If you want to keep your kids’ feet and legs healthy, you must provide them with the correct pair of shoes and the correct shoe size! Parents must understand how important shoes are when it comes to keeping their kids feet and legs healthy. Picking the right pair of shoes for your child will save you a lot of money in the long run!
You are probably wondering how something so simple as a pair of shoes could be that importance in your kids’ lives. From the day your baby starts crawling to the day he takes his first few steps, it is imperative to think about the shoes you will provide for your little walker!
The foot is a complicated structure comprised of 26 bones designed to provide support for the entire body, to adjust to uneven surfaces and to absorb the shock with every step. Baby feet contain more cartilage than bones. Though the feet are likely to develop completely by the age of 2, the bone doesn’t develop and harden entirely until your child’s 18th birthday.
I have been fitting children shoes for 7 years now, and I know how important it is not just to find a good pair of quality and supportive shoes, but also to buy shoes that FIT! I know what a huge role shoes play in children lives, since I have helped hundreds of children suffering from foot and leg problems from wearing the incorrect pair of shoes.
The first thing to take into account when looking for kids’ shoes is your child’s age. Babies who are crawling don’t really need shoes. However, they do need booties or pre-walking shoes that don’t bind their feet but do allow them explore. The shoes need to be flexible instead of providing rigid support. The only function of shoes for crawlers is to provide warmth and protection.
Let’s discuss some important things to remember when choosing the most comfortable shoes for your child. The shoes should be lightweight and flexible to allow the feet to move naturally with a stable base of support. They should be made of leather mesh to allow your child’s feet to breathe properly. Materials like leather and canvas are the best choices when it comes to choosing your kids’ shoes because are sturdy, breathable, and flexible. They stretch and soften with wear, which is ideal for active, growing feet!
I wrote a post where I describe the best booties for new-born babies, and you can find that post here:
Newborn Crochet Booties – Protect Your Baby’s Feet From The Cold!
I always recommend that parents take their kids to a children’s local shoe store that they trust to have their kids’ feet properly measured and their shoes properly fitted, but if you don’t have one in your area, I will describe a selection of the best type of kids shoes depending on their age and their phase of life, whether they are crawling, learning how to walk, or running around!
The Best Shoes For Kids That Are Learning How To Walk!
When your child is learning how to walk they will need a lightweight and flexible shoe that offers more protection for the playground, the shopping mall,or outdoorsy activities. However, when you have your child with you at home, leave them barefoot to allow for healthy foot development.
I always recommend that parents look out for stretchy, non-skid or skid-resistant soles for their babies’ shoes. This is because when children are learning how to walk they should wear shoes that are flexible and allow the foot to bend and move as though they were barefoot.
Making sure that the shoes are the perfect size, meaning not too large or too small, too narrow or too wide, is essential! Shoes that are too small hinder the proper growth of the foot, diminishing blood circulation, causing painful blisters, ingrown toenails and in simple words, hurt your kids feet! Shoes that are too big create blisters on your children’s feet as well and compromise their stability, which leads to falls and injuries.
Soft sole shoes provide the perfect structure for a child who is learning how to walk. These type of shoes allow children to feel the ground under their feet and better control their balance and grip on the floor. Stiff footwear can increase the occurrence of deformity, weakness, and loss of mobility in your kid’s feet. So, be prudent when choosing shoes for your child!
Did you know that when your child wears a shoe with built-in arch support and a heavy hard sole, your child’s muscles become lazy. ..The child’s own muscles are required to work less to find balance and strength because of the existing support.
It is important to know that all toddlers have flat feet before completing their 16th month and they fully develop arches by the ages of 6 to 8 years.
Below you can find a selection of the best shoes for a child who is learning how to walk. These shoes are available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths!
All of these shoe styles fit “true to size”,which means that you need a half a size longer of the size that your child measures in the shoe measuring scale in order to allow for growing room.
Shoes For Children Who Started Walking – Two To Three Years Old!
If your child is already walking, now they are ready for a pair of more substantial shoes. We still want the shoes to be lightweight and flexible, but they must also provide more lateral support since your child is on their feet all the time now, putting more pressure on their feet and legs!
You will also notice your kids’ feet starting to sweat more. Children’s feet sweat a lot! Kids’ feet sweat about 2 to 3 times more than adult feet. This is one reason why children’s shoes wear down faster than those of adults. However, sweat is not just a concern for the durability of the shoes but also for the health of your children’s feet.
Sweaty feet are vulnerable to foot fungus, rashes and infections. This is why you must highly consider a breathable shoe to allow moisture and heat to escape from your children’s feet and allow cool air to come in.
I always advise parents to choose shoes with rubber soles for good traction, thereby preventing slipping or sliding! Below you can find a selection of the best shoes for children between the ages of two to three years old!
The New Balance shoes fit “true to size”,which means that you need a half a size longer of the size that your child measures in the shoe measuring scale in order to allow for growing room.
The Saucony shoes fit “short”,which means that you need to go a whole size longer of the size that your child measures in the shoe measuring scale in order to allow for growing room.
The Best Type Of Shoes For Kids Ages 4 to 9! – Learn The Secret!
Did you know that our children’s feet are known to withstand three times more stress than average adult feet? This is because children take part in numerous high energy activities! Because children’s feet endure high stress, children must wear shoes with good shock absorption, a well-made foot-bed, and durable soles.
Flexibility also plays a huge role when you are choosing shoes for your kids because it helps them strengthen the muscles of the feet on their own.
So, what type of materials should shoes be made of for children between these ages? Their shoes should be made of leather, canvas or the newer mesh materials to allow sweat from the feet to evaporate after perspiration.
Shoes for children between these ages must be durable and supportive. Below you can find a selection of the best fitting shoes for children between ages 4 to 9!
The shoes in the first-row fit “short”,which means that you need to go a whole size longer of the size that your child measures in the shoe measuring scale in order to allow for growing room.
The shoes in the second-row fit “true to size”,which means that you need to go a half a size longer of the size that your child measures in the shoe measuring scale in order to allow for growing room.
The Best Shoes For Older Kids – 13 Years Old And Up!
After 13, children start are involved in more competitive sports, and they increase the stress on their feet and legs on a whole new level. The insole of the shoes should be constructed out of proper absorbent material. Padded insoles are acceptable as well but most children do not require that special arch support.
At this stage, we look for shock absorption and flexibility. Children spend more than 30 hours a week in their school shoes, totalling approximately 15,000 hours during the school year. Hence, their shoes need to be tough enough to withstand their daily demands, and while complementing your child’s uniform.
I describe the best children’s shoes for going back to school here:
The Best Back To School Shoes – RIng The Bell, School’s In!
It is important to wear the right shoes for different activities to prevent foot problems and injuries. I presented you with a description of reasonably-priced, good quality, best fitting shoes that come in medium, wide, and extra wide widths for your children!
Regardless of whether you are getting your little one ready for his or her first day of school or a muddy play date with friends, you want to make sure that your child has the correct shoes for the task at hand.
Have you found a particular shoe style that works best for your child’s feet? Did you know that kids’ shoes were available in extra wide widths? Please share your thoughts and experiences below so we can all benefit from them!
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