How to Measure Baby Shoe Size? [With Printable Shoe Size Chart]

Kids grow too fast, right?

Just like their height, their shoe size also changes rapidly in the first 10 years. Wearing the right-sized shoes helps a child walk and run comfortably. I have 6 kids, and our shoe shopping day feels like a carnival almost every time!

Choosing shoes with the right fit and qualities for my teenagers (Avery and Aiden) to toddlers (Sawyer and Theo), I have seen it all. If you are a mom, you know what I am talking about! ☺️

We must look for some essential guidelines like the toe box area, size charts, etc. So in this guide today I will teach you everything that I know about how to measure baby shoe size.

How to Measure Baby Shoe Size?

Measuring baby shoe size is actually simple. If you haven’t even ever done this before, here are simple steps to measure baby shoe size at home:

1. Keep the Tools Handy:

All these tools are easily available at home. I have been doing this for the last 15 years! You will need:

One measuring tape/ruler
One plain paper or A4-sized sheet
pen/marker/pencil/etc.

2. Start Measuring Your Child’s Foot:

Lay a plain sheet of paper flat on the floor, right up against a wall or any solid surface.

For babies who cannot stand yet: Put their foot with the heel touching the wall.

For babies who can stand on their own: Have them stand barefoot on the paper sheet, with their heel against the wall, and with their weight evenly placed so the foot doesn’t shift or slip off the paper.

Make sure the paper is flat with no wrinkles underneath. And, once your baby’s foot is steady, simply mark two points: the tip of the longest toe and the very back of the heel.

Lastly, grab a measuring tape/ruler and simply measure the distance between those two marks. That’s your baby’s foot length!

3. Determining Shoe Size:

Remember this: We all have one foot slightly larger than the other. So, follow the same process to measure the sole length of the other foot. This asymmetry is there in most cases. Hence, always go for the shoe size according to the larger foot length.
Now, we have to add extra length for comfy toe space. Add 0.5 cm (.2 inches) to the foot length if your baby is around 1 year old and 1 cm (.4 inches) if your child is in the toddler phase.
Match this size with the right shoe chart to know the correct size of your baby’s shoe. Or you can visit the local shoe store to find the right size.

Also Read: When Should Babies Wear Shoes?

Printable Shoe Size Chart According to Age

So, I am assuming that you are done with measuring your baby’s foot size at home.

Most of the shoes are made according to the US, UK, and EU sizes.

Here is a shoe chart that you can take help from:

Age	Foot Length (inches)	US Size	UK Size	EU Size
Newborn	3.5	1	0	16
Newborn	3.75	2	1	17.5
3-6 months	4.0	2.5	1.5	18
3-6 months	4.125	3	2	18.5
6-9 months	4.5	4	3	19.5
12-18 months	5.0	5.5	4.5	21
18-24 months	5.25	6.5	5.5	22
2-3 years	5.75	8	7	24.5
3-4 years	6.25	9.5	8.5	26

Click Here To Download This Printable Shoe Size Chart

Is The Baby’s Shoe Size Correct?

As a parent, we are too careful about everything for our child, right? How will you check that the shoe size you have chosen is correct for your baby?

The shoe may feel tight on your little one’s foot even after measuring the size. I have been through it mamas!

After going through the topsy turvy experiences of various shoe sizes for my kids, I have come up with these simple tests that you can do to validate the right shoe size.

Here are these:

Visual Test:

This is THE CLASSIC ONE!

Observe your child’s foot movements after wearing shoes. Tell your baby to move their legs, stand, and run (toddler) if possible. The shoes must have a snug fit.

Width Test:

Like the length, it is also important to check the width fitting for your child’s shoe.

Put shoes on your baby’s feet. Pinch some of the material between your thumb and forefinger at the widest point of the shoe.

If you are unable to pinch this area, it means that the shoes are too tight. If you pinch the excess area and it’s more than expected, then the shoes are too loose.

