Soon after your children learn to walk for the first time, you’ll need to get them their first pair of shoes. This is arguably the most important item of clothing that they’ll wear since it’ll play a crucial role in their physical development. But budgetary concerns might inform your decision, too – after all, your child’s feet are going to grow quickly, and you’ll need affordable footwear that can be replaced after just a few months. So, what’s the best way to go about choosing shoes for your children? Let’s take a look.
Get your feet measured
If you can get your child’s feet measured accurately in a specialised shoe shop, then you stand a better chance of finding the right fit. Bear in mind that your children’s feet will tend to expand slightly as they stand up, as the weight of the body will squash that little bit of flesh outward. Thus, standing up will give you a more accurate measurement.
If you’re shopping online, it’s a good rule of thumb to go for shoes that fit larger feet rather than smaller ones. After all, your child will grow into their new shoes very quickly. In fact, it’s often a good idea to go for slightly larger shoes in any case, since this will maximise the lifespan you get from the new shoes.
Think about function
It’s worth considering what you expect your child’s new shoes to actually do. Rubber soles will tend to help you avoid slipping, while harder ones will offer greater support. For very young children, it’s a good idea to invest in a pair of barefoot shoes. These help to minimise the sensory divide between the ground and the nerves in your child’s feet, which will in turn help with the development of the muscles in their feet and their balance, especially while walking. Barefoot shoes also help to provide the feet with some form of protection as opposed to barefoot walking.
Type of fastening
When it comes to fastening, you’ll be striking a balance between two considerations: what’s easy for your child to put on, and what will stay on the foot for the longest. Buckles and Velcro will allow your child to easily make adjustments, but laces are preferable for older children. Slip-on shoes, for the most part, are appropriate for teenagers only.
Material for shoes
There’s a reason that adults don’t walk around in shoes made entirely from rubber: it’s not porous, and it doesn’t allow the foot to breathe appropriately. Favour natural materials like canvas or leather, instead. This will help you to avoid blisters developing and keep feet nicely warm and comfy when the weather outside is chilly.
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