How to tell what size shoe your child wears
How To Measure Kids Shoe Size In 3 Ways – Two Little Feet
We’ll admit it first, getting your child to stand still for an accurate measurement of his or her feet is one of the biggest challenges in the process of buying kids shoes. And, it is not even possible to cheat, especially when it's when you are buying the first pair of prewalker shoes for your baby's first steps. We have tried measuring while our child is lying down sleeping and did not get the right size.
So here are 3 easy yet accurate ways to measure your child’s feet to ensure that you don’t purchase the wrong sized shoes.
How to measure kids shoe size?To have an accurate measurement, you should:
- measure both feet, as each foot may differ in length. Sizing should be based on the larger foot.
- measure feet with full body weight on them, equally. This ensures feet are at their largest when supporting body weight.
Here, we compare three methods of measuring a child’s feet to see which gives us the closest fit for Two Little Feet’s kids shoe collection:
1) Basic measurementItems needed: White A4 paper, pen/pencil, ruler, a wall
Steps:
- Place a piece of white A4 paper against the edge of a wall.
Make sure the paper is level on the floor and against the wall edge.
- Have your child stand on the paper with the back of his/her heel touching the wall. Both feet should be squared with the full body weight resting equally on them.
- Use the ruler to draw a line where the longest toe ends.
- Measure the distance between the end of the paper and the line drawn.
- Follow the same steps to measure the other feet. Take the longest measurement of both feet.
- Add 1cm to the actual length to find the right size that provides enough wriggle room for those little toes.
Our results: 15.5cm length
2) Tracing/Footprint measurementItems needed: White or coloured A4 paper, pen/pencil, ruler.
Steps:
- Place paper on the floor and have your child stand equally on it.
- Use a pen or pencil to trace the outline of the feet.
- Measure the the distance between the back of the heel and the longest toe.
Make sure to measure both feet and take the longest measurement. - Add 1cm to the actual length to find the right size with ample wriggle room for toes.
Our results: 15.5cm length.
3) Foot ruler measurementItems needed: Kids foot ruler or the original Brannock Device
Steps:
- Place foot ruler on an even floor surface.
- Have your child step evenly on the ruler and take the measurement of both feet. Go with the longest measurement.
- Add 1cm to the actual length to find the right size with ample wriggle room for toes.
Our results: 15.2 cm length
With the above measurements, our child wears Kids Size 8 for Sandals and Kids Size 9 (with socks) for Shoes with her regular width feet.
Kids shoe size chartIf you’re still puzzled about how to measure or check your kid’s foot size, you could try to download our printable kids shoe size measurement chart to get a more accurate reading.
Once you have your child’s measurements, you can try out our size assistant below to get size recommendations for our shoes and sandals.
Alternatively, if your child is already wearing shoes from another brand, you may convert the current shoe brand's size into ours using this Size Conversion Guide.
Note: If the shoes still didn’t fit nicely on your kid, you could still enjoy a one-time shoe size exchange (T&C apply).
Don’t forget to check out our children's shoe sizing update to better understand our sizing and find out about 5 tips when choosing children’s footwear as advised by a podiatrist.
Tips to measure kids shoe size
Here are some other useful tips when measuring and buying children’s shoes:
- It’s natural for feet to swell in the day so avoid measuring your child’s feet in the morning. It’s always best to try on new shoes when you’ve been up and about for a few hours.
- Give your child about 1cm from the end of the shoe to the full extended toe so that there is space for feet to grow.
- Do not get shoes that are too big as this can cause harm to foot development. Additionally, kids may trip and fall if shoes are too big.
- Do not get shoes that are too small either. If your child’s feet are in between sizes or two different sizes, go with the bigger size.
- Stand, walk, jump, and dance. The best way to ensure a perfect fit is to have your child be active in them, rather than just stand and walk.
A smaller shoe size may be needed if:
- Your child trips or twists the ankles frequently.
- Your child’s heel lifts off and out of the shoes when they are walking.
- Your child is dragging the feet.
- You child’s walk is affected.
