There is no definitely answer as to when you should get your child their first pair of shoes. Being barefoot for as long as possible will enable your child to gain their balance and confidence in walking. Children do not need shoes until they are walking confidently outside.
‘Pre-walkers’ should only be used for special occasions if you think it’s necessary.
UK is the only country in the world to have width fittings. Widths generally range from D to H where D is the narrowest width, E, then F is the standard width (fits about 80% of children) then G and H is the wider width.
As an independent footwear retailer, we are able to stock a wide range of brands. This enables us to accommodate lots of different widths but also different shaped feet. Each pair of feet are individual and will change over time as a child develops.
There are no actual rules as to how much growing room should a child have in their shoes. Generally, 7 to 10mm is allowed for growing room at the end of a child’s shoe. It is very important to check the fit regularly as children’s feet grow rapidly and at intervals with no set pattern. On average, children’s feet grow by about 2-3 sizes in a year. To ensure they are always in the correct sized shoes, we recommend measuring your children’s feet every 3-4 months.
Baby’s feet can be measured when they are laid down. Make sure they are wearing socks and their toes are not curled in. Use a ruler or measuring tape and measure from the heel to the longest toe in millimeter or centimeter. Please measure both feet as each foot can be different. Then add 0.7cm to 1cm for growing room and refer to the size chart for the right size.
Put a piece of paper on the floor, make sure that the paper is lined up with the wall. Let the child stand on the piece of paper with their heels against the wall. Make sure that the child wears socks and the toes are not curled up. Draw a line where the longest toe is on the paper. Use a measuring tape and measure from the heel to the longest toe in millimeter or centimeter. Please measure both feet as each foot can be different. Then add 0.7cm to 1cm for growing room and refer to the size chart for the right size.
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Internationally individual companies use different scales, tolerances and materials all affect the size and fitting of the shoe. It is important to understand that no size calculator, size comparison chart or shoe gauge can give the exact details of actual shoe size.