There’s more to dressing a child than pretty bows and charming neckties. The more important items you’ll need to focus on, like buying shoes for kids, aren’t the easiest to shop for when you have small children. The question of how much space should kids’ shoes have and others can be found in this piece.

I’ve been dressing the boys for years, and now that I have a daughter, everyone assumes I’m excited to dress her as well. Some have made reference to how having a daughter is like having a doll and how I should dress her in bows and such.

All this sounds great until you realize there’s more to dressing your child. In fact, comfort is more important than looks.

Dressing a child requires the basics. One of them is the comfort level of the clothing items.

Some parents forget the value in focusing on two types of clothing attires: Clothes that your child can play in and others they can wear to more formal events.

When you focus on these two categories — dressing up and dressing down — your child will always have clothes for practically every occasion.

This has been one of the rules I use when dressing the kids. It’s helped me plan ahead for family events and outings to play dates and such.

When Should Baby Start Wearing Shoes

The best foot development occurs in a barefoot environment, according to the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP). It’s no surprise to see little ones roaming around throughout their home without shoes.

In the same article, AAP highlights that the primary role of shoes is to protect the foot from injury and infection, and how stiff and compressive footwear may cause deformity, weakness, and loss of mobility.

There are shoes that have been modified to meet the needs of the person wearing them, such as shock absorption, load distribution, and elevation. These types of shoes are used on special occasions.

In terms of their developmental stage, the best thing to do is to not put crib shoes on your child. This allows the little one’s feet to properly form and gives your child the freedom to feel the world around them.

I used to let the children roam the playground without shoes when they started walking. It was like an adventure for them. To this day they prefer wandering around the house barefoot.

The first pair I introduced to the kids was made for walking. I picked them up from Target. There are other toddler shoes available at Target.com.

How Do I Know If My Kids Shoes Fit?

Choosing clothing items for a child can be exciting. Yes, there is a variety of inspiration throughout social media websites like Pinterest and Instagram. However, there are things to consider when buying shoes for kids.

Here are 3 things you’ll want to keep in mind when choosing the right shoes:

1. The shape of your child’s foot;
2. The type of arch they have; and
3. The child’s stage of development.

Is It Bad For Toddlers To Wear Shoes That Are Too Big

Finding the right shoe size means choosing a size or a size and a half bigger than the size of their foot. By choosing a bigger size, you can allow their feet to breathe and flex as they walk.

Quick trick: Press your thumb on the top of your child’s shoe. If you can feel their big toe on the center of your thumb, then it might last them a month/month and a half. If you feel the big toe on top of your thumb, it will last about three/four months.

This is a great trick if you’re looking for shoes to wear for an upcoming event or have shoes that will last a while longer. Just be sure not to forget the value in having shoes that properly fit your child.

There are additional factors to buying shoes for kids, such as its durability. For me, it’s whether or not the product is machine washable. Whenever you have the option, go with machine washable.

It’s something I always recommend when purchasing shoes for kids. This will make your life easier with children. I wash them weekly, which allows them to stay in good condition and the kids looking their best.

Finding The Right Kids Shoes Fit

Every child is different, and it’s no surprise to see that they also have different shaped feet. My oldest has long toes and feet, while my second child has wider feet with round toes.

Sharing the shoes the older one outgrows isn’t easy. Not only do they have different shaped toes and feet, but they have different personalities as well.

Certain shoes don’t fit our youngest son’s everyday life. He’s the sporty kid who loves wearing sneakers.

When buying shoes for the children, we consider their personalities and how they will use their sneakers. One will opt to wear his often, and the other will want to wear a variety throughout the week.

Our second child often wears shoes that have a wide fit, and are easier to put on. Our firstborn prefers to wear simple shoes throughout the week and switches it up on the weekend.

Although it’s a good idea to test where your child’s toes reach on a shoe, it’s also a good idea to look at how they feel on the sides. You can do this by measuring one foot to the opposite shoe. Look how the shoe fits horizontally on your child’s foot.

How To Test The Grip Of The Shoe

Another feature to consider when looking for kids’ shoes is to feel the threads at the bottom. The bottom of the shoe should feel thick. To make sure the shoe is non-slip, slide your hand up and down. If you feel there is traction, then the shoe has a good grip. If the bottom of the shoe doesn’t have traction, then you will feel your hand easily glide through from top to bottom.

This is something to consider when using hand-me-downs. Used shoes can sometimes lose their traction and it will only create issues for the child who wears it. When shoes are worn down, we throw them out or donate them to a local dog shelter as chew toys.

When considering your child’s arch, you want to look for kids’ shoes that have flexibility in that area. Most converse shoes are worn as dressy sneakers because they are harder to walk in for a developing child. We buy a pair of dressy sneakers and play shoes for our little ones at least twice a year.

What tricks do you have for buying shoes for kids? Share them below!