Find out how to buy the perfect pair of shoes for your child!
Children grow by leaps and bounds. Feet are one of those parts that grow with a child all the way up to adulthood. Keeping your children in properly fitted shoes can sometimes seem like a full-time job, but it’s important that you do stay up-to-date with it. We tell you all the steps on how to get perfectly fitted shoes that are ideal for your kids!
What is ‘properly fitted’?
Properly fitted shoes will have a thumb’s width of space between the toe of the shoe and the top of your child’s big toe. The shoe should also fit around the heel securely but not too tightly.
Watch your child walk from behind with BOTH fitted shoes on and fastened to make sure the heels aren’t rubbing up and down on their feet. Be sure to ask your child if the backs of the shoes are pinching their foot. You can also watch to make sure they don’t limp or alter their normal walk.
What kind of shoes should you buy?
There are oodles of shoes out there that are so darn cute. But this doesn’t mean they belong in your child’s closet or on their feet. The shoes that belong on your child’s feet and in their closet…
- Fasten with either laces or Velcro. Velcro is the best choice up until children learn to tie their own shoes. This way a child can avoid tripping over shoelaces, which can cause accidents and injuries.
- Don’t have heels. Girls want to be ‘grown up’ so badly sometimes, but you must resist. Children don’t need shoes with heels.
- Are closed-back shoes. Flip-flops are great for the beach or back yard, but for school, the park and other places, flip-flops aren’t ideal shoes since they don’t have backs or a simple strap. They just don’t stay on securely when children run and play.
- Have support. Thicker soles are better than paper-thin soles that come with some of the ‘cutsey’ shoes. The soles and support of the shoe need to be worthy of supporting your child’s foot when they run, walk, jump and climb.
- Provide traction. Traction patterns and non-slip soles are essential for children’s shoes.
- That fit. Some people, for the sake of saving money, buy shoes that are too big thinking their child will be able to wear them longer. This is not good for your child’s feet. Clinching their toes to hold their shoes on or letting them rub up and down on their feet hinders proper development of the foot.
When to buy shoes
- You should buy shoes late in the day. Our feet tend to swell a bit during the day, so shoes you buy early in the day may not fit well by the day’s end.
- Buy shoes after you have measured your child’s feet while they are standing. Most everyone has one foot that is somewhat bigger than the other one. Buy shoes that fit the larger foot.
- Buy shoes when your child’s shoes are too small or worn in places to the point that it affects their walk.
Come to an agreement
When your child reaches the age when they readily and adamantly express their opinion, shoe shopping may turn into a bit of a struggle. Be flexible and willing to make a few concessions. Kids need to be able to express their personalities through the fashion statements they make just like you do.
Tell us about your experiences when buying fitted shoes for your young ones, has it been easy or have these tips helped you?
