Kids' Shoes: How to find the perfect fit
Depending on their age, children's feet can grow up to two centimetres a year. They are also one of the most important foundations for your child's healthy development. This places high demands on the perfect pair of kids' shoes. So, how do you find the best 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 playing in the garden, it's essential that children's feet can develop in a healthy way. That's why choosing the right kids' shoes is so important. A baby's feet grow the fastest, but even at around eleven years old, a child's feet still grow by about one centimetre per year. It is therefore 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 during the day. To measure their feet, your children should be standing up. Always measure from the heel to the longest toe – on both feet. This is because the sizes can differ from one another. If you don't have a measuring tape to hand, mark the feet or the distance on a piece of paper and then measure with a ruler.
The perfect kids' shoes for every adventure
Walking barefoot is the healthiest way to go, and kids' shoes for winter or summer should come as close to that feeling as possible. This works best with a flexible sole that allows the foot to roll naturally. Boots or trainers support the ankle, preventing any mishaps during wobbly first steps or sudden movements. Also, look for a lightweight design so children can lift their feet easily. Furthermore, opt for a spacious toe box where the front of the foot has room to spread out. Your child will quickly know if they fit: let them walk around in the shoes for a test run before you decide on a pair.
Shoes that grow with them?
While there isn't much you can do to extend the life of kids' shoes, you can certainly get a few more months 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 maximum value, 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, stretching sprays can make the material more elastic and the shoe more comfortable again. However, this is also just a temporary solution until the next shoe purchase.
