Kids’ Shoe Size Chart – Why They Are Irrelevant
How many times have you found yourself trying to figure out what shoe size your child needs? Have you had your child’s foot measured at your local shoe store or with one of the many kids’ shoe size chart devices available online? Many different kids’ shoe size charts have been developed and claim to accurately measure your kids’ foot size, but they typically only indicate length, ignoring the crucial aspect of width (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide) and overall foot shape (instep height). This oversight can lead to discomfort and foot health issues if the shoe doesn’t fit well across all dimensions.
Why Are Kids Shoe Size Charts Irrelevant
Stride Rite size chart is one of the most popular ones online. However, even the most popular size charts online will not be able to measure the instep of your child’s feet. Do you know what the instep is? The instep is the top part of the feet, and when it’s high for example, it requires you to find wider and deeper shoes. Take a look at the image below for clarification:
You can’t possibly provide your child with the correct shoe size if you don’t know whether your child has a high instep or not.
Variability in Shoe Brands
Another factor contributing to the irrelevance of size charts is the inconsistency between different shoe brands. Just like adult footwear, children’s shoes can vary in size from one brand to another. A size 5 in one brand might be equivalent to a size 6 in another. This discrepancy makes it challenging for size charts to provide a one-size-fits-all solution. The best approach is to try on shoes from different brands to find the best fit for your child.
This is mainly because children’s shoes can run short, long, narrow, or wide, and depending on how they run, you will need to adjust the final shoe size that you get for your child. Sometimes children might end up getting a whole size longer or a whole size smaller than the size that they measured on the foot measuring scale.
Do You Have a Specialized Children’s Shoe Store Near You?
I recommend that parents take their children to their local children’s shoe store that they trust, where a shoe fitter can properly measure their kids’ feet and find shoes accordingly. The issue is that most stores have been closing down and parents need to end up buying their kids’ shoes online. There is nothing wrong with this, but you must know your child’s exact foot size to know what size to order.
If you can’t seem to find a shoe store in your area, then I suggest that you take advantage of a virtual shoe fitting service I created that will help you determine your child’s exact foot size and whether the child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet. I also will be able to tell you whether your child has a high instep or not.
According to research done by the shoe company Clarks, at least four million children are walking around wearing the wrong shoe size. Parents do not realize that by having their children wear the wrong-sized shoe, they are making their children more prone to developing foot, leg and back problems that may last a lifetime. Some of the short-term issues include blisters, calluses and ingrown toenails, while foot deformities, knee and posture are some of the long-term problems.
Certain podiatry experts state that many parents neglect their children’s feet because they simply are not aware of the problems that an ill-fitting pair of shoes can create. The research done by Clarks also stated that only 40% of the parents interviewed knew whether their children’s shoes were properly fitted and supportive.
What Are the Best Sneakers for Kids?
I wrote another resource where I describe the best shoes for kids. The shoes are all made of high-quality materials, and they are supportive but lightweight and flexible at the same time. They will also accommodate any type of child’s foot since they come in medium, wide, and extra wide widths.
Saving Money On Your Kids’ Shoes – False Economy!
Money is a major concern for every individual. Did you know that two-fifths of the parents confessed to buying shoes that were too big for their kids so that they would grow into them over time to save money?Buying bigger shoes doesn’t mean that the child will wear them longer, trust me. A shoe that is too long will wear differently than a shoe that is properly fitted. Shoes that are fitted too long will allow your kids’ feet to move too much inside the shoes, and that constant movement and friction will lead to several foot issues such as blisters, calluses, and corns.
Some cheaper shoes sold at places like Walmart or Target are sold without any expert advice and are terribly made. I have found cardboard inside the shoes they sold! Remember that is always better to take your child to specialized kids’ shoe stores, where a shoe fitter will make sure your children get the perfect pair of shoes and will have all different price ranges to choose from.
Is It Safe to Buy Shoes Online? – Let’s Find Out!
