FAQs

Most children start walking between 9 and 19 months of age, but development varies from one child to another so they can start earlier or later.  The most important thing is not to try to make your child to walk before he or she is ready.

Barefoot is best for babies who are crawling and in the early stages of learning to walk, so don’t be tempted to get shoes too early.  Little feet are very delicate and toes need room to wiggle to allow them to develop naturally.   However, to keep feet warm out-of-doors and to protect little toes against bumps and scrapes from hard floors, fitted pre-walkers are a good option.  They allow plenty of room for feet to grow, but offer warmth and protection if needed.

To find out if your child is ready, try our ‘Ready for Shoes?’ checker.  If you’re still unsure you could visit your nearest children’s shoe shop for advice.  You’ll need to find one which offers a professional fitting service for children’s shoes.  A trained fitter will ask about your child’s development, observe your child’s walking and tell you when the time is right to buy those all-important first shoes.

It’s important to go to a shoe shop with staff who have been specially trained to fit children’s shoes as they will be able to advise you on the most suitable footwear for your little one. The best first shoes are carefully designed specifically for children’s feet (not scaled down versions of adult styles). Feet vary in size and shape so check that the shop sells shoes in whole and half sizes and in a range of width fittings to ensure the best possible fit for your child.

Properly fitted shoes play a vital role in helping to safeguard the healthy development of your child’s feet.   Shoes which don’t fit properly can cause sores or blisters and at worst may even lead to long-term foot problems. 

Experts estimate that 70% of adults suffer from foot health problems and that the majority of these problems are the result of wearing ill-fitting shoes in childhood. This is because when your child is very young the bones in his feet are made of soft spongy cartilage which can easily be pushed out of alignment by shoes (and even sleep-suits and socks) which don’t fit properly.  The nerve endings in babies’ feet also take time to develop, so your child may not be able to let you know if his feet are sore or squashed by his shoes.

At best, poorly fitted shoes won’t wear as well, so never settle for anything less than the perfect fit.  

Children's feet grow in spurts, so they should be checked for size by a trained shoe fitter every six to eight weeks when they are toddling, and every three to four months after that.  The fitter will measure your child’s feet and check the fit of his current pair of shoes and advise if they need replacing.

Don’t be surprised if this happens, or if your child is fitted with shoes which aren’t exactly the size shown on the measuring gauge.  Shoe shapes and sizes vary between styles and brands (just as they do in clothing) so the foot gauge is only used as a guide to sizing.  A trained fitter will only judge if a shoe is the correct size for your child once it is on the foot and has been carefully checked for comfort and fit.

It’s not a good idea to hand shoes down from one child to another as no two pairs of feet are the same and secondhand shoes will have moulded to the shape of their previous owner’s feet and style of walking. Wear and tear may also have reduced the protection and support offered by the shoes. There are many shoe recycling centres available that allow you to recycle your shoes.

Most children have one foot bigger than the other, and their footwear should always be fitted to the larger foot.  A professional fitter will be able to recommend the best shoes for your child.

If your child has been referred to a podiatrist or other healthcare professional regarding issues with his or her feet, please ask their advice about footwear.  Children with congenital foot conditions should be seen by a GP.

Children’s feet sweat up to an egg-cup full of moisture each day, so look for shoes with leather uppers and with leather or breathable linings.  Leather allows perspiration to escape through the surface of the shoe, helping to keep feet drier and healthier.  Try to rotate your child’s footwear so that each pair of shoes has a regular airing.  It’s also worth remembering that while trainers are great for playtime and sports, worn continuously they can become hot and damp, encouraging bacteria to thrive and leading to smelly feet and fungal infections such as athlete’s foot.