Back-to-School Feet

Goodbye summer. Hello back-to-school. New lunch boxes, new haircuts, new backpacks, and of course, new shoes. A proper fitting shoe for your child is one of the most important back-to-school purchases you can make. Due to weeks of flip-flop wearing, Crocs lounging and bare-footing at the beach it is a challenge to know how much your child’s foot has grown over the summer.

It is essential you have your son or daughter’s foot professionally measured and
properly fitted to ensure the best development of his/her feet and gait. Foot pain
caused by cheap or poorly fitting shoes can lead to deformities in the foot as
well as long-term knee and back problems. Who wants that?

At a younger age the foot grows more rapidly – infant to three yrs old a child’s
foot can grow every two to three months. Often parents will come into my store
with small ones who are in a shoe one to two sizes too small. Many folks don’t
realize a ½ size is only 1/6th of an inch.

Consider these important factors when shopping for shoes this back-to-school season:

• Don’t Measure Foot Growth by Full Body Growth: That means your son’s foot may grow one full shoe size but he may not gain any weight or height. And the reverse is true as well.
• Children Don’t Always Tell You Their Shoe is too Small: Everyone feels pain differently and some children will continue to wear a shoe that is too small without mentioning the discomfort to mom. Be on the lookout for irritations or redness on tips of the toes. Telltale time she is ready to go up in size.
• Try Not to Hand Down Footwear: Have you ever put on someone else’s hockey skates? It’s painful. That’s because the inside boot is formed to the regular user’s arch, heel, ankles, and pressure points. I’m a parent and realize shoes are expensive and if they are in good shape you’d like to pass them down the line. That’s fine but try not to do it with every pair. Supplement the youngest child with a new pair at least once a season. Also, sharing shoes can spread fungi like athlete’s foot and nail fungus.
• Bring the Foot In: I’m sure it is easier to shop without your child but it
  is important to have her there for two reasons. First, children’s shoe sizing
  is extremely inconsistent across brands and even within brands. When you add in the European sized shoes it increases the variation even greater. Two, children at a younger and younger age have an opinion about what goes on their feet both from a style and a comfort perspective. Also being involved in the fitting process promotes healthy foot habits as they get older.