How quickly do children's feet grow and which size should I choose?

This is a question I get asked often, especially when it comes to working out the correct size of shoe to purchase for little ones.

Let's take a moment to think about this.

All children are different, as are shoe sizes depending on brand, style and last (moulded foot structure) used to make a shoe. That's why it's important to measure the feet of little ones regularly, to ensure that shoes are proper fitting and provide the support and comfort that they need.

Children's feet grow at different rates according to their age.

So for example:-

Age	Growth Rate
0-12 months	Occurs every 2 months
1-3 years	Can grow up to 1.5 mm per month in length
3-6 years	Can grow up to 1.0 mm per month in length
6-10 years	Grow less than 1.0 mm per month in length

 

So, how often should you measure your child's feet? 

We recommend that you measure them at regular intervals as shown below:-

Age	When to Measure
0-12 months	Every 6 weeks
1-3 years	Every 2-3 months
3-6 years	Every 3-4 months
6-10 years	Every 6 months

 

The best way to measure your child's feet can be a little tricky and may take a few attempts. Here's our guide on how do it:-

Step 1: Place a blank piece of paper on the floor.

Step 2: Have your child stand on the paper and mark with a pencil where their longest toe and heel are

Step 3: Draw a line between these two points and measure it with a ruler/measuring tape.

You need to measure both feet, so please repeat the above steps with the other foot. Please use the measurement of the longest foot as your length measurement.

Note: If your child will be wearing socks with their new shoes, please make sure that they are wearing socks when measuring.

 

So, now that I have my child's feet measurement, what do I do?

Now we need to work out the correct innersole length (which is what every shoe size is based on) and need to factor in some wriggle room for those little feet to grow.

We recommend that you add on 0.5cm - 1.0cm for babies and 0.8cm - 1.2cm for toddlers and older children. So, for example, if your baby's foot measured 11.2cm you would add on up to 1.0cm to get the innersole length, which would be 12.2cm. Then you would look for the closest innersole length in that shoe to choose the correct shoe.

Let's make this a little easier for you.

Here is our handy guide to help you decide which size suits best:-

 

FOOT LENGTH (cm)	Innersole Length	AUS/UK	EUR	US
10.5cm - 11.0 cm	11.5 cm	2	19	3
11.1cm - 11.5 cm	12.2 cm	3	20	4
11.6 cm - 12.3 cm	12.8 cm	4	21	5
12.4 cm - 12.9 cm	13.4 cm	5	22	6
13.0 cm - 13.8 cm	14.2 cm	6	23	7
14.0 cm - 14.5 cm	15.0 cm	7	24	8
14.6 cm - 15.1 cm	15.8 cm	8	25	9
15.2 cm - 15.9 cm	16.4 cm	9	26	10
16.0 cm - 16.7 cm	17.2 cm	9.5	27	10
16.8 cm - 17.3 cm	17.8 cm	10	28	11
17.3 cm - 17.7 cm	18.5 cm	11	29	12
18.0 cm - 18.4 cm	19.2 cm	12	30	13
18.3 cm - 18.7 cm	19.5 cm	12.5	31	13.5
18.9 cm - 19.3 cm	20.1 cm	13	32	Youth 1
19.6 cm - 20.0 cm	20.8 cm	Youth 1	33	Youth 1.5
20.5 cm - 20.9 cm	21.7 cm	Youth 2	34	Youth 2.5
21.2 cm - 21.6 cm	22.4 cm	Youth 2.5	35	Youth 3.5

 

 If your child falls between sizes, always go up a size as they will grow into their shoes.

 

BABY SOFT SOLES
FOOT LENGTH (cm)	Innersole Length (cm)	AUS/UK	EUR	US
10.8 cm - 11.2 cm	11.8 cm	3	19	4
11.3 cm - 12.1 cm	12.6 cm	4	20	5
TODDLER SIZES
12.4 cm - 13.0 cm	13.5 cm	5	22	6
13.1 cm - 13.7 cm	14.2 cm	6	23	7
13.8 cm - 14.4 cm	15.0 cm	7	24	8

If your little one's measurement is close to the upper range, please upsize to the larger size.