- Your child has blisters.
A bigger size is most likely needed if:
- The shoes are pressing deeply against your child’s skin.
- Your child has blisters.
- There is no space in the toe box - your child’s feet are squished!
- Your child complains that the shoes are tight or uncomfortable. Knees, back, hip or joint pain can also be a sign of ill-fitting shoes.
- Your child doesn’t seem to want to wear the shoes anymore.
Children’s feet grow by half a size every three months on average. So it’s best to measure your child’s feet every three to four months to ensure that their current pair of shoes still fit well.
ConclusionIt’s important that your child wears shoes that fit them well as ill-fitting shoes can cause harm to their feet in addition to falls and accidents. If you’re unsure whether you’ve got the right size for them, check out our sizing guide today.
Depending on your child's walking phases, pick your choice of footwear from our wide range of kids’ sneakers and sandals.
Remember to check the size chart of our products before purchase.
You should also check out the article on 5 Tips When Choosing Children’s Footwear, A Podiatrist's Advice to help you select the best shoes based on their age.
Reviewed by:
Kelvin Tay Kai Ming
BSc (Podiatry)
First Class Hons (UK)
Kelvin Tay, affectionately known as ‘Kai Kai’ or ‘Ah Tay’ by patients enrolled in the University of Southampton with the Ministry of Health Health Sciences Scholarship Award and graduated with First Class Honours in 2010. Kelvin’s main interest is in Sports Podiatry and his work in Singapore General Hospital, Changi General Hospital and Changi Sports Medicine Centre has given him extensive experience in foot care and wound management.
Fluent in English, Mandarin and Hokkien, Kelvin has also been an executive committee member of Singapore’s Podiatry Association since 2013. He has won numerous awards including the SingHealth Service Quality Silver Award 2012 (SGH), the Eastern Health Alliance Caring Awards (Silver 2013-2014) and the Quarterly Best Service Award 2014 (CGH).
He is currently a Senior Group Partner and Principal Podiatrist at Physio & Sole Clinic.
Found your child's size?
Looking specifically for something, check out some of our featured collections!
Check out our range of children footwear:
Baby Collection (0-2 years)
Baby Shoes
Baby Sandals
Kids Collection (2-6 years)
Kids Shoes
Kids Sandals
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 width
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 width
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
width
oops! the dimensions you entered don't match our sizes. see our or try remeasuring.
How to choose the right shoe size for children
Visiting a children's shoe store can be a real challenge for babies and their parents.
Unlike adults, children, to put it mildly, do not really like numerous fittings. But the problem is that in young children, the leg grows quite quickly, which means that you like it or not, and you have to buy new clothes at least once a season. And here it is up to parents to decide how to lure their child to the store, and then also persuade the baby to try on several pairs of shoes in order to find the right size.
But it used to be like that. Now, in the era of online shopping, moms are much easier. While the child is sleeping sweetly, without even leaving the house, you can choose for him a new pair of boots or sandals that will fit him. And in order to choose the right shoes, it is enough to know the actual size of the feet of your child. And it can be determined by different methods.
What you need to know about children's feet
Children's feet are formed until about 8 years of age. Until that time, it is fragile cartilage, weak muscles and fat. It is at this time that it is important to choose the right shoes, taking into account all the structural features of the children's legs.
Shoes should not be loose or tight, squeeze or deform the foot.
The younger the child, the faster the length of his foot changes. And in order not to miss the moment when the baby’s shoes become tight, it is important to measure the leg with a certain regularity:
- every 60-90 days - for children under 3 years old;
- every 4-5 months - at the age of 3-7 years.
Children 2-3 years of age can change 2-3 shoe sizes per year. At preschool age, the leg annually increases by about 2 sizes, and for schoolchildren - by a size or two.
How to tell if a child's shoes are too small
Have you noticed that your child, with difficulty and without much joy, pushes his foot into his once beloved sandals? This is a sure signal that it's time to buy bigger shoes. Although relying on the fact that the child himself will say that he is uncomfortable, for example, in old shoes, is not worth it. At least when it comes to very young children. The fact is that the foot of the kids is protected by a fatty layer, which reduces the perception of pain.
