Here at Little Feet, we understand that choosing the right size and style of children's shoes is important for several reasons, including:
Comfort: Shoes that fit well will provide optimal comfort for the child's feet, allowing them to run, jump, and play without discomfort or pain. Shoes that are too tight, too loose, or poorly constructed can lead to blisters, calluses, and other foot problems.
Proper foot development: The bones, muscles, and ligaments in a child's feet are still developing, and wearing ill-fitting shoes can impede proper development. Shoes that are too tight or too loose can cause foot deformities or affect the child's gait.
Injury prevention: Properly fitted shoes can help prevent injuries, such as twisted ankles or falls, by providing adequate support and cushioning. Shoes that are too tight or too loose can increase the risk of falls or sprains.
Long-term foot health: Wearing shoes that fit properly can help prevent foot problems later in life, such as bunions, hammertoes, and arthritis. This is because ill-fitting shoes can cause chronic foot problems that can worsen over time.
 
In addition to choosing the right size of shoes, it's also important to choose the right style of shoes for a child's needs. For example, children who are active and play sports will need shoes with good traction and support, while children who have flat feet may need shoes with arch support. We at Little Feet can help provide advice on the best type of shoes for a child's individual needs.

As a parent, it's important to understand that your child's foot development is a critical aspect of their overall growth and well-being. The development of the foot starts from a very early age and continues well into the teenage years. Here's what you need to know about your child's foot development:

​Babies: Your baby's feet are soft and pliable, and their bones are not yet fully formed. During this stage, it's important to give your baby plenty of time to kick, stretch, and move their feet freely. Avoid restrictive footwear such as booties or tight socks, as this can hinder foot development.

Toddlers: As your child starts to walk, their feet will start to take shape. You'll notice their arches starting to develop and their feet starting to form into a more structured shape. During this stage, it's important to choose shoes that allow your child's feet to move freely and provide ample support for their developing arches.

Children: As your child grows, their feet will continue to develop and change shape. You'll notice their arches becoming more pronounced, and their feet taking on a more adult-like shape. It's important to choose shoes that provide proper support and protection for their growing feet. Make sure to have your child's feet measured regularly to ensure their shoes fit properly.

Adolescents: During the teenage years, your child's feet will continue to develop and take on their final shape. It's important to choose shoes that are supportive and comfortable, as your child's feet will be under a lot of stress during this time. Encourage your child to wear shoes that fit properly and avoid footwear that is too tight or restrictive.

​We know it's important to pay close attention to your child's foot development as they grow. Our staff is trained in choosing the right footwear that allows your child's feet to move freely to help support their foot development and promote healthy feet for life. If you have any concerns about your child's foot development, come by Little Feet today and we will make sure we find the perfect fitting shoes.

As your child's arches develop you may notice a need for more arch support in a shoe. Everyone thinks it is easy to tell if a shoe is more supportive or more natural, by visualization, but the most supportive shoes are often the ones in which you cannot physically see a bump. Below, you will see 2 insoles from 2 different pairs of shoes (the logos have been blurred to protect our brands--keep in mind, we love and support both of these shoes and companies).

If you look at the images, it would appear that the white insole has a better "arch" than the black one. However, just because a shoe has a visible bump in the place of the arch, it does not mean that the shoe has good arch support. The flatter black insole is actually from a shoe that we know to have the most arch support on the children's shoe market while the white one is from a company that makes more natural and flexible shoes. The reason companies put "bumps" on the insole is strictly just to mold it to the foot's shape.

The proper way to test the support in a shoe is to perform 2 "tests". The first is the Twist Test: hold any shoe in both hands and twist the toe away from your body and the heel towards it. The harder it is to twist, the more supportive the shoe is.

The second test is to push on the heel counter at the back. The harder it is to push the heel counter, the more supportive the shoe will be, overall. In the first photo, I am pushing as hard as I can and the heel is barely moving. In the second one, I am not exerting much force, but the heel has completely collapsed.

You do not know how many times a day I get this question!
In short, unless your pediatrician or podiatrist has found something wrong with your toddler's foot, no.
Babies are born with flat feet, often covered by a protective layer of fat (although some children can be born with very narrow feet as well). This is healthy and normal! You may notice that most toddler shoes do not appear to have an arch, and this is for a reason.
In most children the arch will not start to develop until they are at least 3 years old. Even at this age, however, arch support is not necessary. The bulk of childhood arch development will take place between the ages of 5-7 with most kids not having a fully developed arch until 8-10 years old. 
As far as the risk for developing flat feet is concerned, only 1 to 2 out of 10 children will actually have flat feet, and the support (or lack thereof) of a toddler shoe will not impact it.

Here at Little Feet we are committed to providing you with the best possible shoe fitting experience. In order to give you the perfect fit, we might suggest padding or stretching a pair of shoes. A common misconception is that this means the shoe is not a good fit, however, if we recommend adding something, we are simply enhancing an already properly fitting shoe. 

This is the million dollar question here at Little Feet.
While every child will have their own growing patterns, there are some general guidelines we can follow in order to guess how long a pair of shoes should last. 
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Notice that there is no size growth range for children over 7. As kids get older, their growth tends to slow, however the size ranges become more sporadic. Since the average life of a pair of shoes is, at maximum, 6 months it is recommended that their feet get measured at this time.
And remember, there is no guarantee that a child's foot will grow according to this chart. Therefore, at Little Feet, we are more than happy to measure your child's feet and check their toes for free!

According to a 2017 study, nearly ⅔ of all children in the United States wear shoes that are too small. To break it down: of the 2100 participants only 35% were wearing the size for which they were measured, and only 11% were wearing the optimal size with growing room.
So what kind of growing room should you look for? ​