Toddler shoes need to be tight fitting, but they should not cause discomfort. Toddlers walk from their toes without bearing weight from the heel. As a result, toddlers need wide-toed shoes for comfort and safety.
It can be difficult to know if a toddler needs wide shoes or toddler needs narrow shoes. Some toddlers develop narrow feet and the widening of the feet usually involves time and not something that is done with shoegazing/orthotics outside of the normal shoe wearing habits.
There are some causes for worry that your child may be needing wider shoes, such as bunions, bone spurs, arthritis in the feet (which has been shown to increase significantly by one year), and pes planus (flat foot).
When you feel for these things during weight-bearing or other activities it will cause pain whereas when they aren’t present they should not cause pain. The only other way to determine whether your child needs wider shoes is how their toes look when they stand on their tiptoes – if their toes are still touching the floor then they don’t need wider shoes.
How To Know If Toddler Needs Wide Shoes
Another way to tell if a toddler needs wide shoes is by looking at your child’s feet while she walks.
- If the toes are splayed out, the shoes are too tight.
- If the heels are not touching the ground, the shoes are too wide.
In order to find the perfect fit for your toddler’s shoes, it is important to take into account the width of your child’s foot as well as the length.
You can measure your child’s feet at home by using a ruler or a measuring tape.
- Place the tape measure or ruler next to your child’s longest toe and measure from heel to toe.
If you’re still not sure, take your child to a podiatrist or orthopedist for help in making the decision. They will be able to properly measure your child’s feet and prescribe the appropriate type of shoe.
Do Most Toddlers Have Wide Feet?
It depends. Toes and feet increase in length as we age. As with most aspects of development, there is variability within this population–some toddlers may have especially wide feet and some older children and adults may have scrunched toes. Some children will also need footwear that provides extra depth to accommodate their unique toe size or shape throughout childhood.
The width of a toddler’s foot is largely genetically predetermined, and it will depend on the genes that they inherit from their parents. Wide feet are more common in people with African ancestry, while narrow feet are more common in those with an Asian background. However, there are other factors like malnutrition or conditions like hyperthyroidism that can result in an unusually wide foot for most kids of all backgrounds.
How Do I Know My Kids Shoe Width?
The size of your child’s foot determines the shoe width that is recommended. This depends on the size and shape of their feet, as well as how they walk.
There are different widths for shoes and each width is suitable for a different type of foot. A shoe that is too wide can be just as bad as a shoe that is too narrow. A child’s foot can change the size and shape quickly, so it is important to check the fit of their shoes regularly.
A general rule would be: Kids can find shoes on a scale between extra-wide and narrow (babies and kids often need narrow to keep them on securely). An average kid with normal shaping typically needs shoes in medium width.
The easiest way is to stand next to those shoes you already have or those you plan to purchase for everything else; measure the space from your heel, straight up over your toes–take note if this area measures more than 2″, it’s considered “extra wide.” If not, then go no further–the middle ground should do just fine!
But as we always say: no one knows your child’s feet better than you. If you have any questions or concerns, always consult with a podiatrist to get their professional advice.
How Do I Measure My Toddler’s Foot Width?
If a toddler’s feet measure 3 5/8 inches or more, the child will need wide shoes. To ensure a good fit and to prevent foot problems, it is important to have properly fitted shoes. A good time to measure your toddler’s feet is when he or she is having a bath. The feet will be wet and swollen, so try to measure them then.
If you wait too long, the feet will have dried out and shrunk back to normal size. It is best to measure both feet because one foot may be bigger than the other. This should not cause a problem as long as you purchase shoes for the larger foot or buy two pairs of shoes, one smaller than the other.
Another best way to measure foot width is with vernier calipers. First, finding the largest gap between any two toes does not include the gap between the individual bigger toe and second toe. Stick one end of the caliper into this gap, then turn it around to measure the length of the gap on another side of the big toe. Vernier Calipers are available through product retailers like Amazon.
If you are still unsure of the size, take your toddler to a shoe store and have them measure the feet.
How Much Bigger Should I Buy My Child’s Shoes?
There is no hard and fast rule as to how much bigger you should try to buy your child’s shoes, but some general guidelines can be followed:
At the beginning of each school year, take a look at the shoes your child currently wears and find out their size. Mark this number down somewhere so that it’s easy to reference when you go shoe shopping again.
At the end of the school year, take another look at your child’s current shoes and check their measurements (length and width). Then, use this information to help you decide how much larger than their current shoe size they will need in the new school year. For example: If your child’s shoes are size 8 US / 25 cm and you want to buy them a size 9 US / 26 cm shoe, then you will need to buy them a size 9.5 US / 27 cm shoe.
If your child’s current shoes are a different size in different styles.
- Measure their longest and widest foot and use the bigger size.
- You have to know the child’s foot size in order to buy shoes that are the correct size.
- This is important because when you buy shoes for a child that are too big, extra room between their toes and shoe could lead to blisters.
Extra space in the heel or front of a shoe could also cause problems such as ripped Achilles tendons and blackened toes (tinea pedis). You can estimate your baby’s or toddler’s feet will get bigger by looking at their parents, grandparents, siblings, etc.
Conclusion
If your toddler is walking on their toes and has a hard time keeping balance, then they may need wide shoes or orthopedic footwear. You can also check for bunions by looking at the back of the foot. Bunions are more common in women than men so if you’re noticing this symptom, get it checked out with your doctor to see what kind of shoe would be best for them.
To find out if toddlers need wide shoes or not, take a look at how they walk and talk to their pediatrician about any other symptoms that might indicate something else going on which could cause problems when they start school next year. Helping our kids stay healthy one step at a time!
We’ve provided you with some ideas on how to know if your toddler needs wide shoes. Make sure that you’re getting the right size for their feet and then try them out in-store first before investing in a pair.
If they seem like they need wider shoes, it’s worth considering buying one of these more expensive types as well–they may be better suited for what your little one needs. Remember though, there are other factors besides width here so make sure to take all measurements into account when deciding between different styles!
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