That is, the child himself may not understand that the shoes are small for him, but his foot is slowly deformed.
Therefore, it is important to regularly examine the feet of children: are there any calluses, red spots, abrasions on the feet, does the baby tighten his fingers when he walks. You can understand that the child has grown out of the shoe by the back of the product (hanging over the heel), its upper part (very stretched) and the toe (the thumb is closer than 15 mm to the edge of the boot).
How to measure the size of a child's feet?
There are several ways to determine your baby's shoe size. But first, it is important to measure the actual length of his foot. This value is a segment from the extreme point on the heel to the tip of the thumb. But you cannot measure the foot when the child is sitting or lying down. In this case, the indicators will be far from real. To correctly measure the leg, the baby must stand, and the whole process looks something like this:
- Place a piece of paper on the floor.
- Place the child on the paper in such a way that all points of the foot are evenly pressed to the floor.
- Trace the contour of the child's foot with a pencil (keep the pencil strictly perpendicular to the floor, start drawing from the middle of the heel, first going along the inside of the foot).
- Measure the length of the imprint (between the most prominent points).
- Repeat the procedure with the other leg (values may differ, in some cases up to 5 mm).
- Select the larger value, round up if necessary.
The second way is a little easier. For measurement, use a wet footprint on paper or newspaper.
The third method involves the use of a special measure, on which the scale is marked in millimeters or centimeters.
But in any case, the child must stand confidently on both feet. In this position, the length and width of the leg is slightly larger.
And now the fun begins. If for adults, to find out their shoe size, it is enough to remember only the length of the foot, then for children this is not enough.
With the resulting numbers, you will have to carry out a few more manipulations.
To begin with, add 0.6 cm to the length of the foot (in cm). You will get the first number, to which you add 0.6 cm again. After that, find both numbers in the size grid that determines the size of the shoe in centimeters. The size between these two numbers will be optimal for children's shoes.
But sometimes two sizes can “lurk” between these indicators at once. In this case, the final choice will have to be made, taking into account the fullness of the leg. For a fuller, give preference to a larger size. The child is thin - choose a smaller size.
How to determine the size of the baby's foot length
All the methods described above are suitable, as you might guess, for children who already walk confidently. And how to determine the size for babies whose first steps are yet to come, or who are just starting to learn to walk? This is the only case when a ruler or string will help to determine the size of the shoes.
The baby can lie down. The main thing in the procedure is to correctly measure the length of his foot. And already starting from this indicator, you can choose the size of the first shoes.
How the fullness of the leg affects the determination of the size
The fullness of the leg is determined by the circumference of the forefoot and is indicated by the symbols of the Latin alphabet (the closer the letter to the beginning of the alphabet, the thinner the leg is). There are 9 levels of completeness, including basic (5 sizes: E, F, G, H, J) and half (4 sizes: E ½, F ½, G ½, H ½). The difference in foot circumference between levels is 3.5mm. And now some tips for choosing shoes, taking into account the fullness of the child's foot.
Width E and E ½ - indicates shoes that run 1-2 sizes too small. Suitable for thin legs with a low rise (but shoes still have to take 1 size more).
Full F - for thin legs.
Fullness F ½ - for a thin or normal leg with a low instep, it “sits” better on girls.
Fullness G - for normal feet, on thin ones it will “walk”, for a high instep, take shoes one size larger.
Width G ½ - for normal legs with a high instep, better "sit" on boys.
Fullness H - for full feet with a high instep, usually these are models with lacing.
Fullness J - for very full legs with extremely high instep.
For small children (up to 3 years old) models G, G ½, H are best suited. With age, when the fat layer decreases, the traditional fullness of shoes for girls is kept within F, F ½, G, for boys - G, G ½, H. Although there are exceptions.
Shoes and stock: how not to make a mistake
It doesn't matter which shoe model and for which season you choose. In any case, new shoes should be with a margin. And this is not only a reserve "for growth", as some parents suggest. It is also needed for other purposes.
