable.

That’s why having properly fitted shoes is vital for the healthy development of your little one’s feet. You can either measure them yourself with a shoe measurement gauge (see below), or book a fitting with a professional who can make sure your child’s shoes are the ideal size and width.

How often should children’s feet be measured?

Your child’s feet have 4,500 days of growing to do until the age of 13. Which is why Start-Rite recommends you measure your toddler's feet every 6-8 weeks until they reach school age. From that point it’s suggested you measure their feet every three to four months. 

This is especially important after research by Start-Rite* found only half of mums and 66% of dads were confident they knew the exact size of their children’s feet.

They also found:

• 72% of parents have taken their children to get their feet measured only to find their shoes are too small;
• 66% of parents with two-year-olds don’t know they should get their little ones feet measured ever 6 weeks;
• Just 18% of parents prioritise foot health during those critical first steps;
• 63% of parents have felt guilty when finding their child is wearing the wrong sized footwear.

Give yourself peace of mind that your child is wearing the right size shoes by measuring their feet at home with the Start-Rite measuring gauge. The small gauge measures the length and width of your child’s feet and is suitable for children up to the age of three (or shoe size 8 and a half).

Start-Rite is offering 30% off the small measuring gauge with code NET30 until the end of November.

For older children aged over four (and a shoe size nine or bigger), you’ll need the large gauge. You can also book an appointment with a professional fitter in-store.

*Start-Rite research with One Poll (June 2021)

When does my toddler need shoes?

Your little one needs shoes even before they start walking. Podiatrist Karen Randell says, 

‘Pre-walkers need to be soft, flexible and roomy at the forefoot so you are not disabling natural development or compressing the foot. They need to be completely flat with some kind of fastening and a little bit of grip to assist with movement.’

As soon as your toddler starts walking, Karen recommends getting them their first proper shoes to protect their feet.

Start-Rite has done lots of research into little feet and have made sure each pair has the right amount of wiggle room for them to move naturally. They also have the support and protection your toddler needs as they explore the world around them.

Check out their range of babies first walking shoes.

What to look for when buying kids’ shoes

With your child’s feet growing rapidly, choosing the right fitting shoes is super important. Which is why Start-Rite design shoes for every age and stage of development.

Here are five things to look for:

1. Pick shoes designed for children’s feet

… not styles made for adult feet and reduced to a child’s size. That’s because children need lightweight and flexible soles designed to flex as their foot flexes. This allows your child’s feet to move naturally.

Start-Rite shoes also have built-in growing room around the toes, vital for your child’s developing muscles, ligaments and bones.

2. Get the right size

It can be tempting to buy shoes that your child can grow into. But wearing shoes that are the wrong size or width can cause long-term problems. 

Instead, choose shoes that are exactly right. Start-Rite have whole and half sizes, along with multi-width fittings, meaning your child will find a shoe that fits them perfectly.

3. Look for simple fastenings

Lace-up shoes may look cute, but are they really practical for your toddler or preschooler? Think about how often your little one will need their shoes putting on (and taking off) and then pick a fastening to suit.

Start-Rite shoes have secure rip-tape fasteners that your toddler can do up and undo on their own. This is great for their growing independence and for getting out of the house on time!

4. Think about what your child (and their shoes) will be doing

Children love to explore. Which means their shoes need to be durable enough to withstand everything from jumping in puddles to climbing trees.

With scuff-proof heels and toe bumpers, Start-Rite have got you covered. Their shoes are made from high grade leather for even more staying power. 

5. Make sure they are comfy

If your little one is learning to walk and run, they need lightweight and comfortable shoes to go with them.

Start-Rite are experts in how children develop and how footwear influences healthy development. That’s why their shoes have padded ankle support and cushioned insoles to help prevent any rubbing or blisters.