What is the Best Foot Measurement Device for Kids? — Save Time and Money!
Are you shopping for your child’s shoes online but unsure about their exact foot size? With many brick-and-mortar children’s shoe stores closing down, more parents are turning to online shopping for convenience and variety. But without the right tools, it’s easy to end up with the wrong shoe size—leading to returns, frustration, and uncomfortable shoes for your child. To shop confidently, you’ll need to know your child’s exact foot length, width, and shape (narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide). In this article, I’ll show you the best foot measurement device for kids to ensure a perfect fit every time.
Best Foot Measurement Device for Kids: Junior Brannock Device
The Junior Brannock device is my go-to foot measurement device for kids. This device measures from an infant size (US) 1 to a child’s (US) size 5. It basically will measure most children up to the age of 10.
- Order the Junior Genuine Brannock Device on Amazon
- Measures from infant size (US) 0 to child (US) size 5. It will measure most children up to the age of 10
- Very solid, high-quality, and durable as it’s made of metal
- The Brannock Device is the standard foot measuring tool for the world’s footwear industry
- Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
How to Use the Brannock Device
- Using the device is simple and precise. Just place your child’s heels firmly against the back of the tool, making sure they’re standing tall and looking straight ahead. This ensures you get an accurate measurement of their foot length.
- It’s just as easy to measure foot width. The Junior Brannock Device has a sliding gauge designed for this purpose. Once you’ve determined your child’s foot length, adjust the slide until the arrows point to that size. Then, look for the width line that lines up with the widest part of your child’s foot to see if they have narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet.
There are other more affordable alternatives to the Brannock device such as the NBC, RITZ, and Squatchi foot measuring devices. However, none of these devices even come close to the level of accuracy that the Brannock device provides.
Read This Before Buying the Brannock Device
Here’s the catch with the Brannock device: while many families find it incredibly convenient to have at home, the price tag—often $50 to $60—can feel steep. On top of that, several parents have shared that figuring out how to measure their child’s foot width with the device isn’t as straightforward as they’d hoped. To make matters worse, some families have tried reaching out to the company for help, only to be left without any response.
The Biggest Drawback of the Brannock Device
One of the biggest drawbacks I’ve discovered with the Brannock device—and pretty much any other foot measuring tool—is that they can’t measure a child’s instep. The instep, which is the top part of the foot, plays a huge role in how shoes fit. When a child has a high instep, finding comfortable, properly fitting shoes becomes much more challenging.
Retrieving Your Child’s Exact Foot Size and Shape for Free
I created an easy-to-follow method that allows parents to accurately determine their child’s correct foot length and width, as well as instep height from home, without having to spend money on the Brannock device.
Step One: Measure Your Child’s Exact Foot Length
- Make sure your child is standing up straight when you measure their feet, and always check both feet since one is often slightly bigger than the other. Measure all the way to the tip of the longest toe—it might not be the big toe; sometimes it’s the second or third toe. Also, ensure your child’s toes are lying flat and not curled.
- Write down the measurement in either centimeters or inches. To avoid any confusion, you can also email me a photo showing the measurements, like the example below.
We will input your child’s foot measurements in the standard foot measuring tool (Brannock device) to retrieve your child’s exact foot length.
You can follow the instructions in this video for better visualization purposes.
Step Two: Pictures to Retrieve Your Child’s Foot Width
Create a brief video to assess if your child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra-wide feet, along with high insteps. I will also be able to determine if your child has a foot condition such as flat feet. Below you can find a sample of how the video should look like:
If you’d prefer not to record a video, you can take three photos of your child’s feet as shown below. However, please note that the video will provide a more accurate assessment of your child’s exact foot shape.
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.
Recap – What to Include in Your Email
- Your child’s foot length measurements (or an image of their foot length measurements)
- Sample video (or three images of your child’s feet)
- The country you live in case you need specific shoe recommendations
Feel free to include in your email any additional information I should know about your child’s feet:
customerservice@fittingchildrenshoes.com
You will then receive a response within 24 hours with your child’s exact foot length, shape, and specific shoe recommendations as needed.
Reach Out with Any Questions
If you have any questions about measuring your child’s feet or choosing the right shoes, feel free to reach out. As a shoe fitter with a passion for helping children find the right shoes, I know firsthand how crucial it is to have an accurate foot measurement. I have been using the Brannock device for the last decade and it’s the most accurate way to determine your child’s exact foot length.
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