Measure correctly
Children’s shoes: This is why the right size is so important for healthy feet
The fact is that every fifth child wears shoes that are too small or too large
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According to the German Children’s Foot Report 2020, only every fifth child wears the wrong shoe size – a positive trend, as ten years ago significantly more children wore shoes that were too small or too large. Find out here why the right size is crucial for healthy feet in old age.
From the current measurements taken as part of the Children’s foot reports 2020 Made on 4,000 children, it was found that 16 percent of the shoes were too small. In other words: the feet could not roll properly when walking. Six percent of the shoes, on the other hand, were too big, so that the feet were constricted in them and a natural gait was not possible. The bad thing about it is that children often do not even notice that they are the wrong size because their foot bones are still very soft and pliable – and therefore do not cause any pain. But what is even worse: shoes that are too small or too large can lead to foot deformities that only become noticeable in old age. It is all the more important to measure children’s feet correctly and regularly.
How to measure children’s feet correctly
Children’s feet grow particularly quickly – one millimeter per month to be precise: Between the ages of three and six they can run through up to three shoe sizes. For this reason, you should measure your children’s feet regularly in the first few years, preferably every six to eight weeks, from school age onwards every four to six months is sufficient. To find out which shoe size is right for your offspring, you can use two different methods:
Most shoe stores have what is known as a foot measuring device, which can be used to determine the correct shoe size. However, if you want to order the children’s shoes online, you have to measure your feet at home – you can easily do your own here Foot measuring device that can be bought online. It tells you the exact size, but you should always add twelve millimeters to it. In this way, the children’s feet have enough leeway to roll around properly in the shoes.
Alternatively, you can make your own template. All you have to do is take a piece of cardboard or a sheet of paper and place your child on it with bare feet. Then take a pencil and trace the outlines of the feet. Add another twelve millimeters to the longest toe, cut out the template and measure the length and width with a ruler – then you can put the template into the shoes to find out whether they are big enough.
Important: Always measure children’s feet in the evening – due to the constant strain when walking and standing, they swell during the day, so that the maximum size is only reached in the evening. For the same reason, your child should always stand and not sit when taking measurements.
Why the shoe size is not meaningful
As with clothing sizes, shoe sizes – depending on the brand – can be different sizes or small. This is sometimes because there are no fixed guidelines for how manufacturers should measure their models. Some take the inside dimension, others the outside dimension. In addition, many brands from abroad only roughly convert their sizes in Germany, so that in this country you cannot rely on what is in or under the shoes. It is therefore essential before each purchase that you put the shoes on your child so that they can walk around in them a few steps. This is the only way to quickly find out whether the selected size is the right one or whether it is too small or too big. A self-made template can also be useful here to determine the correct length and width.
First walking shoes support your first attempts at walking
If your child is already making their first attempts at running, shoes can be a useful support in the open air to stabilize the little feet (more precisely their muscles, ligaments and tendons) and to protect them from sharp objects on the ground. Apart from that, they keep children’s feet warm longer than normal socks on cold autumn or winter days. On warm days, however, it makes more sense to let your child run barefoot inside and outside (for example on the beach or in a meadow) – this is still the best method so that children’s feet can develop healthily if possible.
What does the abbreviation “WMS” mean?
It is not uncommon for manufacturers of children’s shoes to advertise with the title “WMS”, which translated simply means “width-measurement system”. It not only distinguishes high-quality models, but also stands for an exact fit. In other words: every children’s shoe of the same size has the same dimensions. In addition, the relevant brands (such as Geox, Lurchi, Richter and Ricosta) advertise that their models fit particularly well on the heel and center of the foot. This should make it easier to buy new children’s shoes on the one hand, and on the other hand support the development of healthy feet with the “WMS” award.
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