What to Look for When Buying Childrens' Shoes and The Best Way to Buy Children Shoes Online
Buying children's shoes can be a daunting task, especially for first-time parents. With an array of styles, colours, and sizes available in the market, it can be overwhelming to find the perfect pair that not only looks good but also provides comfort and support for your child's growing feet. This blog post aims to guide you on what to look for when buying children's shoes and the best way to buy children shoes online.
Understanding Your Child's Foot Development
Before diving into the world of children's footwear, it is essential to understand that a bit more about foot development. A child's foot is not just a smaller version of an adult foot. Their feet are soft and pliable, making them prone to deformities if they are not fitted with appropriate footwear.
Children’s feet grow rapidly during their first years; therefore, it is crucial to check
their shoe size every few months. A shoe that is too small or too big can cause
discomfort and affect their walking pattern.
Comfort Over Style
While it might be tempting to buy cool sneakers you saw online, comfort should always be your top priority when buying children’s shoes. Most sneakers are shrunk down versions of adult styles and have not been developed with children's foot health in mind. Look for shoes that are "foot shaped" - most importantly that they are wide enough at the toe for feet to spread and wiggle.
Breathable materials like leather or canvas are great as they allow air circulation and help prevent sweaty and smelly feet.
The soles of the shoes should be flexible yet sturdy enough to protect your child’s feet from sharp objects.
They should also have good grip to prevent slipping or skidding. The insoles should be cushioned adequately for comfort during prolonged wear.
How Should Children’s Shoes Fit?
A well-fitting shoe is paramount in ensuring your child’s foot health. There should be enough room at the front of the shoe - about a thumb’s width from the longest toe (which isn't always the big toe!) to the end of the shoe. This allows space for growth and movement when walking or running.
The shoes should fit snugly but not tightly around the heel and ankle to prevent blisters. The width of the shoe is also important. A shoe that is too narrow will squeeze the foot, while a shoe that is too wide will not provide enough support.
The Best Way to Buy Children Shoes Online
Shopping for children’s shoes online has become increasingly popular among parents for for convenience and choice of products. However, buying shoes online can feel overwhelming as you cannot physically try them on your child.
Here are some tips on how to make your online shoe shopping experience a
success:
1. Measure Your Child’s Foot: We have a ZIG+STAR printable fit guide to measure your childs feet. Alternatively, if you don't have a printer, you can use a blank piece of paper, pencil and ruler and use our size guide to work out the best size (check out FIT GUIDE page for more information). For ease, it can be tempting to look at a current pair of shoes and size up. However, in particular with sports brands, the fit can be so different between different shoe styles and brands, so it's always advisable to remeasure your kids feet.
2. Check Size Guides: Always refer to the size guide provided by the retailer you are purchasing from because, as previously mentioned, sizing can vary a great deal between brands.
3. Read Reviews: Customer reviews can give you insights about the fit, comfort, and quality of the shoes. That's why we always encourage customers to leave reviews as you will get the most honest opinion on fit and quality.
4. Check Return Policy: Ensure that the online store has a good return policy in case the shoes do not fit well. At ZIG+STAR we offer free shipping for all returns and will send an exchanged size free of charge.
Buying children's shoes doesn't have to be stressful if you know what to look for and where to shop. Remember that comfort and fit are more important than style when it comes to children's footwear. And once you find a brand that works for you, you become more familiar with their sizing and what works best for your child's feet. Once you try ZIG+STAR, you never go back!
