Do you want to know the most effective way to check from home if there is still growing room inside your kids’ shoes? Maybe you just bought your child a pair of new shoes and you want to make sure that there is enough growing room. Shoes that don’t fit properly can lead to several foot issues such as blisters, calluses, and corns.
My Experience Fitting Children’s Shoes – Over a Decade of Shoe Fitting Experience!
I have been working for a specialized children’s shoe store for over 10 years now, and we focus on helping children with “complex” foot shapes as well as foot and leg problems, but we provide regular shoe fittings as well. Over the years I became familiar with the most effective ways to make sure your kids’ shoes are fitting correctly.
Most children’s shoe stores will tell you that if, for example, your child is 2-years-old you will need to have the shoes checked in around 3 to 4 months to make sure that the shoes are still fitting correctly. The issue is that every 2-year-old grows at a different rate, and while 3 to 4 months it’s the standard time to check, your child might be ready for new shoes sooner.
My point is that while there is a standard timeframe to check if your children have outgrown their shoes based on their age, wouldn’t you want to be 100% sure that your child’s shoes are fitting correctly? The method that I use will show you exactly when it’s time to replace your kids’ shoes. I believe this is the most effective method as it’s not based on your child’s age, and you will be able to actually visualize how much growing room there is left in your kids’ shoes.
How to Check if There Is Growing Room in Your Kids’ Shoes? – 3 Simple Steps!
You can check if your child has growing room in the shoes by following these 3 simple steps:
1️⃣ Start by removing the original insoles of the shoes as shown in the image below:
2️⃣ Have your child stand up in both insoles. Please remember that most people have half a size difference between their feet, hence the importance of checking both feet. In this step, you also need to make sure that your child is standing up straight and looking straight ahead. Also, make sure to align the back of your child’s heels perfectly with the back of the insoles. Please take a look at the images below for better visualization purposes:
3️⃣ Check whether your child’s toes are matching the end of the insoles or not. The first picture shows a child standing up in the insoles and we can see there is still growing room. As a standard rule of thumb, we always want to allow 3/16 of an inch or 0.4 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes.
Keep in mind that your child’s longest toe doesn’t necessarily have to be the big toe, it can be the second or even the third toe. Notice how the left foot is longer than the right one — that’s why it’s always important to check both feet:
This second picture shows the same child but in this case, the toes match the end of the insoles, which means that it’s time to get new shoes.
This is the most effective method I have found for parents who don’t have a local children’s shoe store that they trust and must purchase their kids’ shoes online.
This method can also save you a trip to your local shoe store, as you will know exactly when it’s time to get your child new shoes!
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
If you are not sure whether you have a good-fitting children’s shoe store in your area, you should take a look at an article I wrote where I describe the best children’s shoe stores by state:
The Best Kids’ Shoe Stores in the United States – Where To Go for Proper Fittings
If you want to be 100% sure about what shoe size to order online, I suggest that you follow the instructions in the article below:
How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width
If you are unsure whether your child still has growing room inside the shoes you can email me and I will help you figure it out:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Whether your purchase your kids’ shoes online or at your local shoe store, it’s important to know when is the correct time to replace your kids’ shoes.
Is there a different method that you use to check if there is still growing room inside your child’s shoes? Please share your findings below so other parents can benefit from your experiences.
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