How to choose winter shoes according to your child's size

With the onset of cold weather, every mother has a question: how to choose the right winter shoes for her child? The range of children's winter shoes is huge. And not only in color and design. The most important thing is that it does not harm the baby’s health and is warm. Let's figure out what to look for when choosing shoes for your child for the winter.

What to consider when choosing children's winter shoes

Before you buy children's shoes, especially winter ones, you need to try them on your baby and make sure that they suit him in all respects.

Consider the fullness of the leg, which may vary. The leg should fit freely into boots or shoes and not dangle too much. The fasteners must secure it tightly and not squeeze it. You should not buy it end-to-end in the hope that it will stretch, because over time the baby’s leg will grow.

Very tight boots put pressure on the foot, impair blood circulation, lead to cold feet, and deformation of the foot.Too wide - they will dangle, interfere with walking, and the baby will often fall. In addition, improper load distribution in such shoes can lead to flat feet and serious problems with the spine in the future.

A child’s foot grows quickly, so when purchasing, the size should not be close to the foot, it’s correct if it is 1-1.5 cm longer. This gap will ensure comfort for the toes, proper air circulation and heat retention inside the boots.

A very common problem is a high rise of the leg (the upper transition from the toes to the ankle). Because of this, it is impossible to put your foot into the boot. It can be low, normal, high. For feet with a high instep, you should choose models with a deep fastener in the front or boots that have a smoother transition from the foot area to the boot in this part.

How to correctly determine your foot size

Determining the exact foot size is only possible when the child is standing and not sitting. In a sitting position, the foot may be smaller by up to 10 mm. Keep in mind that in the evening the size is a little larger, because the leg swells in the evening.

You need to remove the insole from the shoe and place your foot on it. If your fingers are close to the edge, the size is too small. From the big toe 1-1.5 cm to the edge of the insole? This is the right size! If the gap is larger, it is too much, the shoes will dangle, falls, and with them injuries, are guaranteed.

If the insole does not come out, trace the child's foot on a piece of cardboard. Cut out the resulting blank and place it inside the boot, using your fingers to evaluate how the paper template is located inside. It is convenient to take this preparation with you to the store.

A fairly common method when choosing shoes is when they put a shoe on a child and, by inserting a finger in the heel area, try to determine the gap. Here it should be taken into account that the child may bend his fingers and this will distort the fitting result.

Often on shoes you can see size markings according to the stichmass system, where 1 stroke is equal to 2/3 (0.66) cm. If you encounter such markings when purchasing, and there is no table nearby, to calculate the size you need to add 1-1 to the length of the foot .5 cm and divide by 0.66. We obtain the appropriate size using the weight system.

Taking measurements from the leg

There are several rules for taking measurements more accurately:

• Measurements should be taken only while standing, this will allow you to get more accurate results in the natural position of the foot, because the child needs to walk in shoes and not sit.
• It is preferable to take measurements in the evening; in the evening the legs swell and become a little larger.
• Place the child’s foot on a sheet of paper, holding a pencil or pen vertically, as close to the foot as possible, and trace the outline of the foot. The muscles should be relaxed, the fingers should not be bent. Using a ruler, measure the distance from the highest point of the big toe (or the most protruding one) to the edge of the heel - this will be the length of the insole.
• Take measurements in a thin (for summer species) or thick (for winter) sock.
• Measure both feet. The difference in results may differ by up to 0.5 cm. In this case, when choosing shoes, you should focus on the largest values.
• To determine the length of the feet of babies under one year old, you can use a string, then measure the resulting length of the string using a ruler.Add 1 to 1.5 cm to the resulting value, since in just a couple of months the child’s foot will grow, and for winter shoes free space is necessary for warming.

Differences when choosing shoes for a child under one year and after one year

The differences are related to lifestyle characteristics. A baby under one year of age moves outdoors mostly in a stroller or sled. You need to choose the most comfortable and warm shoes for him. The rigidity of the sole and heel does not matter here. Regular felt boots or sheepskin boots are the best choice for a baby.

