Kids Shoes

All parents want to ensure the health of their childrens' feet. The majority of children are born with healthy feet, but only 40% go on to grow up with healthy feet, with one of the main causes being poor footwear – isn't that shocking?

So – what can we do? One of the difficulties is that children’s feet grow so quickly (sometimes as much as up to 2 or 3 sizes a year). It is now recommended that you take your child for shoe fittings every three months, beginning at about 12 months of age.

Another difficulty is that shoes face different challenges – generally as a rule, boys shoes generally need to be more robust to withstand tree-climbing and football, and girls want shoes that look fashionable. Of course, the shoes also need to be comfortable and functional, whilst being supportive of proper muscle operation, good blood circulation and generally maintaining good foot health.

Another point to remember – trainers and similar types of shoes are designed specifically for sports and therefore should not be worn everyday.

Material
As a general rule, a good quality leather is the best material for shoe uppers. It is soft and natural, and shouldn't harm a child's foot. It absorbs moisture internally whilst repelling water externally. It should also be flexible so as not to inhibit the natural muscle movement of the foot. The inner material – which needn't be leather - needs to absorb moistness. When considering the interior, check for stitching or seams in the shoe that may cause irritation, and check that the inner sole supports the arch of the foot.

Fastenings
Shoes that slip on offer no opportunity for any adjustment to ensure a proper fit to the foot. Instead opt for shoes with laces or Velcro fastenings which allow for a secure fitting.

Fitting
A good fitting shoe will allow about 5 or 6mm of space in the width and length of the shoe, and you should base this measurement on the longest toe. The shoe should also fit nicely around the child's heel to prevent the foot sliding forward and preventing good toe movement, and there should also be adequate height to the front part of the shoe to allow the toes space to move. And although it may be tempting, don't buy shoes a size or two too big – loose shoes can be painful to wear as they allow too much movement in the shoe.

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A video on how to find the proper fit for children's shoes