It is very important to choose shoes that are not too big or too small for your child's feet. Usually, a kids' shoe size guide can help with this, but there are other things to look out for when buying shoes for children.
Kids shoe size guide: things to look out for when buying your child's shoes
Unlike clothes, buying the wrong shoe size can affect your child's balance and way of walking. Therefore, it is important to buy shoes that are comfortable, supportive, and easy to wear or pull off.
When buying shoes for your child, it is important not to go to a store that specialises mostly in adult footwear instead of children's. Footwear stores that specialise in children's shoes have experienced staff or owners who can help you make the right choice.
This is another reason why you should buy your child's shoes from a store that specialises in children's shoes. Have the staff or owner measure your child's feet with their measuring tape. And to make sure you get a comfortable fit, your child should stand up straight with his or her socks smooth around the feet during the measurement.
Many things come into play when choosing a pair of shoes for your child. Try to ensure the child likes the shoes you've chosen. Because if they don't, they might refuse to wear them and you end up spending money for nothing. Secondly, choose shoes whose colours would fit both genders so that you can pass them on to your next child. Also, unless your child is a teenager, avoid shoes with laces until the child learns to tie them.
Have your child wear the shoes right there. When the child does, check the front of the shoes to make sure that there's space between the longest toe and the end of the shoes. This ensures that the child's feet are comfortable inside and his or her toes won't get sore and painful after wearing the shoes for a long time.
Next steps while buying shoes for kids
- Check the back of the shoes
Just like the toes, the back of your child's feet can get blisters due to friction between the back of the shoes and feet. Therefore, it is important that you look out for this too. To check this effectively, try to put your finger between the back of your child's feet and the back of the shoes. The shoes are okay if your finger fits just fine behind, but if it's tight or loose then there's the risk of blisters or the shoes coming off from the child's feet when he or she is walking.
- Move the ankle from side to side
Moving the child's ankle from side to side lets you know whether the shoes are too firm against the feet. There's the risk of blisters if they are too firm, especially if the shoes are heavy.
Tight shoes press against the little toes, causing soreness and pain. Before buying your child's footwear, check the little toes to make sure the shoes are not pressing against them. Just to be very sure, ask the child to flex their toes inside the shoes.
- Know how to convert and buy online
There are seven major shoe size systems globally, but the commonly used ones are the US, UK, European, and Japanese sizes. Among these global shoe size systems, Nigeria mostly uses the US and UK, and European systems. The sizes can be seen behind the shoe label written clearly, although for kids there's no difference between the male and female. Also, you can convert using a conversion table or measuring with a tape on a piece of paper. Essentially, measuring your kid's feet on paper will help you determine the exact size so you don't order for the wrong sizes online.
Traditional Method Of Measurement
There is a traditional method of measuring shoe sizes without a tape. For this method, you will need a broomstick. Place the broomstick on the side of the child's leg, measuring from the big toe to the sole. Cut off the extra broomstick and there you have it. In case you can't take the child to the market, or you want to send someone else, this is quite useful. However, this won't work for online purchases, you have to buy in person to use the broom as a measuring tool.
Children run around a lot and they need shoes that are super comfortable, made out of leather or canvas. These materials also prevent their shoes from smelling.
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