How to measure child foot size

Kids' Shoe Sizing Help | Stride Rite

Use one of the following methods to find your child's foot measurements, then enter their measurements into the fields below to find their perfect fit!

pencil

scissors

printer

shoelace

(optional)

credit card

(for scaling)

step 1

print our size guide

Download the guide. Find a printer, and set the scale to 100 percent. In your printer preferences, uncheck "page scaling." After the page prints, double check the scale by fitting a credit card into the sizing area. If it aligns, you're good to go.

step 2

set up your space

Following the dotted lines, cut out the length ruler and width ruler from the size guide. Table the length guide to a hard floor (so it doesn't move when your kid stands on it), with the curved line flush against a wall. Set aside the width ruler for later.

step 3

measure length

Place the right (and the left) foot on the length ruler, aligning their heel with the curved line. Double check that their heel is touching the wall. On the size guide, mark the first visible line past their big toe with a pencil and then note the length measurement in the space provided on the guide. Make sure you record the length and width measurements in the appropriate space, depending on whether you're measuring the right or left foot!

step 4

measure circumference

With your child standing up straight, slip the width ruler under one foot and wrap it all the way around the ball, or the widest party. With the ruler wrapped closely around the foot (but not tight), mark the area of the ruler that meets the "align here" arrows with a pencil. Find the number of the width ruler that matches their length measurement and aligns with the mark you made on the ruler.

alternate method — measure with shoelace

First, wrap the shoelace around the widest part of their foot. Mark the spot on the shoelace that meets the end you're holding. Then, place the end of the shoelace at the "align here" arrow line, and locate the width that matches the mark you made and their length measurement.

step 5

find their perfect size

Enter measurements below in our size finder to find their size!

marker

ribbon

step 1

trace both feet:

Have your child stand bare foot on the sheet of paper - you may need a helper to keep them standing straight! Using the marker, trace the outline of both feet. Repeat this step if necessary to ensure accuracy.

step 2

measure length

Use the ruler to measure from the outside of the heel to the tip of the big toe on both feet. Write the number down in centimeters, and label it as length. Remember - many kids' feet are differently sizes as they grow. Measure each foot separately to find a size that's sure to fit both!

step 3

measure circumference

Wrap the ribbon around the widest part of one foot, noting where the two ends meet. Measure the part of the ribbon that wrapped around their foot against the ruler. Record that number as width. Repeat for the other foot.

step 4

find their perfect size

Enter measurements below in our size finder to find their size!

your size is

shop this size

length

circumference

oops! the dimensions you entered don't match our sizes. see our or try remeasuring.

Kids' Shoe Fit Guide | Stride Rite

Properly fitting shoes are a must-have for babies, toddlers and kids of all ages. Wearing footwear that isn’t well fitted or properly designed for their delicate, growing feet can lead to poor development and foot problems down the road.

In fact, a recent study by The College of Podiatry shows that nearly 30 percent of children in the UK are wearing the wrong size shoes, which could permanently damage their feet!

As your child starts to explore the world around them, make sure their shoes support them every step of the way. Learn everything you need to know about properly fitting kids' shoes with this guide.

Here's what our fit guide covers: Click on a topic below to jump straight to that section.

The anatomy of a baby's foot
The anatomy of a toddler's foot
What happens when their shoes don't fit
How to properly fit kids' shoes

Know their size
Places to check for fit
What to look for in a shoe

Fitting tips and tricks for parents
Signs your kids' shoes are too small
Signs your kids' shoes are too big

The anatomy of a baby's foot

Babies' feet are soft, fat and flexible – that's why we just can't get enough of them! These little bundles of cartilage haven't fully formed into bones yet, and they can grow a half size or more every 2 months!

In the first 24 months, your baby’s feet need as much sensory input as possible to develop the proper muscles and bone structure. Keeping your baby barefoot or in socks whenever you can, exposing their feet to different kinds of surfaces, and giving little foot rubs are all good for growing feet!

When you do need to put your baby in shoes, it’s important to select a pair that’s light, flexible and supportive of their natural movements. Take a look at our Soft Motion baby shoes, which are made specifically for this stage of development.

