Thursday, August 2, 2012

Choosing the correct size shoes for your kids

When it comes to kids' footwear needs, one thing we can count on is their constantly changing feet, and the younger the kids age, the faster their feet grow and change in shape and size.
Some kids start off with chubby or wide feet at an early age, while some others have narrow feet from the beginning, but as they grow during their early years, their feet grow longer and stretch out more.


Stages
  •  For infants age 0-6 months old, their feet are usually chubby and only suitable to flexible or soft soled shoes. Best suited at this age are decorative shoes or those worn for warmth. Most have no provisions for walking or surface grip. Brands such as Pediped Originals, Bobux, Baby Bella Maya are some of the recommended styles.
  • For babies age 6-12 months old, their feet are still chubby but at this stage they start to are stand up or attempt to prop themselves up and roam around their home. At this stage, the ideal shoes would be soft and smooth soled shoes. Most of these shoes make ideal indoor trainers with comfort in mind. Brands such as Pediped Originals, Bobux, and Smaller are among the premier choices.
  • For the youth group at age 8-12 years old, their feet grow in fits and spurts but generally at a slower pace than before. They can wear shoes in the kids shoes ranges, and some can even find footwear in the adult size ranges. For this age group, brands such as Morgan & Milo, Lelli Kelli, Chooze. Geox, L'Amour, Josmo, Tsukihoshi, Umi, Primigi, Modit, Converse, etc. are among the offerings to consider.



How do I go about to find the right shoe size for my child?

To start off, have your kid stand on a paper on a hard surface and mark from the back of the heel to the longest toe. Then take the measurement with a ruler or measuring tape and write it down along with the date of your measurement.

With this measurement in hand, you can begin shopping for the shoes you're interested in and compare with the size measurements we have posted online.

We go to great lengths to make sure you have all the information you need to select the right shoe size for your child. Sometimes, certain styles from different manufacturers can run either big or small for their quoted sizes. That's why we measure the inside footbed (insole) of every style/size we offer and post the measurements in an easy to read size chart in the product detail page for each item we offer. All you need to do is measure the bottom of your child's foot while he/she is standing, then make your size selection accordingly taking into account some comfort and growing room. 

 
How do I know if my child's shoe has enough growing room?
The recommended toe room allows 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch between the longest toe and the end of the shoe. Also, about 1/8 inch of growth room is usually already incorporated into the manufacturing of children's shoes to ensure there is built-in space for growth.

Therefore, we recommend that you look for shoes that have measure whatever your child's foot measurement was plus a 1/4" to 3/8" extra to account for comfort and growing room.

How do I know if my child's shoes are wide enough?
You should be able to pinch just a little of the upper material. If the shoe feels too tight and is not available in a wider width, a half size larger is recommended. Most kids styles are designed to accommodate medium to wide feet unless otherwise noted on the product description.


If you're still unsure about which size to select for proper fit, you can call us at (310) 408-7090 (Mon-Fri 9-6PM PST) for one-on-one assistance and answer any questions you have to help you make the right choices for your needs.

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