As a new parent, you might not have to worry much about buying new shoes for your newborn baby. However, once your kid has learned to walk confidently and is out of the stroller, you might have to pay frequent visits to the shoe store.
And let us inform you that buying the right pair of shoes for your child can be as challenging as placating your child when they are hungry. Daunting as it may sound, buying shoes for your little one is actually pretty easy. In this blog, we share some tips that will help you buy the ideal pair of shoes for your child.
Here’s what your shoe-shopping should look like
- Whenever shopping for a new pair of shoes, look for shoes made up of soft and lightweight materials. If you have slippery floors, get a shoe with rubber grips to prevent your child from slipping and falling.
- The shoes you choose should have sufficient length and breadth and some room to grow. Plus, get those in which your child’s toes do not hit the front shape of the shoe.
- The feet of a toddler sweat a lot, so you should only buy shoes made of breathable materials, such as canvas or leather.
- Always prioritize comfort over style and purchase a pair in which your child feels comfortable. Do not think that your child will get used to being in an uncomfortable pair—if the shoe does not fit well in the store, do not buy. Limping and tripping are the most common signs of discomfort.
- Ensure that the baby’s arch fits perfectly in the shoe’s insole and that the heel is efficiently supporting from behind.
- For indoor use, you can go for a soft leather shoe with a light rubber sole.
- The shoe should be firm enough to bear shocks while your child is walking on hard surfaces, such as asphalt and concrete.
- In the early stages, when your child has just learned walking, prefer shoes with laces rather than velcro and zippers as the former fit well and offer better support.
- Lastly, you may have to pay frequent visits to the shoe store—perhaps once every 3 months—as your child’s feet will develop faster and outgrow the current pairs.
What is the right shoe size for your child?
Though your child’s shoe size may vary, and you will have to visit the store to get the perfect pair, here is an age-wise shoe size chart that will give you a good idea of which size will fit your child. Our chart starts from 6 to 9 months because this is [generally] the age by which a child learns to walk. Again, this age is just a flexible number and differs from kid to kid:
- 6-9 months: size 2.5 or 3
- 9-12 months: size 3.5 or 4
- 12-18 months: size 4.5 or 5
- 18-24 months: size 5.5 or 6
We hope that you will be able to buy the perfect pair of shoes for your bundle of joy with these tips. Happy parenting!