The anatomy of a toddler's foot

By the age of two, your child’s feet will look a lot more grownup. The bones solidify, and their tootsies lose the trademark pudginess of baby feet.

Toddler feet continue growing at a rapid rate – about a half size every 2-3 months. During this stage of development, early walkers develop fine motor skills and balance as they practice crawling, rolling, walking, climbing, jumping and every kind of movement you can imagine!

Toddlers need shoes that enhance proprioception, which is the way joints and muscles send messages to the brain to help coordinate movement. Their feet should stay low to the ground and supported so they can get all the sensory feedback they need. That’s why our SRtech shoes for early walkers include memory foam footbeds and unique sensory pods on the soles.

Many little ones remain flatfooted throughout toddlerhood. Their arches may not fully develop until around their fifth birthday. Generally, flat arches are normal for toddlers and not a cause for concern. But if your child complains of pain or you observe extreme pronation or misalignment, have their feet checked by a podiatrist.

What happens when their shoes don't fit

Despite the delicate nature of children’s feet, lots of kids' shoes on the market aren’t actually designed to support proper development. Bruises, blisters and irritation are frequent side effects of ill-fitting footwear.

Because kids' feet continue to develop as they start wearing shoes, children who wear improperly fit or poorly designed shoes for too long are also at risk for long-term damage. Side effects can include pain, inflammation, vein problems, shortening of foot muscles, and even dystrophy in extreme cases. That's why it's so important to find the right fit.

Properly fitting kids' shoes

Know their size

First thing's first – make sure you know your kid's current shoe size! Because baby and toddler feet can grow half a size or more every few months, you should measure their feet every 2 months to avoid putting your child in shoes that are too small.

Use our size guide to make sure you've got the perfect size shoes for your little one's feet.

Once your kid has the right size shoes, here's how to make sure they fit.

Places to check

Width

Have your child stand up with both shoes on. Check to see if the shoe fits their foot's shape by feeling for any pressure against the widest parts of their feet. The ball of their foot should be comfortable and snug all the way around, without any pinching or irritation.

Depth

To ensure proper depth, run your thumb over the shoe's top. You should feel the fabric ripple slightly. If the fabric is too taught, the shoe may not be deep enough. But if you can pinch the fabric into a ridge, it's likely too deep.

If your child is trying on a low cut shoe like a Mary Jane, feel how much space there is between their toes and the top of the shoe, or vamp. A wide gap means the shoe is too deep. If their foot presses uncomfortably against the vamp, the shoe is too shallow.

Length

Press the tip of your thumb against the toe of their shoes to check length. Your kid's toes should have enough room to wiggle around without pressing against the front of the shoes, but not so much room that their feet can slide forward.

Arch

Arch support isn't necessary during the first five years of development – in fact, anything that prevents the foot from feeling the ground can actually hinder proper development. The arch of a kids' shoe should cradle your child’s foot and promote sensory feedback without causing discomfort or misalignment.

Ankles (toplines)

Check your child's ankle bones. Unless the shoe has a soft, paddled collar, the topline shouldn’t touch or rub against their bones.

Back (heel slip/heel grip)

The shoe’s back should grip their heel snugly, without digging into it. When fitting your kid for their first walking shoes, hold the heels of their shoes in your hand and gently try moving them up and down. If their heel slips out, try tightening the closures to keep the shoes on. If their heels still slip out, you might need a different size.

For early and independent walkers, watch their heels as they walk away from you. Make sure their feet aren't slipping out or getting pinched in back.

Closures

Take a look at the shoe straps. Because kids' feet change constantly, you want shoes with adjustable laces or hook-and-loop closures that let you customize the fit.

Walking/movement

Have your kid walk, run, jump and move around in their shoes. If you notice any stumbling or a change in their natural gait, readjust their shoes and try again. If their movement doesn’t improve, double check that you have the right size, or try a different pair of shoes.

When fitting older kids for shoes, ask them how each specific part of the shoe feels on their foot. Kids' shoes should feel comfy from the very first time they're worn.

