Improperly fitting shoes can have detrimental effects on the development of your child’s feet which means they will be affected not only now but in the long term.   

There are a few things you can do to make sure you’re buying the right footwear, but kid’s shoes can be expensive and they go through them quicker than any other item of clothing so how do you make sure you’ve got their feet covered without it costing a fortune?

Babies & Toddlers

Babies don’t need shoes until they are steady on their feet. Research has shown that learning to walk and foot development are both better off without shoes. This allows your baby to spread their toes for balance and feel the ground below.  Make sure their feet are warm in cooler months with booties & non-slip socks or buy pants with feet in them (can be hard to find in larger sizes but very handy for bubs who constantly remove their socks). There are also pre-walker shoes available that are more solid than a sock but much softer than a shoe and therefore more protective when practicing their walking outside.

When your toddler is ready for shoes make sure they are fitted properly by someone who has been trained to do so. But first, follow the usual rule: Don’t take a hungry or tired toddler shopping!

Guidelines for fitting a shoe for any age child.

Have your child’s foot measured every 3 months as they can grow a full size in this short time

Shoes cannot be too small, this is obvious, but if shoes are too big they will cause the child to trip or their foot may slip off the sole on uneven ground and cause their ankle to roll. Shoes that are too big make it difficult for kids to do what kids do – play & run!

Consider the purpose of the shoe, if it is for everyday wear which will involve running, jumping, falling, walking long distances, etc., then the shoe needs to be able to withstand this kind of treatment so chose stitching over glue and leather over vinyl. They also need to breathe so leather or canvas will be better. You may need to invest a little bit more money but they won’t have to be replaced as quickly either.

If the shoes are for a special occasion or won’t be worn very often you can get away with buying from the fashion range at a discount or department store, these are usually still good quality and will cost a fraction of the price.

Make sure the shoe bends in the middle. Many shoes (no matter what the price) have a very solid sole which does not allow for the foot to bend when walking.  

Measure and fit the shoes onto both feet and have your child try on both shoes as their feet can be different sizes just like ours.

Can your child put them on and take them off by themselves? Velcro straps and easy-to-do buckles will give your child a greater sense of independence if they can ‘do it themselves’.

Down to the shoes!

• Make sure the heel is held firmly in the back of the shoe
• The foot should not be able to slide forward in the shoe
• A general rule is to make sure there is approx a thumb width between the end of the shoe and the longest toe (minimum 1cm)
• The shoe should be strong at the back to support the child’s heel
• The toe area should be rounded to give the toes room to move
• Avoid synthetic shoes that do not breathe. If they are synthetic then make sure they have an open weave to allow air flow
• If your child’s shoes rub or need to be ‘broken in’ then they are pooled designed or poorly fitted.

Three Basic Rules recommended by epodiatry for fitting children’s shoes

1. There should be a thumb width between the end of the shoe and the end of the longest toe = length is correct.

2. You should be able to pinch the upper of the shoe between the thumb and forefinger (this may depend on the nature of the material) = width is correct.

3. Does the shoe fit snugly around the heel and instep? How stable is the shoe when trying to 'pull off' the shoe? = good fit.

How fast do feet grow?

16-18 months of age – more than half a size every 2 months

16-24 months – half a size every 3 months*

24-36 months – half a size every 4 months*

Over 3 years – half a size every 4-6 months*

*Figures are averages

Useful shoe size chart

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