Buying your child shoes may seem as simple as ABC.
While we often think through such decisions when the child is just learning how to walk, this decision often seems less important as they grow older.

What I’ve learnt through reading and researching is that children’s feet are still very delicate up until puberty. The bones of their feet do not fuse until teenage years, and thus not just any shoe will do.

The only difference between shoes for a toddler and a school-aged child is that toddlers need to have shoes which are soft soled. Their foot muscles need a very flexible shoe to be able to develop, and their delicate toes cannot take anything less than pliable and comfy to prevent any future deformities in the toes and arch.

Here’s what you need to look out for to choose the right shoes for your child

1. The right size

A shoe shouldn’t be restricting, nor should it be too large. As a rule of thumb (pun intended) ask your child to push his foot as forward as possible inside the shoe itself. The size is perfect if you can just slip in one finger behind the sole of the foot, in between your child’s foot and the shoe. If needed, buy insoles for your child to wear until his feet grow and fill the shoe nicely.

2. Try both shoes on

Keep in mind that the feet are not exactly the same size. Ask your child to try on both shoes, and also walk to and fro in them, to ensure that the size and fit is correct. The shoes should feel comfortable off the bat. There should not be any discomfort, pain or pressure points.

3. Wear your socks

Granted, you can find socks available at all shoe stores, however, what kind of sock will your child be wearing? The thicker variety might be worn for a winter shoe, light cotton pairs for trainers, or maybe ever sheer tights for summer sandals.

4. Flexibility

The front part of the shoe needs to be flexible. Test it by bending the front part towards the toe. A good shoe will help the child walk properly by aiding to push off with the toes while keeping the back part of the shoe stable. Stay away from shoes which are so flexible that they bend all over. They do not offer enough support.

5. Weight

Never buy shoes which feel heavy. Such options will weigh your child’s foot down, causing foot pain and muscle aches.

6. Material

The best options are leather or canvas. Such materials will allow your child’s foot to breathe. The shoes also last longer. Of course, needless to say, if you’re looking for rain boots steer clear of natural materials!

7. Shoelace, velcro, or buckle?

How does the shoe close? Avoiding shoelaces in younger kids is a safer option. Otherwise, shoelaces, velcro or buckles are all equally fine, but avoid shoe varieties which are slip on and cannot be adjusted.

8. Insole

The shoe’s insole should have anti-bacterial properties, odour control, and provide support.

9. Back support

Children aged 5 and under should not wear backless shoes. In doing so, they might curl their toes in an effort to not have them fall off. This could cause hammer toes, where the toes are bent because of a weakened muscle.
There’s also the danger of the feet coming out of the shoes and the child getting hurt.

10. Peace of mind

Of course, quite a few of the points I have mentioned might be fine to understand and remember, however we do need to ensure we are buying wisely.
Gallarija Darmanin is not just a one-stop shop for kids and adults alike. They cater for children’s specific requirements by stocking brands which tick off all the boxes as I have mentioned above.
Their summer collection is now in stock. Check in at their Iklin shop (they’ve got a parking area too!) and ask for their reputable children’s brands, including XTI, Gioseppo, Titanitos, Chicco, Geox, Levis and so much more! Sizes range from newborn, all the way up to teens.

For more info, you can visit their website and Facebook page.

Happy Friday mamas!

Nakita xxx

PS: On Tuesday, during my live, I’m sharing details on our after-school routine. So if you want to know how I try and keep things simple, and a few tips you can implement to do the same, you can join me. Place and time – the Mama Manual Facebook page at 4:30pm Malta time (that’s GMT +2)