FAQ

How are my toddler's feet developing

When your baby's born, the bones in her feet are made of soft, flexible cartilage. This gradually hardens over time. They won't be fully developed until her late teens.To begin with, your baby's feet are quite flat. But by the time she's about two years old, you should be able to see what kind of foot shape she has.Your toddler will inherit one of three main foot shapes from either you or your partner:Tapered: her big toe is the biggest of all her toes.Rounded: her second or third toe is longer than her big toe.Square: all her toes are about the same length.

When can my toddler have her first shoes?

Don't be in a rush to put your toddler in shoes, barefoot is important in helping your child develop. When very young, they are only needed for protection or when ready to walk outside, which is usually once she's already confident about taking a few steps indoors.As your toddler learns to walk, let her stay barefoot indoors. This allows her feet to develop and strengthen without restriction. Just make sure that the floor is clean and safe.

What are the best first shoes for my toddler?

Choose comfortable shoes made from soft leather, with lightweight flexible soles, padded ankles and non-slip bottoms. There should be a secure, adjustable fastening such as Velcro, a buckle or laces. This will hold her feet in place so they don't slip forward.

Does my child have different size feet?

The right and left foot rarely have the same length. A difference in length of up to half an inch is completely normal - but this corresponds to almost an entire shoe size. You should therefore always be guided by the longer foot when buying shoes.

What are the different sizing scales available?

Footwear in the UK follows the UK standard of measurement, while European sizing follows the EU standard. One UK shoe size is approximately 8.5mm, while an EU shoe size is 6.7mm. In the US, the standard follows US sizing which is similar to the UK, in that each show size is 8.5mm, but starts at a different point. Most footwear labels will have the sizing scale used for the manufacture first, and include an approximate conversion to other standards.

Why do different brands fit differently?

While the different brands approximately follow the sizing standards for their location, there are many other factors at play here. Everything from the brand itself, the last the shoe is made on, the techniques and materials used in manufacture.

What about the width of my child's foot?

The width of the foot is very important in relation to finding the correct footwear. Your child can have anything from a narrow foot to an extra wide foot, with narrow feet being more common in girls, and wider feet more common in boys. Some brands may have different width fittings to accommodate for this, while other brands with no width fittings, will recommend that you go up a size to accommodate for a wider foot.

How fast are my children's feet growing?

The rate of growth of your child's foot will vary, but at a young age, up to the age of 3-4 they can be growing up to 2mm per month. Growth rates do begin to slow down and by the time your child is a young teenager their feet will be fully grown. It should be noted that no two children are the same, one 5 year old could go through 2 full sizes in a year, another 5 year old could stay the same size. Regular checking though is the way to keep track, particularly when young, every 5-6 weeks.

How often should I measure my child's foot?

Up to the age of 3 or 4 you should check their shoe size every 5-6 weeks either using SizeWise or a footwear professional. From the age of 6-9, growth can slow a little, so every 2 months should be fine, but of course do keep an eye out for those growth spurts! Use wisewise to scan from home

Is there growing room in my toddlers shoe?

At SizeWise we are all about sustainability, but you do have to be careful. If the shoe is in good condition then there should be no issue with passing on the shoe, however you should check the condition thoroughly. In particular check that the insole is in good condition and the sole is not worn unevenly.

Frequently asked questions

No longer,
the wrong shoe size.

No longer, the wrong shoe size.

No longer,
the wrong shoe size.