Best Shoes for Little Feet
Young feet grow fast, and to help you keep up with your child’s needs, and choose the right shoe, here’s some expert advice from paediatric podiatrist, Dr Louise Buchtmann.
BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE
Little feet see a lot of action, and although children’s shoes don’t stay the right size for long, it’s really important to carefully choose your under-five’s footwear.
A good pair of shoes will provide the support their developing feet need, plus protection from all those uncomfortable things, like spiky bindies, hot astroturf and ouchie LEGO pieces!
When it’s time to buy a new pair of shoes, you might be tempted to purchase some pricey slip-ons for your little princess, or kit out your youngest kid in third-hand sneakers.
However, cost isn’t your only consideration when choosing a children’s shoe.
There are actually a lot of different things to look for, and to help you find the right fit, we’ve asked Dr Louise Buchtmann for advice.
Louise is a very experienced paediatric podiatrist at Barefeet Podiatry in Sydney, and her first tip is to keep a close eye on your child’s foot size.
This is important because under-fives’ feet grow pretty darn fast!
Baby feet double in size by the age of 12 months, and although foot growth slows down a little after that, Louise recommends that you check your child’s foot size:
- Every one to three months until they turn three
- Every four months until they turn five, then
- Every six months, until their feet approach adult size, around the age of 12 to 14.
In the early years, you do need to be especially vigilant, because your little one won’t always complain about tight shoes when they’re busy with other stuff (like playdates and daycare), and ill-fitting shoes can cause real foot damage.
Blisters obviously aren’t fun, but because little feet have a lot of soft cartilage and still-developing bones, squeezy shoes can have a detrimental effect on their foot growth and health, as well as their gait.
When you notice that your child is due for some new shoes, a ‘try before you buy’ approach is best, and Louise recommends that you get your child’s shoes fitted by an expert.
This means finding a children’s footwear specialist at your local shoe shop or department store, who will measure your little one’s left and right feet while they’re standing up, to see which size they are.
It’s normal for one foot to be bigger than the other, and although children’s shoes come in a wide variety of styles, Louise recommends that you look for shoes with the following kid-friendly features:
- Laces, Velcro or other fasteners which will firmly keep the shoes on your child’s feet, no matter where they go, or what they do.
- A patterned or textured sole which will give your child good traction, including on slippery surfaces like shiny tiles and mossy paths.
- A sturdy and thick sole which will protect your child’s tootsies, while also being flexible at the toes to bend with their foot.
- A well-fitting heel that rests snugly, but not tightly, around the back of your child’s foot, with a stiff upper and sides that offers support, while remaining comfy.
- A wide-covered and deep toe box. This sounds technical, but the toe box is just that firm cap part around the very front of the shoe which protects the toes, and you don’t want this to be too pointy or squeezy.
- A good overall shoe shape which follows the natural shape of your child’s foot, especially around the toes, and provides foot protection.
- A good overall fit, so your child’s foot has a little room for forward, backward and side movements.
Fit is a really important consideration (thus the need for a professional shoe-fitter).
Backless and slip-on shoes aren’t recommended for children, because they move around too much; and although you might be tempted to buy a larger shoe size, so your child gets more wear out of their new pair, you don’t want to be too generous with your upsizing.
Louise says it’s really important not to buy shoes more than one size too big, because your little one might trip or develop foot problems when trying to walk in oversized shoes.
Keep in mind, too, that the time you go shoe shopping has an influence on fit.
It’s natural for feet to swell during the day, so Louise recommends that you shop for new shoes in the afternoon or evening, to make sure the size is correct come morning!
Looking for the above features, and talking to your shoe-fitter, will help you settle on a good children’s shoe.
However, if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, it’s good to know that ASICS kids’ shoes get the tick of approval from Louise, and she says ASICS Contend shoes are especially good for under-fives.
Of course, even when you find that perfect shoe (or two), you don’t want to keep your child’s feet enclosed all the time!
Going shoeless when inside (or just wearing socks) is really great when your little one is learning how to walk, because it gives them a sense of different surfaces and helps them learn how to balance and understand their body’s movement, action and location.
Barefeet play is then beneficial as your child grows.
Going shoeless gives their busy feet a chance to breathe and move freely, but you obviously need to be careful about the kind of environment your child’s feet will be let loose in.
They’ll need protective shoes when the ground is risky or ouchie, and although your young child will grow out of their new shoes fairly quickly, it is important to invest in their foot health and keep an eye on those quickly growing feet (and bindies)!
And if you're worried about how your child’s feet are looking, feeling or functioning, there is help at hand - or rather, foot.
Louise offers in-person and virtual appointments at Barefeet Podiatry, and is an expert in children’s foot and leg problems.
Alternatively, your family GP will be able to recommend a paediatric podiatrist near you.