For older children, it is already important that shoes have a rigid sole that bends in the right places while walking, with a small heel. The absence of a heel prevents the correct formation of the foot and the child may fall backward. Too large a heel is also undesirable, as this can lead to the child falling forward.

IMPORTANT! In the store, you need to give the child the opportunity to walk around when trying on. This way you will see how the shoes behave when walking: whether the sole and shaft bend where the leg bends, whether the child is comfortable, whether he or she falls forward or backward.

What to look for when choosing winter shoes for a child

Beauty is definitely important. But what is more important is not how fashionable and richly decorated the thing is, but how anatomically it corresponds to the characteristics of a particular baby’s foot. The type of shoes the mother chooses determines how exactly the load will be distributed when the child walks.

And if the child has just started walking, then you definitely can’t buy the first boots you come across.

What should children's winter shoes be like?

• Comfortable in every way. Winter boots should fit exactly to size, not fall off or squeeze the leg;
  
• Size. Correctly sized shoes or boots allow the cub to move his toes.
• Fixing elements. Laces are extremely undesirable for children under 7 years of age, when they can tie them themselves if necessary. It is desirable that all fasteners are of high quality and easy to fasten/unfasten so that the baby can put on his shoes independently. They must fit the shoes perfectly on the foot. It wouldn’t hurt to have additional Velcro fasteners to secure the zipper.
• Manufacturer selection. Shoes that meet all orthopedic rules are the key to the correct formation of the foot and the preservation of the child’s health, so it is worth giving preference to well-known, proven companies.
• Sole. It must certainly bend and not be “wooden”. Models with rigid soles are an almost 100% source of falls and injuries. Such shoes are uncomfortable and the foot is in an unnatural position when walking and develops incorrectly. The highest quality materials for soles are polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and thermoplastic elastomer (TEP).
• Relief sole. The sole must have a multidirectional pattern - one way on the toe, and the other on the heel. Smooth and slippery soles are not an option for children's winter boots!
• Breathable materials in outer and inner layers. It is worth excluding the purchase of winter boots with an outer layer of textiles - they allow moisture to pass through and are difficult to care for; Faux leather freezes in the cold, becomes hard, can crack, such material does not retain heat, does not allow air to pass through, and feet sweat in such boots. For the outer layer, a membrane or genuine leather is ideal. Nubuck and suede are very beautiful, but quickly lose their appearance.It is preferable that the inner layer is also made of natural materials - low-pile fur, drape, felt.
• Removable insole made of natural material. A fur or felt insole retains heat and gives your feet comfort. It can be quickly taken out and dried on the radiator.
• Height and width of the boot. This is a very important point for boys' shoes. Skinny trousers are in fashion now; it’s better to pair them with boots. When choosing boots, it’s a good idea to try them on together with winter pants, so that you don’t find out later that the legs don’t fit over the pants.

How to understand that children's winter shoes are chosen incorrectly (mistakes when choosing the size of winter children's shoes)

If your feet are cold, calluses or red stripes appear on your feet, it means that the shoes are chosen incorrectly.

Very tight shoes. Fingers cannot move in a tight space, which is why blood circulation is impaired and the legs freeze.

Boots too big. Such shoes lack heat-saving ability. Even if your child wears thick woolen socks, he will still freeze if the foot is not secured tightly, with large gaps at the top. In addition, due to poor fixation, it is difficult for the child to walk, and falls cannot be avoided.

Too many socks. Wearing several pairs of socks in winter shoes in conditions other than the Far North is unnecessary. Feet in such “cabbage” sweat and cool. It is better to wear one pair of woolen socks that are not very thick over the tights.

Socks for membrane shoes. Feet in shoes sweat, cotton socks quickly absorb moisture, get wet and cool quickly. In models with a membrane layer, you should wear tights or socks with synthetics!

The purchase of children's shoes must be approached extremely thoughtfully and seriously.Think about whether it’s worth saving on your own child’s health and whether it’s really SAVINGS!