It is necessary to determine the same stock by the insole of the shoes that the child is currently wearing.
For comfortable wearing, you will have to add a few more millimeters to its length - you get a really suitable size for a child.
But the stock of shoes for different seasons should also be different. In summer sandals or sandals, it is necessary to add from 6-8 mm to 1 cm to the actual size. If you choose sports shoes or demi-season shoes, the margin is at least 1 cm, for winter - 1-1.5 cm.
And now about why just such a (in some cases, quite a big) stock is needed. These additional millimeters are necessary for the so-called bend (push). In their absence, the foot begins to deform. It is also important to take into account physiology: when walking, the size of the foot lengthens (almost 7 mm). Spare space in the shoe prevents pressure on the foot, eliminates the possibility that the baby will begin to tuck his toes, and also allows the foot to grow freely. A larger stock in winter shoes will allow you to wear warm socks, and an additional air cushion will protect your legs from the cold.
And one more note. When buying shoes with a margin, it is important to pay attention to the indicators of completeness. Since in some cases plus 1 cm in length noticeably affects the width of the shoe, which can “dangle” on a thin leg. In this case, there will be no benefit from the stock.
How to understand that the supply is chosen incorrectly
The first sign of an insufficient supply (more precisely, its complete absence) is the child's shoes "back to back". In such shoes, he will tighten his toes when walking (in closed models), and in sandals, the fingers will go beyond the edge of the sole. Another signal - the arch support is out of place.
If the shoe is too large, the arch support will also not hold under the arch of the foot, which means it will not perform its function of preventing flat feet. For this reason, too much stock is highly undesirable when buying orthopedic shoes. Large shoes are the cause of incorrect gait and stubbed toes.
When buying summer shoes with an open toe, it is not difficult to determine the adequacy of the supply.
But what about buying closed models? Still, relying solely on the words of a child is a very risky business. But even in this problem there are several ways to solve it.
Most efficient. Remove the insole from the shoes you are buying, put it on the floor and ask the child to stand barefoot on it. It is important to ensure that the heel is in the correct place. Now it remains only to evaluate the position of the toes and the length from the edge of the insole to the tips of the fingers.
If the insoles cannot be removed (although this should already be a concern), you can make a cardboard model of the child's foot (outline as for determining the size), which is then inserted into the selected model. In this case, the nose parts will have to be combined, and the margin parameters will be determined by the heel.
There is another way. While the child is trying on a new thing, try to feel the position of the thumb in the boot or shoe. And then again evaluate the adequacy of free space.
But sticking your finger between the heel of the child and the back is not worth it. Many parents choose this method, although in fact the result may be incorrect if the baby tucks his toes during this assessment and automatically moves the foot slightly forward.
Shoe sizing systems
Let's say you already know exactly the length of the child's foot, and also calculated how many additional millimeters to add to this indicator so that the baby feels as comfortable as possible in a new thing. But this number is not yet the size of the shoe. This is only a characteristic that will serve as a "starting" point for the final choice.
But first, it is important to tell you what sizing systems are used in the world today. The most famous are metric and stichmass. According to the first, shoe size is calculated by the length of the foot (in centimeters). In this system, the step between sizes is 0.5 cm. It is also easy to find out the size of shoes using this method.
If you add “reserve” to the length of the foot and divide the resulting amount by 0.66 (shtich), you get the required size of the new thing.
Size grids in different countries
The European shoe size is usually determined by the size system. Russian sizes used to be based on the metric system, but are now also measured in shtihs. However, it is important to understand that in different countries of the world, manufacturers of children's shoes may adhere to their own dimensional grid, which is somewhat different from the Russian one. Also, American sizes are determined by a completely different method. Therefore, in order to choose the correct children's size, it is important to pay attention to the country of origin of the shoes and take into account the conformity of sizes.
1,2
10,5
17
17
2
11
18
18
2.
