Just measuring your child’s foot from toe to heel isn’t enough to help you find the proper kids' shoe. Without even realizing it, many parents rely on old-school, outdated measurement methods that are ineffective and can lead to buying shoes that are either too loose or too tight.
You need accurate, precise measurements, especially since children’s feet develop and change shape quickly. Otherwise, your little one’s healthy growth and comfort might be compromised.
In today’s foot-measuring guide, we’ll detail the most reliable foot measurement approach that you can do at home. It’s a proven way to get the ideal fit every time you purchase a new pair of shoes for your kids.
Common Measurement Misconceptions
One of the most common mistakes parents and caregivers make is checking whether a shoe fits by pressing their finger on the front or back to see if there’s enough space left. You may think this is helpful, but it isn’t an accurate method to pick the right footwear for your kids’ feet.
Children’s feet tend to naturally shift backward when wearing shoes, especially when they lift their legs or sit down. Hence, the illusion of additional space appears, but it fades away as soon as the little one stands up or starts walking.
At the same time, focusing only on measuring the shoe’s heel space with your fingers means you completely ignore how the shoe feels at the front, where your kids’ developing toes need enough room to move freely.
Another false belief is that buying larger shoes for kids will allow their feet to grow without any issues. This could help you save money, but your children’s balance might be affected, while the risk of tripping could increase. Also, oversized shoes can get quite uncomfortable during walking.
The focus should be less on getting larger footwear and more on picking shoes that have just the right amount of space left inside.
The 3 Step Foot Measuring Method
The following steps will teach you how to accurately measure your little one’s feet at home.
1. Do the Measurements in the Evening
Due to high activity levels, kids’ feet expand during the day, especially when blood circulation increases. So, in the evening, their feet might be a bit larger than they were at the beginning of the day.
To make sure you’re getting a correct kids' shoe sizing result, you must determine the length and width of your children’s feet at the end of the day, after they’ve finished all their running around, playing, and walking.
2. Measure Kids’ Feet While They’re Standing
Any proper fit guide should mention this important rule: your child should stand up straight when measuring shoe sizes, because that’s when the body weight gets evenly distributed on both legs.
When the soles touch the floor and the weight slightly presses them down, the feet naturally spread to their full size. If you’re measuring when your little one is sitting, the results won’t be accurate because the feet might appear narrower or even shorter.
This is the proper way to do a home foot measurement:
· Place a white, blank paper sheet on the floor under your child’s foot.
· Have your kid stand up straight with his or her feet on the sheets of paper.
· With a marker, make two signs on the paper: one at the heel and the second, where the tip of the longest toe ends.
· Measure the distance created between those two marked points.
· Do the same for both feet, then select a shoe size based on the longer measurement, since we all, including kids, have one sole slightly smaller than the other.
3. Make Sure There’s Enough Growth Room – the Thumb’s Width Rule
Kids need enough room in their shoes for their feet to grow naturally and freely. Their footwear should allow them to move, run, and play without any discomfort or restrictions.
Once they have their new pair of shoes on, there should be about a thumb’s width of space between the front of the shoe and their longest toe. It’s enough for your children’s feet to grow and for their toes to wiggle comfortably.
At the same time, make sure the shoe fits well and is secure around your little one’s heel and midfoot. It’s important for kids’ shoes to feel comfy and snugly right from the start, without needing a break-in period.
Don’t Forget About Shoe Width
Besides length, width is also essential in picking the proper shoe fit for your kids. Some parents focus entirely on the length, overlooking the footwear’s width. If your children have wide feet, they might experience discomfort when wearing new shoes, even if the length is right.
Dream Pairs Kids sells wider or extra-wide shoe alternatives, if necessary. Your child might need a wider fit if he experiences the following signs:
- Difficulty hooking closures and straps.
- Bulging that appears over the footwear’s margins.
- Red marks on the skin of your child’s soles.
- Protests and objections related to how tight the shoe feels across the forefoot.
Eliminating Shoe Sizing Stress with Adjustable Features
We all know that kids’ feet grow quickly, so frequent sizing can become tedious and stressful. One solution is to opt for shoes with adjustable fit features. Many of these come with detachable half-size inserts.
These small accessories allow kids to start wearing customized-fitting shoes and then remove the insert as their feet develop. This prolongs the wear period and provides plenty of comfort.
Other designs might have dual-fit systems or adjustable insoles, both of which are highly useful for growing children.
Final Thoughts
For your kids’ feet to develop properly, you must buy them the right shoe sizes. You can avoid confusion and stress by measuring their feet in the evening while they’re standing and allowing the toes plenty of room to move.
Don’t forget that the correct shoe fit includes both length and width, and, when necessary, search for wide or extra-wide shoe options.