Shoe shopping can be a task, especially when it is for your little one. Wearing right shoes is crucial to the little ones as their feet are still developing and growing at a rapid pace.
Studies suggest that 98% people are born with healthy feet but as they grow, only 40% are left with healthy feet. Ill-fitted shoes are one of the major reasons people suffer feet aches and other related problems.
In the first three years of the child’s life, their feet grow up to 12 sizes and about 50% wear shoes that are ill-fitting creating possibilities of feet problems early in life. Buying school shoes can be a daunting task as buying new shoes every other month is not feasible.
Here’s a guide to picking the right shoes for your child.
Measure out your child’s feet: It is a good idea to draw an outline of your child’s foot to get a better picture of the shape of the foot. The feet of children and adults are not the same. They are similar, but they do not work the same way and have very different needs. In adults, the foot is used to more pressure from shoes and needs protection against violent injuries (sprains or torn ligaments). Children, on the other hand, need protection against chronic injuries (stretched ligaments, inflammations).
Consult the shoe size chart: Place the measured out foot against a shoe size to see what size would fit your child. Doing this would be far better than putting your child's foot through a series of tight shoes that ‘might’ be their size.
Choose the right material: Children's feet tend to be sweatier than adults feet. Pick shoes that are breathable, flexible and have anti-bacterial properties. Quality shoes keep shoes from getting sweaty and stinky.
Get insoles: Breathable insoles eliminate odor and wetness by absorbing moisture and wetness and hindering bacterial development. Pick an insole that relieves the child of blisters, discomfort and smelly shoes.
Shop during the noon hours: Feet are the most swollen in the noon and it is then that shoe shopping is the most effective. Measure the child’s feet during every purchase. Also, keep in mind that one foot is usually larger than the other and parents need to buy the shoes that accommodate the larger of the two feet.
Personally check shoes for comfort: Get your child to stand up while applying equal pressure on both feet. Press the top of the shoes to locate the toes and ensure they aren’t pressing against the walls of the shoes. Also, press the sides to ensure to ensure the toes move without any crunching.
Consider these factors while Shoe-shopping. Nothing should stop your child's dreams (Not even ill-fitting shoes). Happy Shopping!
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