What to look for in a shoe

There are a lot of shoes made for kids, but not all of them are good for kids' feet. Stride Rite works hard to design shoes that encourage natural movement – we're proud to have earned the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)'s Seal of Approval for products that promote good foot health.

Length and width

As they transition from chubby baby feet into more of an adult foot shape, many kids' feet have a little extra width. Any kids' shoes you buy should take both length and width measurements into account. Their shoes should have enough space in the toe box for a comfortable fit all the way around.

Shape of the toe box

The toe area of kids' shoes should mimic the natural shape of a child's foot. Look for shoes with soft, rounded edges rather than overly hard, pointy or tapered toes.

Height of the heel

Kids need to be able to feel the ground with their feet. Buy shoes that keep their feet low to the ground, and avoid overly firm or tall outsoles that restrict movement and sensory feedback.

Hold of the foot

Your kid’s shoes should have closures that hold their feet securely, with no extra effort on your child's part. If a kid has to grip their toes or move unnaturally to keep their shoes from falling off, it could interfere with proper foot development.

Support

Pick sturdy, supportive shoes that offer sensory feedback without crumpling or collapsing when your child walks. Ballerina flats, plimsolls and other slip-ons that mimic trendy adult styles may look adorable, but they might not provide the right kind of support. Only buy shoes designed with the real needs of kids' feet in mind.

Material

Leather is a great material for children's footwear because it's durable yet soft, and sturdy yet flexible. Many of the shoes in Stride Rite’s Soft Motion and SRtech collections are made from genuine leather for high-quality construction you can count on.

Other good materials to look for while shopping include breathable mesh and antimicrobial linings that cut down on stinky-feet syndrome. And since no kid can avoid getting into a few messes here and there, buying a pair of machine-washable shoes is always a plus!

Fitting tips and tricks for parents

We could go on all day about the dos and don’ts of shoe shopping with kids. When it comes to finding the perfect fit, here are a few of our favorite hacks:

Don’t measure in the morning. Feet naturally swell during the day. So, it’s best to try on new shoes after kids have been running around for a few hours.
Don't buy shoes that are too big. Putting a kid in shoes that are too big can have unintended consequences when it comes to proper foot development. Kids' feet do grow fast, but putting growing feet in the wrong size shoe just to get a few months of extra wear really isn't worth the risk.
Don't buy them too small, either. The one exception to the rule of buying true-to-size is when your kid's feet are two different sizes or in-between sizes. In either case, always go with the bigger size to avoid squishing their feet!
Do get involved. You know your kid best. During a shoe fitting, ask your kid how the shoes feel on their feet, and check each area of the shoe yourself to made sure they fit just right.
Do more than stand and walk. The best way to gauge a shoe's true fit is to watch them in action. Ask your kid to jump, dance and jog around when they're trying on shoes so you can see how they move.
Do get a second opinion. Get hands-on help finding the right fit for your kid's new shoes at any Stride Rite store. Our Fit Experts are trained to know all the right places to check.

Here are some telltale signs that your kiddo has outgrown their shoes:

Their shoes cause blisters or press deeply into the skin.
Their toes are jammed against the front of the shoe. There should always be enough space in the toe box to press the tip of your thumb down without hitting a toe.
Your kid appears less active. If your kid doesn't feel like playing outside as often, it could be a sign that they just don’t want to put on those uncomfy shoes they've outgrown!
They tell you that their feet hurt! Bigger kids will let you know if their shoes are bugging them. If your kid starts complaining of knee, hip, back or joint pain, it could also be a sign of ill-fitting shoes.

Shoes that are too big can be just as bad for kids' feet as overly small shoes. Here are some clear signs that they might need to go down a size:

Their heel lifts out of the shoe when they walk.
They trip or twist their ankles often.
Their walk is affected.
They drag their feet.
They get blisters. Yes, blisters can form when shoes are too big, too!

Got more questions? Check out our FAQs to learn more about Stride Rite shoes and how to encourage your kid's healthy development.

How to choose the right shoe size for a child

Instructions, common mistakes and useful tips.

On the website of the Dinomama.ru online store, we try to give as much detailed information as possible about the dimensions of each of the shoe models and we ourselves take measurements of the insoles, which we publish in the product cards.