Purchasing shoes at online stores is more convenient than taking your child to be properly fitted at a specialized store. At the store I work for, parents travel 30 to 40 miles to have their kid’s feet properly fitted. I know it sounds crazy, and to be honest, these children do require specialized attention since they wear orthotics, but I just wanted to give you an example of how important kids’ feet are.
There are a lot of parents who travel long distances just to make sure that their children’s shoes are properly fitted. You should not let the convenience of a certain store or online retailer prevent you from getting the right shoe size for your child.
Get in Touch for a Personalized Suggestion
I understand that it can be overwhelming to choose the perfect pair of shoes for your child and without a doubt, children’s shoe needs can vary depending on their age, activity level, and any specific foot conditions they may have. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, you can also contact me via email and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Parents, please keep in mind that a kid’s shoe size chart will never replace the Brannock device (standard foot measuring tool), and the experience that comes with fitting and knowing how shoes run (long, short, narrow, wide). While kids’ shoe size charts provide a starting point, they are far from definitive.
I have Learnt something very valuable today. I never really thought about that. I too was one of those parents who would go and buy a pair of shoes either a size bigger or a half size bigger because I didn’t want to have to be visiting the shoes store anytime soon. It is good to know that there are people out there with this type of knowledge and is passionate enough to share it with the world.
Reneea,
Getting shoes that are too long can create several complications to your children feet. You are not just compromising their stability, but you are also making them more prone to getting blisters.
I love that you mention the importance of forgoing the fashion trend and wearing shoes that are supportive. My younger sister used to only wear shoes that were “fashionable”and now as an adult, she has extreme issues with her feet that require her to visit a podiatrist every month for the rest of her life.
Amberlee,
It is important. Just like your sister, I met a lot of people who did not wear good supportive shoes as children, and now are facing back and leg problems. This is not the case for every individual, but why take a chance when it comes to our children feet? Thank you for sharing!
Hi Juan,
Thank you for the interesting article. There were few times when I did buy shoes for my son basing on the size, and nearly all of those times I had to change these to other size. Consequently, now I buy shoes for him only when he tries the shoes on. For us this is proven to be the wisest thing to do to avoid changing sizes back and forth.
Looking forward for more interesting articles!
Arta,
I agree 100% with you! The only way to know whether they fit or not, is to try them on.
This article is very helpful for me at least. I am a kind of a parent that used to bring the kids shoes a size bigger so they can wear them for longer and also to be comfortable for them, i didn’t know that wearing a size bigger can cause a problem. i would like to know whether the cheap shoes found on line or in the supermarkets harmful for their feet even though if they were the right size and how to know exactly if the shoes my kids wearing are of the right size or not?
Ahmed,
I am glad that you know now the consequences of wearing a shoe that is too long. We definitely want to leave some growing room for children to grow into the shoe, but we don’t want too much growing room since that can compromise their stability and create a myriad of problems. The reason why online shoes might be cheaper is that you might be looking at an older style, which means that there is nothing wrong the shoe itself. In order for the shoe to be the right size, it must fit width and length wise. You want to make sure there is no pressure around the small toe, and there should be certain amount of space between the end of the longest toe and the end of the shoe. Hope this helps!
I can understand why some manufacturers are generous wiht dress clothes sizes in order the flatter the wearer into thinking they’ve lost weight, but there seems no logical reason to keep sizings so different from one brand to the next – or is it just a ploy to get us to go back to them because we know how their shoes fit? One of my children has had sevearl ops on his feet and finding shoes to fit is often a challenge – if we could know that the same size ‘fits all’ we coudl buy on line but it is currently impossible without ordering several different sizes and sending back what doesn’t fit (thereby inceasing costs for us and the sender).
Sarah,
Even if you have found a brand that fits your kids foot well, that doesn’t mean that every single shoe from that brands fits the same. Every shoe style in the same brand fits different! Big online retailers are offering free shipping, but it can be a waste of time and money to keep shipping shoes back and forth. If there is a particular shoe style that you are not sure about how it fits, you can always contact me, since I am familiar with all brands and styles,