What is the Correct Amount of Growing Room for Kids’ Shoes? – Find Out Now!

Providing your child with the correct amount of growing room is not only going to prevent your child from outgrowing the shoes faster than expected, but it is also going to keep your child’s feet healthy by preventing ordering shoes that are too big or too small. In this guide, we’ll explore how to check for growing room inside kids’ shoes, ensuring they fit just right.

How Much Space Should a Child Have in Their New Shoes?

As a standard rule of thumb, I suggest that you allow 3/16 of an inch or 0.4 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes. I have tested those specific measurements in hundreds of kids and I can confidently tell you that is the correct amount of growing room to leave inside your kids’ shoes.

How to Check for the Correct Amount of Growing Room?

1️⃣ Your first step should be to remove the original insoles of the shoes. Most shoes now have removable insoles:

2️⃣ The second step should be to 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 align the back of your child’s heels 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.

This second picture shows a child standing on the insoles and the toes match the end of the insoles, which means that it’s time to get new shoes:

There should always be space a certain amount of space between your child’s toes and the end of the shoes. This is particularly important when you have a baby or a toddler as they tend to move their toes as a way of exercising their feet. If there is not any space you will be constricting this toe movement.

Older children also need space between their toes and the end of the shoes as when they are running their feet moves back and forth and if there is no space at the front of the shoes they can end up developing blisters on the tip of their toes.

How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape

If you prefer to order your kids’ shoes online I suggest that you take advantage of a free virtual shoe fitting service I created that helps parents determine the child’s foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide feet) and instep height, and the shoe size they should order online.

Is it Harmful to Kids to Wear Shoes Too Big or Too Small?

Shoes that are too big can compromise your child’s stability and make your child more prone to falling. On the other hand, shoes that are too small can cramp your kids’ toes and make them rub or overlap against one another. That constant friction and rubbing between the toes and the shoes can lead to blisters. Shoes that are too small can also lead to hammer toes.

If you don’t believe me you can ask my aunt Silvia who developed a bunion from wearing ill-fitting shoes as a child. There was no history in her family of hammer toes, but she does remember that all of her shoes used to pinch her toes.

I understand how parents might be tempted to always provide their children with some extra growing room as children’s feet tend to grow so fast. However, believe me when I tell you that it’s not worth it to put your child at risk of developing a foot issue or foot condition just to allow your child to wear the shoes a little longer. The problems that wearing ill-fitting shoes can create far outweigh any savings on new footwear, particularly when their feet are still developing.

Is it Better to Buy Shoes Bigger or Smaller?

It is always better to buy bigger shoes rather than to buy smaller ones. However, please remember that shoes that are too big can compromise your child’s stability and have a negative impact on your child’s walking gait.

How to Check for Growing Room Inside Your Kids’ Shoes – Watch Video!

Welcome to our channel! In this video, I will show you how to check if your kids’ shoes have enough growing room. You will be able to better visualize everything I described in the article.

How Quickly Do Kids Grow Out of Shoes?

If you leave the correct amount of growing room inside your kids’ shoes you can expect your child to outgrow the shoes anywhere between 3 1/2 to 6 months depending on your child’s age. The rate of growth depends on the age of the child, so I break it down by age. These guidelines should be taken as an estimate since every child grows at a different rate.

➡️ Children between the ages of 1 to 3 should have their shoes replaced every 3 ½ to 4 months. Your child’s feet will grow ½ size to a whole size every 4 months.

➡️ Children between the ages of 4 to 6 should have their shoes replaced every 4 ½ to 5 months. Your child’s feet will grow ½ size to a whole size every 4 to 5 months.

➡️ Children between the ages of 7 to 10 should have their shoes replaced every 5 months. Your child’s feet will grow ½ size to a whole size every 5 to 6 months.

➡️ Children between the ages of 11 to 17 should have their shoes replaced every 5 ½ to 6 months. Your child’s feet will grow ½ size to a whole size every 6 months.

As children’s feet grow quickly, it’s important to ensure their shoes fit well to support healthy development. Is there a different method that you use to check if there is still growing room inside your child’s shoes? Let us know in the comments section below.