Closer to the year, the baby is making active attempts to learn to walk on his own. Especially playful kids at this age are already running around with might and main. During this period, it is more important than ever for parents to choose high-quality, stable shoes made of natural materials for their child, in accordance with the recommendations of orthopedic doctors. It is equally important to decide on the size of your baby's shoes. How comfortable the child will feel in new shoes will largely depend on his correct choice.
Instructions
Step 1
The size of the foot depends on the individual characteristics of the child. According to general data, on average, by the year it can be 17‒18 cm. A baby, originally born with a long foot, can try on the 20th size of shoes. A special table of sizes developed by WHO will help to approximately determine the size of the foot. However, these are average norms that can be guided by, but not completely trusted.
Step 2
When buying shoes from a children's store, pay attention to the country of the manufacturer. The fact is that almost every country has its own system for measuring children's clothing and footwear sizes. For example, American manufacturers produce models in accordance with three age categories:
- infant (for babies);
- kids (for children after a year and up to adolescence);
- youth (teenage shoes).
Step 3
Each of these subtypes has its own sizing system. So, let's say the 8th shoe size will be different for each of these categories, and have three options. Canadian manufacturers follow a similar system.
Step 4
European-made shoes can be found more often in stores in our country than American ones. Its feature is the measurement of the size of the foot along the length of the insole. This is a centimeter system, in which the unit of measurement is one pin, or 6, 7 mm. Most often, the insole is approximately 10‒15 mm longer than the actual size of the child's foot. Compared to Russian standards, the sizes of European shoes differ by one unit upwards. Thus, the 22nd shoe size from Europe will correspond to 21 domestic ones.
Step 5
When choosing shoes for a baby, parents often make a number of mistakes. It is wrong to determine the size by applying the soles of the shoe model to the baby's foot. In this case, there is a high probability of buying an unsuitable pair due to the fact that the length of the sole and the length of the inner insole may not coincide in reality. When trying on, mom or dad stick their index finger between the baby's heel and the back of the shoe. At this moment, the small customer is quite capable of tightening his toes, as a result of which the size will be determined incorrectly, and the shoes will subsequently turn out to be tight.
Step 6
In addition to the table with the norms, you can measure the length of the foot using cardboard and a pen, outlining the contours and measuring the distance from the top of the thumb to the heel with a ruler. In this case, several important points should be taken into account:
- it is more correct to measure the feet in the late afternoon, because the legs swell for the whole day, increasing in volume due to a significant rush of blood;
- it is good to put on socks or tights for the baby when measuring the foot, because he will not wear shoes on bare feet, respectively, the size will increase a little more;
- do not fit the shoes back to back, and after measuring, round off the result in favor of a larger size.
Step 7
Remember that babies are growing rapidly, and one pair of shoes will most likely last for one season, without even having time to wear out. Therefore, you should not chase expensive brands, regularly throwing out a lot of money. The main task is to find a model made of genuine leather, preferably with a stable firm heel and orthopedic insoles and, of course, a suitable size.
