Shoes Fitting
The Importance of shoe fitting for children
Children's feet are very malleable and constantly changing and growing. Even just a few months of wearing ill-fitting shoes can cause permanent malformations in the bones of the feet. These can lead to problems in adulthood, not just with feet but can also contribute to ankle, knee, hip and back difficulties To avoid future problems it is vital that children wear the correct style and size shoes and regularly change shoes as their feet grow. It is advisable to have your children's feet professionally measured every 6 weeks to ensure they are wearing the correct size and style. Parents should also be aware that different brands and models may come up slightly different sizes and shapes so even after having feet professionally measured any new shoes should be tried on and checked for fit before being worn.
For optimum foot health it is also recommended that children wear proper shoes, not just trainers. Although comfortable, trainers do not provide the correct support for growing feet and overuse of trainers can lead to a "splaying" of the foot where it spreads out wider and flatter than it should. Trainers should be reserved for sports and outdoor play - to optimise a child's foot health they should wear a proper leather shoe for school, not a trainer or sports shoe.
When to buy new shoes
， Length becoming too short - do not wait until a child's toe is right up against the front of the shoe. When the gap between the big toe and the top of the shoe gets to the width of your little finger it is time to buy new shoes.
， Too tight across the width - any squashing or reddening/marking of the toes should be addressed immediately (preferably before the child has experienced any discomfort)
， Shoes are becoming worn - regularly check the soles of both shoes. If the sole has become worn out in some areas making it uneven then the shoes need replaced, even if the size is fine.
， Shoes are designed to have a small amount of stretch in the leather or fabric but if they have stretched to the point of gaping then they need replaced.
， Where possible avoid second hand shoes. Shoes mould to the feet of the wearer and therefore, if well worn, will not provide the proper support to a new wearer.
， Children will need new shoes between 3 and 8 times per year. This may seem alot but regularly buying quality, well-fitting shoes is an investment in your child's health and comfort and will help to avoid future problems.