There are few things cuter than tiny shoes for baby’s little feet! But a huge proportion of people end up with foot problems in later life, due to wearing badly fitting shoes as children. So don’t be tempted to buy your toddlers first shoes unless they have been properly fitted.

How do you know when your child is ready for shoes?

Once your baby is toddling about fairly confidently and is likely to be walking around outdoors, then it is probably time for their first shoes.

Most foot experts agree that while babies are crawling or taking practise steps ‘cruising’ around the furniture, barefoot is best. Having bare feet helps babies to balance, grip and feel their way as they move around.

Pre-walker shoes are fine if your baby is going to be spending lots of time outside or on rough surfaces. But don’t be in a rush to get them into their first shoes and make sure that any you do buy are soft and flexible and fitted properly.

Do they need to be fitted by a trained shoe fitter?

It is really important to get things right when it comes to children’s shoes. The best way to ensure a good fit is to take them to a shoe shop with trained shoe fitters.

Children’s feet develop gradually and are not fully formed until they are 16-18 years old. During the first few years of life the feet are mostly just flesh and cartilage rather than bone. This means that they are still very soft and pliable so they are easily damaged.

The nerve endings in a toddler’s feet are not yet developed so don’t rely on your child to let you know if their shoes are too small or uncomfortable.

Clarks, Start-Rite, Russell and Bromley, John Lewis and Buckle My Shoe all offer a trained fitting service.

What should a proper fitting include?

The shop assistant should measure your child’s feet widthways and lengthways. There should always be enough room in the shoes for growth. A rough guide is about 15mm extra space at the toe to allow for growing feet.

The shoe fitter will observe your toddler walking in the shoes, and they will also feel around the feet to check the fit

They should always measure both feet as it is not at all unusual to have one foot slightly bigger than the other.

What should shoes be made from?

Shoes for little feet should ideally be made from leather or natural materials. These are supple enough to stretch and mould to the shape of baby’s foot. They also allow children’s feet to breathe, unlike some synthetic materials, which can be sweaty and restricting.

Shoes that fasten with laces or Velcro straps are recommended because they provide good support and don’t require children to curl their toes to keep the shoes in place. They can also be adjusted accordingly as feet grow.

You also need to look for a low heel with plenty of support and a sole with good grip.

How often should you have your child’s feet measured?

Your child is growing at an amazing rate at this stage and their feet are no exception. Up to the age of four or five their feet grow an average of two shoe sizes a year.

Have their feet measured about every 6-8 weeks to check on their growth. A good children’s shoe shop should always offer this service free regardless of whether your child needs new shoes or not.

What are the best shoes for wide or narrow feet?

Even though only about a third of children have ‘average’ sized feet, finding shoes for wide or narrow feet can be a tricky business.

The best option for wide or narrow feet is to go to an independent shoe shop, which stocks several different brands. This way your child will be able to try on a wide selection of shoes to get the best fit.

Remember that the same size may feel completely different in another style of shoe, even if they are the same brand. So be prepared to have your child try on lots of different pairs before you find the right ones!