We all know that the most important part of any child’s outfit is their shoes. Too tight, too loose, too narrow, too wide – any of these things can cause damage to growing feet that can cause trouble even into adulthood. Because children’s feet grow so fast, you should get their feet measured everytime you buy them new shoes, particularly school shoes, which they’ll most likely wear more than any other. Ineed, it is estimated that the average child will take one million steps in them. Shoes that are too tight can be agony and can cause foot deformities including bunions. Until they’re four of five years old, children grow two full sizes a year on average – and even after that, it works out about a shoe size every year. Hence, reputable brands are recommended.
Shoes are available for as young as the cruiser stage . After that, the world’s your oyester, with everything from trainers to canvas shoes and school shoes to wellies, to see your offspring through their childhood with healthy feet. Clarks does half sizes and a wide range of widths in almost all its children’s shoe ranges, and the knowlgeable staff give a free measuring and fitting service.
Below are 5 Notable Brands For Children’s Shoes
Bobux Brands
The concept behind Bobux shoes is mimicking the benefits of going barefoot, thereby allowing natural movement and flexibility of little feet. This is particularly important at the walker stage, says Bobux, when feet have no bones – just cartilage and padding tissues, with bones, ligaments and tendons developing through use. With freedom for toes to grip and spread, bones to grow in the right direction and muscles to get stronger, kids’ feet get the best possible start in life. As such, all of Bobux’s designs start with the natural anatomical shape of the child’s changing foot and use extremely soft, good quality leather to build around it – and that stands for its shoes for babies right up to children aged around seven or eight. They are never rigid and always roomy, while also being supportive. And they’re a doddle to get on and off too.
Step2wo Brands
Lulu and Nick Rayne launched Step2wo in 2007 and have since built up a reputation for on-trend footwear for babies and children, with many of styles heavily influenced by adult fashions. In other words, this is what the cool kids wear. The shoe is designed in UK and made mostly in specialist factories in Italy, Spain and Portugal – quality of the stitching and soft leather stands out and we found the shoes offer good support and are hard too. The range is vast and includes some great school shoes. Some also come in half sizes, although sadly it’s a bit random, rather than being consistent, and they don’t come cheap.
Crocs Brands
Crocs are the first thing many parents order for their children at the start of summer. The brand’s instantly recognisable, lightweight, waterproof and colourful foam-cushioned clogs are a big hit with the kids too, many of whom don’t want to wear anything else in the warmer months.
Keen Brands
This trendy American brand is all about adventure, with its kids’ shoes aimed at more outdoorsy types. they have special cushioning on the footbed – all our young testers said made it addede to the comfort. They’re flexible and durable, too, protecting young feet from all the potential calamities that pose as a risk to adventurous kids. There’s something for all seasons and weathers, including snow. The brand has also expanded into bags and socks.
Mini Boden Brands
Any adult who has a pair of Boden shoes will be familiar with the top-notch quality and comfort. And while it doesn’t always follow that great adult shoe brands inevitably make great kids’ shoes, Mini Boden happens to match the success of its counterpart.
