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. Let’s find out what is the correct amount of growing room for kids’ shoes!
How Much Space Should a Child Have in Their New Shoes?
The correct amount of growing room that I recommend leaving inside your kids’ shoes is 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.
Parents need to know that their child’s longest toe doesn’t necessarily have to be the big toe, it can be the second or even the third toe.
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.
Did you know that most foot problems found by pediatricians and podiatrists are a result of wearing ill-fitting shoes? I can tell you that problems with feet usually impact other parts of your child’s body, and your child’s walking gait might be affected as well as your child’s overall posture.
How to Retrieve Your Child’s Exact Foot Length and Shape
I always recommend parents try to take their children to be properly fitted for shoes at their local specialized children’s shoe store. However, many stores have been closing down and parents have to end up buying their kids’ shoes online.
If you are going to be ordering your kids’ shoes online you must be 100% sure of your child’s foot length, width (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide feet) and instep height.
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.
Remember that when you are buying your kids’ shoes you should always leave 3/16 of an inch or 0.4 centimeters of space between your child’s longest toe and the end of the shoes. This space will allow enough room for your child to keep wearing the shoes as he/she grows into them.
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.
If you are unsure whether your child is wearing the correct type of shoes or not please do not hesitate to leave me a message below or contact me at my email:
Not helpful at all. The first photo clearly shows the big toes are already going inwards and the insoles indicate the shoes are too narrow.
Hello Renata,
The big toes going inwards don’t really play a role in determining whether the child has growing room inside the shoes or not, it is important to make sure that the child is not curling his or her toes.
The image with the insoles is to visualize whether there is growing room in the front part of the shoes.
This article and video are very helpful in understanding what might be causing the toe walking for my grandson. I am excited to hear back from you on the proper sizing for his feet. I look forward to hearing what recommendations you have for shoes as well. Thank you for caring and sharing your knowledge to help children overcome to walking. 🥰🙌❤️🎉
Hello Linda,
I am happy to help and glad to hear that you find the website informative. I have received your email and will respond shortly.
Hiya, 8/6/22 I bought a pair of shoes from Clark’s for my daughter. (First shoes)
1 foot is 2.5 and 1 foot 3. The shoes are a 3F.
I had her feet measured and they said she is now a 3 and a 3.5.
Do I need to upgrade the shoes every half?
Hello Chloe,
That depends on whether the shoes that you got for your daughter fit short, long, or true to size. If the shoes fit long, then they still might fit your daughter’s feet.
I am assuming that you are contacting me from the UK, and that you got the shoes on June, not August. It has been two months and a half since you got the shoes, so your daughter might have grown a half a size.
You can use this free resource to confirm your daughter’s foot size: How to Measure Your Kids’ Foot – 2 Simple Steps to Determine Foot Length and Foot Width