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Toddler Steps
Properly Fitting Toddlers With Shoes By Carma Haley Shoemaker
Size Does Matter
Children grow by leaps and bounds. Just as a child may outgrow their favorite shirt in a month, so may they outgrow their shoes. "A child's foot can change size up to 34 times before the age of 10," says Brunick. "It is critical to have your child's feet measured each time you buy new shoes to ensure proper fit -- even if you don't think they have grown since the last measurement." "My mom is always buying the kids things when she goes out shopping," says Joel Lewis, a stay-at-home dad from Boston, Mass. "She'll call me on the phone while at the mall and ask me, 'What size shoes do Billy and Cassie wear?' I try to tell her that it's not a good idea to buy kids shoes without having them try them on first, but she insists that as long as she gets a half size bigger, they will be fine. You have to love her effort, but I can't count how many pairs of shoes she has gotten the kids that we've had to return because they didn't fit right."
Shoe's Clues
Solving the case of improperly fitting shoes is as simple as following the clues. "Check your child's foot for red marks that can be caused by shoes that are too tight," says Brunick. "A child that takes off his or her shoes constantly can mean tight shoes as well. To ensure the right fit and support, examine their shoes for wear and tear on a regular basis. If there are toe pressure marks are at the edge of the insole, or you can only count four toe marks; it's time for new shoes. Bring an old pair of your child's shoes with you when purchasing new shoes. By examining how the older shoes are worn, a good fit technician can determine the proper size, style and level of support necessary."