5 Tips so the Shoe Fits

When you are the one footing the bill, you want to make very sure that your child’s brand new school shoes (or other footwear) actually fit them properly!

Stores that provide professional shoe fitting are few and far between these days, especially with the rise of online shopping, so it’s perhaps not surprising that a recent survey conducted by Blitzresults found that more than two-thirds (67%) of all school children are wearing shoes that are too small.

What are the Health Impacts?

Poorly fitting shoes may cause long term impacts on your child’s foot health, such as bunions. This is a type of foot deformity which occurs when the big toe starts to angle inwards, causing a swollen lump just below the big toe.

There is also an increased risk of injuries such as a sprained ankle, as well as shin splits, corns, calluses, and painful blisters.

Keep these 5 Tips in Mind

To ensure you are purchasing the right size shoe for your child, keep these useful recommendations in mind:

1. Go by the longer foot: It is rare that both feet are exactly the same size, so gauge fit against the longer foot size when buying new shoes.
2. Give your child room: As children have regular growth spurts, podiatrists recommend at least half an inch (just over 1 cm) of additional room, to allow enough room for optimal movement when walking.
3. Measure regularly: It is common for children to squeeze their feet into shoes that are far too small, without noticing. Therefore, it is crucial for parents to take the time to carefully measure their child’s feet every couple of months.
4. Check with your hand: Forget the old "thumb test", where you press down on the toe box to check for room. The problem is that children often draw up their toes by reflex, so you won’t get an accurate measure. Instead, carefully feel your child’s foot instead of the shoe, placing one hand on the front of the shoe so the child can’t draw up their toes. Then, with the other hand, check the position of the toes. This way you can feel whether there is enough space for growth.
5. Remove the insole: If possible, remove the insole and place your child’s foot on the insole. There should be just under a centimetre of space behind the heel, and just over a centimetre in front of the toes.

With these tips on hand, you will be able to fit your child for shoes just like a professional!

Janet Camilleri loves writing for the web. In addition to her work in content marketing, she also blogs as the Middle Aged Mama, about learning to fashion a new life now that her kids are grown.