7 steps to finding the perfect shoes for your child's feet
Sarah Lafarge
Editor, Netmums ReviewsWhether you're shopping for a toddler or tween, making sure that you buy shoes that fit properly is vital
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Whether you're shopping for a toddler or tween, making sure that you buy shoes that fit properly is SO important as correctly-fitting shoes are a MUST for healthy foot development and comfort.
But with so many styles to choose from, just how DO you select the perfect pair?
And, more importantly, how will you know that they fit your child's feet properly?
To give you a helping hand, we’ve created some steps to guide you through the buying process.
1 Measure up
The first step is to get your child’s feet measured.
This is SO vital as the bones in children’s feet are not fully formed until their early teens, so making sure they have supportive, well-fitting shoes is key.
You should try and measure your child's feet every six weeks from when they start walking all through the primary school years.
NEVER try and guess your child’s shoe size and remember that fit varies from brand to brand.
Look for shoes that are available in a range of whole and half sizes and multi-width fittings so you get best possible fit.
Can’t make it to the shops?
Why not buy a measuring gauge from Start-Rite Shoes so you can check your child's feet regularly at home and make sure they are wearing the right size? Enter the code NET30 at the checkout and you'll get 30% off Start-Rite's small measuring gauge.*
Start-Rite Shoes also has an online fitting service so you can measure your child’s feet by uploading photos.
*Offer is valid until the end of November 2021.
2 It’s all material
Next you need to think about what the shoes are made from.
You can buy cheaper synthetic shoes, but pairs made from real leather should always be top of your list.
Why?
Because leather is more durable, long lasting and can be repaired much more easily.
It’s also more breathable – so no more sweaty, uncomfortable feet!
3 Lace-up, buckle or Velcro?
A pair of shoes that are easy for your little one to get off and on by themselves is essential for busy mornings and undressing for PE lessons.
So, even though those mini-me lace-ups are VERY cute, doing them up could be fiddly, so are best avoided for very young children.
Shoes that fasten with Velcro are ideal for younger kids as they can be used by even the smallest of hands and are SO much less of a faff.
They also can be easily adjusted to give the best and most comfortable fit.
We like this trainer-style pair by Start-Rite Shoes that can be easily taken off and on.
4 Fabulous AND functional
The perfect pair of kids' shoes needs to be tough and hard wearing.
After all, your little one will be wearing them pretty much all day, every day.
They should be able to support your child in everything they do during the day, from walking and jumping, to skipping and tearing around the park.
So, look for a sturdy, waterproof pair that are suitable for ALL types of activity and weather.
5 You’ve got sole
Look for shoes with a flexible sole that are sturdy enough to give great support, but light enough so little ones can still skip, hop and jump to their heart’s content.
Start-Rite's shoes have lightweight and flexible soles that flex as a child's foot does for natural and healthy movement.
Some pairs even have shock absorbing and cushioned heels so your child will feel like they are running on air!
These super sturdy shoes have a cushioned sole – perfect for playground games. See more details at Start-Rite Shoes.
Removable and washable insoles are a bonus, too, as it'll help you keep shoes hygienically clean.
6 The perfect fit
So you’ve chosen the shoes, found the right size, now comes the crucial step of trying them on.
They need to have growing room, yet not so much that they’re too big and also wide enough so they don’t rub your child’s feet.
Look for a pair that has good support around the ankle, too.
Start-Rite Shoes have built in growing room around the toes, to allow for growth of developing muscles, ligaments and bones.
An easy way to test out the fit is to get your child to skip across the room.
You’ll be able to easily see if they’re too loose and slip off the feet.
7 The final seal of approval
So you're happy with the fit, but there’s still one VERY important hurdle to cross.
Does your child like them, too?
Luckily these days shoes are designed to appeal to kids as well as their parents, so you’re pretty much guaranteed to get a big thumbs up.
Phew! So that’s all sorted then.
(Well, until next time …)
