Kids' Shoes: How to Find the Perfect Fit
Depending on their age, a child's feet can grow up to two centimetres every year. At the same time, their feet are one of the most important foundations for their healthy development. This places high demands on finding the perfect pair of kids' shoes. So, how do you find the optimal fit and what can you do to get the most wear out of a pair of shoes? Here are our top tips for little feet.
Measure, don't guess
From their first crawl to playing in the garden, children's feet need to be able to develop healthily. That's why it's so important to choose the right kids' shoes. Babies' feet grow the fastest, but even at around eleven years old, children's feet still grow by about one centimetre per year. That's why it's important that you regularly check the fit of their kids' shoes. For the little ones, you should check this every two months, for older children every three, and from the age of six, about every six months. Always do this in the afternoon, as feet tend to swell throughout the day. To measure their feet, your children should be standing. Always measure from the heel to the longest toe – on both feet. This is because the sizes can differ. If you don't have a measuring tape to hand, mark their feet or the distance on a sheet of paper and then measure with a ruler.
The Perfect Kids' Shoes for Any Adventure
Barefoot is the healthiest way to walk, and the best shoes for kids should come as close to that feeling as possible. This is best achieved with a flexible sole that allows the foot to roll naturally. Boots or trainers should support the ankle to prevent any mishaps during wobbly first steps or sudden movements. You should also look for a lightweight design so that little feet are easy to lift. On top of that, choose a pair with a roomy toe box where the front of the foot has space to spread out. Your child will quickly let you know if they're a good fit: let them walk around in the shoes for a little while before you decide on a pair.
Shoes that grow with them?
While there isn't much wiggle room when it comes to how long kids' shoes will last, you can certainly get a few extra months out of them. Ideally, children's shoes should be about 1.2 to 1.7 centimetres longer than their foot. Opting for a size at the upper end of this range gives you more time before you need to buy the next pair. Insoles can help make shoes that are a little too big fit better, but don't overdo it. A good fit is essential! For shoes that are a bit too tight, shoe-stretching sprays can make the material more flexible and the shoe more comfortable again. However, this is also just a temporary solution until it's time to buy new shoes.
