Kids' Shoes: How to Find the Perfect Fit
Depending on their age, children's feet can grow up to two centimetres per year. At the same time, they are one of the most important foundations for your little one's healthy development. This places high demands on the perfect pair of kids' shoes. How do you find the optimal fit, and what can you do to get the maximum wear out of a pair of shoes? Here are some big tips for little soles.
Measure, don't guess
From their first crawl to running around in the garden, it's essential that children's feet can develop healthily. That's why choosing the right kids' shoes is so important. Baby feet grow the fastest, but even at around eleven years old, children's feet still grow by about one centimetre per year. It's therefore important that you regularly check the fit of their kids' shoes. For the little ones, check every two months; for older children, every three months; and from the age of six, about every six months. Always measure 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, as the sizes can sometimes differ. If you don't have a tape measure to hand, mark the length on a piece of paper and then measure it with a ruler.
The perfect kids' shoes for any adventure
Walking barefoot is the healthiest way to go, and the best shoes for kids, whether for winter or summer, 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. Also, look for lightweight shoes so that little feet can be lifted with ease. In addition, you should opt for a spacious toe box where the front of the foot has room to spread out. Your child will quickly know if they're a good fit: let them run around in the shoes for a test walk before you decide on a pair.
Shoes that grow with your child?
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 of wear out of them. Ideally, children's shoes should be about 1.2 to 1.7 centimetres longer than their feet. If you aim for the upper end of this range, you'll have more time before you need to buy a new pair. Insoles can help make shoes that are slightly too big a little smaller. But don't overdo it. A good fit is essential! For shoes that are a bit too tight, shoe stretch sprays can make the material more elastic and the shoe more comfortable again. However, this is also just a temporary solution until it's time to buy the next pair.
