How to choose the right size of shoes?

How to choose the right size of shoes?

As we know, our children's feet are constantly growing but their shoes do not. Therefore it is very important for parents to check the size of children´s shoes regularly. Toddlers should be checked once a month, pre-school and young school children once every 3 months, older school children once every 4 or 5 months and 15-20-year old once every six months. There are many ways to measure feet, and we highly recommend using the reliable instrument - PLUS 12. All Rostak shoes have the removable insoles which makes it easy to check. Just look for the imprint of the foot. If there is still a space above the toes, great, you don't need to do anything. If any toe touches (or is very close) to the rim of the insole, it's time to put these shoes away and get another pair. 

It is very important to buy new shoes for your children regularly. In accordance with growing – the smaller child, the more pairs of shoes required in a year. Feet damage are caused by constantly wearing small shoes. To avoid permanent damage of your children's feet, we suggest measuring their feet and shoes throughout the year. Nowadays there are many different ways the sizes of shoes are labelled so this makes measuring even more pertinent to ensure correct fitting.

First we will show you 3 most favourite methods of finding out sizes of shoes and  why these are not reliable:

1. Asking your child – while your children´s nervous systems is being developed they have a low threshold to pressure and pain, therefore they cannot tell us if the shoe pinches them. The fact that children wear mostly small shoes can be caused by the fact that they get used to it and then they say that the small shoes are O.K.
2. The game with heel – you try by placing fingers between the children´s heel and the shoe. This method would be great but children often bend their toes so they push their foot a little bit to the front. Then it seems like the shoes are good.
3. Measuring feet on the outside of the sole - this method only tells you about the outer size and fit and not the inner one.

To ensure correct fitting and sizing, I use the measuring instrument PLUS 12 which is available for use if you come to see us in Horokiwi, Wellington. This measuring instrument is used for both children and adults.

If you don't have a PLUS 12, follow the instructions on Size chart or if you just want to check their existing shoes, remove the insole from their footwear and let your child to stand on it. This is a reliable indication to see how your child's feet fit (or not) onto sole. 

How often should the size of shoes be checked?

Children's feet grow very fast, they change in length, width and also proportions. Small children's feet grow on average about 15-18 mm in a year and the older children about 8-12 mm in a year. This means children at the age of 2-3 years old, need 2-3 sizes of shoes in a year, the pre-school children need 2 sizes in a year and the school children need 2-3 sizes of shoes throughout the year.

If there are 98% of children born with healthy feet, then as adults there is no reason why it couldn´t remain like this.

The responsibility lies with us – children´s feet need many years to develop, for their bones, muscles and tissues to be steady and at the same time flexible, agile and strong.

The gift of walking, running and jumping is part of our children's development - the better care, support and love we provide our children's feet during those first years, the more resilient, healthy and happy they are in the future. So lets give our rascals the best opportunity by choosing healthy and comfortable footwear.