How to Buy Kids’ Shoes Online – STOP Getting Your Child the Wrong Shoe Size!
Most parents don’t understand how important it is to provide their kids with the correct pair of shoes. It’s not just about getting the correct shoe style, but getting the correct shoe size as well, which involves getting the correct shoe length and also the correct shoe width. I have been fitting children’s shoes for many years, and based on my many years of shoe fitting experience I am going to show you how to buy kids’ shoes online.
Most fitting children’s shoe stores have been closing down, so parents end up buying their kids’ shoes online. There is nothing wrong with this, but to be able to buy your kids’ shoes online, you need to know your child’s exact foot size.
The good thing is that certain online retailers offer free returns and free shipping, that way you won’t waste your valuable money. However, you will end up wasting a lot of your valuable time if you don’t know your child’s correct foot size and the specific shoe styles that you need to order for your child.
I will show you the most effective way to buy kids’ shoes online, but first, let me show you the most common mistakes parents make when buying their kids’ shoes online.
Common Mistakes Parents Make when Ordering Kids’ Shoes Online
1️⃣ Not Taking into Account the Child’s Instep
It will be hard to order your kids’ shoes online if you don’t know if your child has a high instep or not. Do you know what the instep of the foot is? Take a look at the picture below to find out where the instep of the foot is located:
The instep is the top part of the foot, and some children might have a high instep. When children have a high instep they require a different type of shoe, since in most cases, the shoe needs to be deeper for your child’s foot to fit comfortably inside the shoe.
2️⃣ Assuming that the size that your child measures in the foot measuring scale automatically translates to your child’s actual shoe size.
Shoe styles can run long, short, wide, or narrow, and depending on how they run you will need to adjust the final shoe size that you get for your child.
One thing I have learned after fitting children’s shoes through all of these years is that the size the child measures is just a starting point when trying to find shoes that fit.
3️⃣ Assuming that the big toe is always the longest toe.
Your child’s longest toe might be the second or the third toe, and when you are trying to figure out your child’s foot size, you always need to measure the longest toe.
I have no intention to confuse or worry you about whether the shoes you are providing for your kids fit properly, I am here to clarify confusion and make you aware of the importance of well-fitting shoes.
How to Buy Your Kids’ Shoes Online – Follow These 2 Simple Steps!
1️⃣ Measuring Your Child’s Exact Foot Length:
➡️ Make sure that your child is standing straight, and then place a measuring tape or ruler below your child’s heels. It’s important that you measure your child’s feet while standing, as on weight-bearing the foot becomes longer.
➡️ Measure both feet all the way up to the tip of your child’s longest toe (make sure that your child is not curling his/her toes). It’s imperative that you measure both feet since there is always one foot that is bigger than the other. Keep in mind that your child’s longest toe doesn’t necessarily have to be the big toe — it may in fact be the second or even the third toe.
➡️ Make a note of that measurement in centimeters or inches or email me the image showing the measurements (such as you see below) to avoid confusion with the measurements.
We will input your child’s foot measurements in the standard foot measuring tool (Brannock device) to retrieve your child’s exact foot length.
2️⃣ Pictures of Your Child’s Foot Width:
The pictures below will help me determine whether your child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. Also, the pictures will help me see whether your child has a high instep and additional information such as whether your child has flat feet or not. Below you can find examples of how the pictures should look like:
This image helps determine whether your child is flat footed and whether your child has a high instep or not.
This image helps determine whether your child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet.
This image helps determine whether your child has rolled ankles or not.
Please note that I won’t need the measurements of your child’s foot width, the images will be sufficient to help me determine whether your child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet.
You will then receive a response within 24 hours with your child’s exact foot length, shape, and specific shoe recommendations as needed.
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Recap – What to Include in Your Email
- Your child’s foot length measurements (or an image of their foot length measurements)
- Three images of your child’s feet (see example images above)
- The country you live in (if you need specific shoe recommendations)
Feel free to include in your email any additional information I should know about your child’s feet.
How Much Does This Service Cost?
This service is completely free. I am passionate about fitting children’s shoes as I truly believe that the correct type of shoes can be life-changing. Children’s feet are constantly developing, and what happens to their feet during their childhood will affect their physique as they grow older.
If you wish to support the work of Fitting Children’s Shoes, you can Donate Here Your support helps ensure that families around the world can find the correct shoes for their children, regardless of their foot shape or condition.
The Challenges of Buying Your Kids’ Shoes Online
Buying your kids’ shoes online doesn’t mean scrolling down through the pictures and choosing the shoe that looks the most stylish or the one that is available in your kids’ shoe size. If you are looking to buy your kids’ shoes online, you must know how the particular shoe style that you like fits.
While your kids’ foot size is just a starting point, you must know your exact kids’ foot size to be able to order the correct shoe size online. Once you figure out your child’s exact foot size, you are ready to take the second step, which is finding the correct shoe style for your child.
Do More Expensive Shoes Automatically Translate Into Better Shoes for Your Child?
You will soon learn that more expensive shoes don’t automatically translate into better shoes for your child. However, please don’t provide your child with shoes from Walmart or Target. There is a reason those shoes are so cheap. I have seen that some of these shoes are made out of plastic or cardboard, offering little to no breathability and providing no support and no flexibility for your kids’ feet.
You will end up creating all sorts of foot problems for your kids’ feet, which will end up costing you so much more money in the future.
The fact is that when you buy low-quality shoes, they might end up wearing them down faster than expected, which results not only in a waste of your valuable money but a waste of your valuable time as well.
It’s not easy to identify which shoes will be better for your kids’ feet since there are no two pairs of feet alike. It’s not enough to put shoes on your kids’ feet and wait to see whether they will complain about them. Assuming that your kids’ shoes fit just because your kids don’t show any signs of discomfort is another common mistake parents make.
Do you normally shop for your kids’ shoes online? Do you find yourself wasting time having to return them all the time? Please share your thoughts and experiences below so we can all benefit from them!