How to Properly Size Shoes for Infants

Babies don't need shoes until they can stand up and cruise on furniture. Once the walking stage approaches, foot protection becomes a must. There are many styles of baby shoes on the market---from traditional high-heeled walking shoes to flexible soft-soled shoes---and each seems to have their own sizing guidelines, making it difficult to find a universal baby shoe size. Always measure baby's feet before buying shoes to purchase the correct size. Ill-fitting shoes can cause foot problems that carry into adulthood.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Baby
• Tape measure

1. Measure your baby's feet in a standing position. Feet expand in both length and width when carrying body weight. Hold your baby up if he isn't standing or walking on his own yet.

2. Measure the length of both feet. One foot may be larger than the other, which is normal. Just make sure to size infant shoes to the largest foot. Generally, there is 1/3 of an inch between sizes and 1/6 of an inch between half sizes. Make sure your baby has 1/3 of an inch wiggle room in the front of the shoe.

3. Measure the width of both feet and, as with the length, fit shoes to the largest size. Width generally increases ¼ of an inch between sizes. Look for baby shoes that offer a variety of widths---narrow, medium and wide. When trying on shoes, insert your finger at the instep between the shoe and the foot. If your finger can't fit, the shoe is too narrow.

4. Look at how thick your baby's foot is. Thickness correlates to width, with a thick foot/wide instep needing a wide shoe.

5. Try to have your baby walk in the shoes, either unassisted or with your help. Pay attention to the break in the shoe occurring on top near the toes. The break should be straight across the foot. If it's too deep or angled, it means the shoe is too wide.

6. Check your baby's feet after a day of wearing new shoes. Look over the toes to make sure there isn't redness, swelling or signs of rubbing.

Tips & Warnings

• See if you can get a professional shoe fitting done for the particular brand you're interested in. Since infant shoe sizes vary, you can get the most accurate measurements by having a sales clerk measure your infant's feet and match them up to the correct size shoe. Make sure your child's toe nails are trim to prevent them from rubbing against the front of shoes.

References

• Podiatry Network