5
11.5
19
1
144
19,5
19,5
4
12,5
20
20
5
13
21
21
5.5
13.5
9000
6
14
22,5
22,5
6,5
14,5
23
23
7
15
24
24
8
5.5.5 9000 9000 15.0000144 25
25
8,5
16
25,5
25,5
9
16, 5
26
26
9000
9000 9000 9000 9000
10-10,5
17,5
28
28
11
18
28,5
28 5
11.5
18.5
29
29
30
30
12,5
19,5
31
31
13
20
31.
5
31.5
13.5
20,0003
003
1
21
33
33
1,5-2
21,5
34
34
2.5
22
34.5
002 22,5
35
35
3,5
23
36
36
4-4,5
23.5
37
37
5
| 110 | 11 | 18 | ||
| 115 | 11,5 | 19 | ||
| 120 | 12 | 19. | ||
| 125 | 12.5 | 200003 | ||
| 130 | 13 | 21 | ||
| 135 | 13,5 | 22 | ||
| 140 | 14 | 22,5 | ||
| 145 | 14.5 | 23 | ||
| 150 | 15 | 9000 24 | ||
| 155 | 15,5 | 25 | ||
| 160 | 16 | 25,5 | ||
| 165 | 16,5 | 26 | ||
| 170 | 17,0003 | 9000 27 | ||
| 175 9000 | 9144 | 17,5 | 28 | |
| 180 | 18 | 28,5 | ||
| 185 | 18,5 | 29 | ||
| 190 | 19 | 30 | ||
| 195 | 19. | 9000 31 144 | ||
| 200 | 20 | 31,5 | ||
| 205 | 20,5 | 32 | ||
| 210 | 21 | 33 | ||
| 215 | 21.5 | |||
9000 220 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 14122 | 34,5 | |||
| 225 | 22,5 | 35 | ||
| 230 | 23 | 36 | ||
| 235 | 23.5 | 37 | ||
| 240 | 24 | 9000 37.5 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 144 | ||
| 245 | 24,5 | 38 | ||
| 250 | 25 | 39 | ||
| 255 | 25,5 | 40 | ||
| 260 | 26 | 9000. 5 | ||
| 9000 265 0122 | 10.1 - 10.5 | 18 | ||
| from year to 4 years | 10.7 - 11.4 | 199000 9000 | , 7 - 12 | 20,0003 |
| 12.7 | 21 | |||
| 13 - 13.3 | 9000 9000 3 3 | 23 | ||
| 14,6 | 24 | |||
| 15,2 – 15,5 | 25 | |||
| 15,9 | 26 | |||
| 16.5 | 27 | |||
| 9,0002 | 16. | 0122 | 17,1 | 28 |
| 17,8 | 29 | |||
| 18 – 18,4 | 30 | |||
| 19 – 19 3 | 31 | |||
| 19.7 | 32 | |||
| 20.6 | 9000 33 9000 33 9000 33 9000 33 9000 33 9000 33 9000 33 9000 33 9000 33 9000 33 14120.9 - 21.6 | 34 | ||
| Children from 9,0003 | 21.9 | 9000 35 | ||
| 36 9000 | 39 |
5 
5 
8 And in conclusion, it would be useful to remind you that the right shoes for girls and boys are the key to a healthy musculoskeletal system. When choosing a model for a baby, first of all, pay attention to the correspondence of size and completeness indicators, and only then to fashion trends in style.
After all, shoes for a child are not so much a stylish part of the wardrobe as a detail that is important for the proper formation of the foot.
How to choose the size of children's shoes on Theo Leo?
There are several ways to choose the right shoe size for your child on Theo Leo website:
- On the category pages using filters. You need to click on the size you need and the assortment will be generated automatically:
- On the category pages when hovering over the product card. Available sizes appear at the top of the image:
- On the product card, you can select the size by clicking on the button for the appropriate size. If in doubt, you can go to the "Size Chart" tab to compare the size of the shoe with the size of the foot:
How to choose the right shoe size for your 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 sheet 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 a multiple of 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 evaluating 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 on weight with a centimeter tape or a 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.
