No More Guesswork: How to Measure Your Toddler’s Feet for the Perfect Shoe Fit
Shopping for toddler shoes online can feel a bit like a guessing game. One brand’s size 5 is another brand’s size 6, and before you know it, you’re dealing with the hassle of returns or a little one complaining that their new shoes pinch.
To make matters trickier, our little ones can’t always tell us exactly where a shoe hurts.
Because correct footwear is so important for growing feet, we’ve put together a foolproof guide to measuring your child’s feet at home, along with tips on how to translate those millimetres into the perfect fit.
The Golden Rule: Measure in Millimetres (Inner Length)
Forget relying solely on age charts or standard size numbers. The most accurate way to buy children's footwear online is to look at the inner length of the shoe, usually measured in millimetres (mm).
A toddler's foot needs room to move and grow, so you always want to choose a shoe where the inner length is slightly longer than their actual foot measurement.
Step-by-Step: The "Paper and Wall" Trick
The easiest way to get an accurate measurement on a wiggly toddler is the wall test. Here is how to do it:
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Place a piece of paper flat on the floor, flush against a straight wall or skirting board.
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Have your child stand on the paper with their bare heel touching the wall. Make sure they are standing up straight and putting full weight on both feet (feet spread out when standing!).
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Mark the longest point of their foot on the paper with a pen or pencil (usually the big toe or the second toe). Keep the pen straight up and down, not angled under the toe.
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Measure the distance from the edge of the paper to your mark with a ruler in millimetres.
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Repeat with the other foot! It’s incredibly common for one foot to be slightly larger than the other. Always buy for the larger foot.
Adding the "Wiggle Room"
Once you have the exact measurement of their foot, you need to add a bit of breathing room before looking at a size chart.
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For everyday shoes and boots: Add 10mm to 12mm to their foot length. This gives them perfect comfort space for socks and growth without causing them to trip.
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Example: If your toddler’s foot measures 140mm, you want to look for a shoe with an inner length of roughly 150mm to 152mm.
3 Signs Your Toddler Has Outgrown Their Current Shoes
Toddler feet grow incredibly fast—sometimes jumping half a size every few months! Keep an eye out for these subtle signs that it’s time to upgrade:
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The Thumb Test: Press your thumb down on the front of their shoe while they are standing. If you can't feel a good thumb's width of space between their toes and the front of the shoe, they’re getting too tight.
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Red Marks: Check their feet when taking shoes off. Any red friction marks on the heels, sides, or tops of the toes mean the shoe is pinching.
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The Sudden Refusal: If your usually cooperative toddler suddenly throws a tantrum when it's time to put on a specific pair of shoes, listen to them! It might simply be because they hurt.
Find Their Perfect Fit at Kiwi Bubs
At Kiwi Bubs, we want to make sure your little one hits the ground running in total comfort. That’s why we provide detailed sizing details for our footwear so you can shop with total confidence.
Head over to our shoes collection to check out our latest arrivals of flexible, lightweight, and toddler-approved footwear!