Often a situation arises when the same shoe size differs significantly from different manufacturers. And even for one brand, the length of the insole for boots can be one, and for sneakers - another. Therefore, we always advise when choosing a size to focus primarily on the length of the child's foot, and not on the size of the shoes that he is currently wearing. In this article, we will tell you how to correctly measure the length of a child's foot and how to use the tips on our website to choose the right shoe size.

ALL SHOES

How to measure your feet correctly

1. Place your child on a piece of paper and trace the outlines of the feet. The measurement should be taken while standing on a hard floor (not on a carpet) and in the evening, because. due to the rush of blood, the legs may increase slightly in size in the evening. Hold the pencil strictly perpendicular to the floor.

2. You need to measure both feet, because they may differ slightly - then when choosing shoes, be guided by the measurements of the foot that is longer.

3. Draw a line from the heel to the longest toe in the picture and measure its distance - you will get the value of the actual foot length in centimeters.

4. Round the result up to 5 mm (for example, if you get a foot length of 11.3 cm, you need to take a value of 11.5 cm).

How to determine the size of the shoe size suitable for a child and what tips are there on Dinomama.ru

On our website, the length of the insole is indicated in the product card and in the filters, we do these measurements manually. Compare the numbers and choose the correct shoe size, taking into account the recommended stock: for summer shoes it is from 0.5 to 1 cm, for winter from 1 to 1.5 cm. If there are no measurements in some model, then we will make them according to your request, just write or call us.

How we measure insoles

The insole is measured edge to edge at the widest point at the toes. If the insole with a bend on the heel, it also goes to sleep. Pictured below is an 18 cm insole.

Reima has shoes that use the HappyFit insole. It has a line of recommended stock and emoticons: sad and joyful. We measure the whole insole - with a bend on the heel, if there is one, and up to the edge of the insole at the toes. If you want to know how long the insole is to the smiley line, just subtract 1.5 cm from the insole length.

For closed shoes with a non-removable insole, as well as shoes with a non-removable inner liner - insert a rigid tape measure into the shoe until it stops in the fingers and bend it at the edge of the heel. In the photo below, the insole is 16.9 cm. In the photo below, the insole is 15.4 cm. In the photo below, the insole is 16.5 cm.

The most common mistakes parents make when sizing children's shoes

if you are assessing the margin by putting your finger between the heel and heel of the child - see that the child does not bend the fingers at this moment
shoes cannot be measured while the child is sitting or lying down - under the weight of the body, the foot lengthens by 3-6 mm
do not measure the foot in the air with a measuring tape or ruler

Well, if you still have doubts, then come with your child to try on our showroom in Moscow, where our managers will be happy to tell you what shoe size to choose.

With best wishes, Marina

Mother of 4 testers of overalls,

choose the best goods for Dinomama. ru!

05/20/2020 Views: 20 109 #how not to make a mistake with the size

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How to determine the size of children's shoes? Size chart for children's shoes Kotofey, Kuoma, Kapika, Zebra and Demar - size chart for children's shoes

To correctly determine the size of shoes, you need to measure the child's foot. It is better to do this at the end of the day, when blood rushes to the legs and the foot increases slightly in size. Put socks on your child and take measurements with them.

Lay a sheet of paper on a flat surface (such as the floor).
Have your child stand with their feet on the sheet. The child must stand, not sit: when standing and walking, the foot carries a large load, so its size increases slightly.
Outline both of the child's feet, holding the pencil upright.
Measure the distance in centimeters from your big toe to your heel with a ruler. This must be done along the “traces” of both legs of the child: if the values \u200b\u200bare different, then the largest of them is taken as the basis.
Infants from a few months to 1 year old can be measured with a rope. First, we measure the foot with a rope, and then apply the fixed length to the ruler and get the result in centimeters.
Please refer to the size chart of the correct shoe manufacturer.

Important

Orthopedists do not recommend choosing shoes with a margin of more than 0.5-1 cm. The exception is winter shoes, for which a margin of 1-1.5 cm is allowed.
For shoes for the first step, the free margin is 1 cm.