 

 

BABY SOFT SOLES
FOOT LENGTH (cm)	Innersole Length	AUS/UK	EUR	US
10.5 cm - 11.0 cm	11.5 cm	2	19	3
11.3 cm - 12.0 cm	12.5 cm	4	20	5
12.3 cm - 13.0 cm	13.5 cm	5.5	21.5	6
TODDLER SIZES
11.9 cm - 12.3 cm	13.1 cm	5	21	6
12.5 cm - 13.0 cm	13.7 cm	5.5	22	6
13.1 cm - 13.7 cm	14.3 cm	6	23	7
13.8 cm - 14.2 cm	14.9 cm	7	24	8
14.3 cm - 14.8 cm	15.5 cm	8	25	8.5
14.9 cm - 15.4 cm	16.1 cm	8.5	26	9
JUNIOR SIZES
15.5 cm - 15.9 cm	16.7 cm	9	27	9.5
16.0 cm - 16.6 cm	17.3 cm	9.5	28	10
16.7 cm - 17.1 cm	17.9 cm	10	29	11
17.3 cm - 17.7 cm	18.5 cm	11	30	12

 

 

BABY SOFT SOLES
FOOT LENGTH (cm)	Innersole Length (cm)	AUS/UK	EUR	US
9.7 cm - 10.2 cm	10.7 cm	2	18	3
10.3 cm - 10.8 cm	11.3 cm	3	19	4
11.0 cm - 11.5 cm	12.0 cm	3.5	20	4.5
11.7 cm - 12.2 cm	12.7 cm	4	21	5
12.3 cm - 12.8 cm	13.3 cm	5	22	6
TODDLER SIZES
12.9 cm - 13.3 cm	14.0 cm	6	23	7
13.4 cm - 13.8 cm	14.6 cm	7	24	7.5
13.9 cm - 14.5 cm	15.3 cm	8	25	8.5
14.8 cm - 15.3 cm	16.0 cm	8.5	26	9
JUNIOR SIZES
15.5 cm - 15.9 cm	16.7 cm	9	27	9.5
16.0 cm - 16.6 cm	17.3 cm	9.5	28	10
16.8 cm - 17.2 cm	18.0 cm	10	29	11
17.4 cm - 17.8 cm	18.6 cm	11	30	12

 

 

BABY SOFT SOLES
FOOT LENGTH (cm)	Innersole Length (cm)	AUS/UK	EUR	US
10.0 cm - 10.5 cm	11.0 cm	2	19	3
10.8 cm - 11.3 cm	11.8 cm	3	20	4
11.6 cm - 12.1 cm	12.6 cm	4	20	4.5
12.4 cm - 12.9 cm	13.4 cm	5	21	6

 

 

BABY SOFT SOLES
FOOT LENGTH (cm)	Innersole Length (cm)	AUS/UK	EUR	US
10.3 cm - 10.8 cm	11.3 cm	3	19	4
11.6 cm - 11.8 cm	12.6 cm	4	20	5
12.7 cm - 12.9 cm	13.7 cm	5.5	21.5	6
TODDLER SIZES
11.3 cm - 11.8 cm	12.3 cm	4	21	5
12.0 cm - 12.5 cm	13.0 cm	5	22	5.5
12.7 cm - 13.2 cm	13.7 cm	5.5	23	6
13.5 cm - 14.0 cm	14.5 cm	6	24	7
14.1 cm - 14.6 cm	15.2 cm	7.5	25	8.5
14.7 cm - 15.1 cm	15.9 cm	8.5	26	9
JUNIOR SIZES
15.2 cm - 15.7 cm	16.5 cm	9	27	9.5
15.9 cm - 16.4 cm	17.2 cm	9.5	28	10
16.7 cm - 17.0 cm	17.8 cm	10	29	11
17.3 cm - 17.6 cm	18.4 cm	11	30	12

 

 

 

 

BABY SOFT SOLES
FOOT LENGTH (cm)	Innersole Length (cm)	AUS/UK	EUR	US
9.5 cm - 10.0 cm	10.5 cm	2	17	2.5
10.5 cm - 11.0 cm	11.5 cm	3	18	4
11.5 cm - 12.0 cm	12.5 cm	4	20	5
12.3 cm - 12.8 cm	13.3 cm	5	21	5.5
TODDLER SIZES
12.6 cm - 13.0cm	13.74 cm	5.5	21	6
13.2 cm - 13.7 cm	14.40 cm	6	22	7
13.9 cm - 14.3 cm	15.06 cm	7	23	8
14.6 cm - 15.0 cm	15.72 cm	8	24	8.5
15.3 cm - 15.7 cm	16.38 cm	9	25	9.5
JUNIOR SIZES
15.9 cm - 16.3 cm	17.04 cm	10	26	11
16.5 cm - 16.9 cm	17.70 cm	10.5	27	11.5
17.1 cm - 17.6 cm	18.36 cm	11	28	12