Toe Test:

I call this the ‘Grandma’s method’!

You must have gone through this test when you were a child and went for shoe shopping with your parents! This test checks if your baby can wiggle the toes comfortably in the toe box area.

Put on the shoes on your child’s feet. Put your thumb or pinkie finger on the toe area of the shoe. Try to press that area to check the available space.

This area should be between the width of your pinkie and thumb. If the toe box area is larger than this length, the shoe will slip from the heel area. If the area is smaller than this length, the toes will crunch in in the 1-2 months as the baby grows.

Pinkie Test:

This test is done to check the fit. Insert your pinkie/little finger between the baby’s heel and the back of the shoes. Your finger should fit there without any extra space.

Also Read: How to Stop Toe Walking in Children?

Baby’s Shoe Sizing Mistakes to Avoid:

Even if you follow all the given parameters, the shoe size mistake may happen for babies. Here are some of the most common mistakes that you must know and avoid while buying shoes for your little one:

1. Increasing Foot Size:

Always keep your eye on your baby’s growth.

Like clothes, babies need shoes one size larger than their actual size. If your baby’s foot size is US 4, then go for a shoe with US size 4.5 or 5.

This avoids shoe tightness. And your baby’s feet will get adequate extra space to grow without heels slipping out of shoes.

2. Shoes Have Poor Fit:

If the Shoes Are Too Tight: What Can Happen If A Baby Wears Too-Tight Shoes?

Tight shoes may cause red marks, blisters, and pain in your baby’s foot on longer runs. In serious cases, a child may get foot deformities like bunions, flat feet, hammer toes, etc. The child may also feel difficulty in reaching objects on the ground, poor balance, and trouble walking.

If the child’s toes are getting squeezed inside the shoe, it may lead to ingrown toenails, corns, calluses, etc.

The shoe that matches today may not match two weeks later. To avoid this tight fit issue:

Go one size higher for shoe size
Choose flexible, ergonomic, and soft shoes in the initial years. Newborns and babies below 1 year do not need hard-soled shoes.
Check if the shoe material is breathable to avoid fungal infection and moisture retention in the child’s feet. The chances of fungal infection are higher in tight shoes due to a lack of ventilation.

If the Shoes Are Too Loose?

Likewise, the shoe also must not be too loose-fitting. Parents may end up getting larger shoes than needed for their child.

For e.g. if your child has a shoe size 6, you can go for a shoe size 7. But buying shoes above size 7 at that age is not good. Those shoes will fit loosely on your child’s foot.

What Happens If The Baby Wears Too Loose Shoes Instead of Actual Size?

Loose-fitting shoes can lead to accidents like trips and falls due to slipping. In serious cases, if the children are running or walking in too loose shoes, their knees, chins, or teeth can get injured due to a sudden fall.

Easy tip: Here is what you can do if the shoes are too loose and you are unable to return/replace them to the seller:

Try wearing thick socks on your baby’s feet and then wear shoes. This will fill the gap in the shoe. If they still feel loose, all you can do is to WAIT until your child reaches that size. I am sure in 4-5 months, these loose shoes will fit perfectly!

3. Shoe Size Variation From Brand to Brand:

My daughter Teagan is tall. When she was 3, I bought slip-on sneakers from Engtoy for her. When she was 2.5 years old, she had the Stride shoes. Soon, she outgrew those shoes. So, we had to buy a new pair.

In two weeks, she told me, ‘Mommy, my shoes are tight.’ I was surprised! I just chose one size up for the shoe on the site without checking the size chart. And, due to her longer torso, she needed slightly bigger shoes. Afterward, we just replaced them with the right-sized ones!

The fact is that the shoe sizes vary slightly from brand to brand.

Always measure the foot length of your child and compare it with that brand’s shoe size chart. These charts are commonly available on their official websites. Or, if you are shopping offline, you can ask the shoe vendor about it.

FAQs On Measuring Baby Shoe Size:

How Do They Denote Baby Shoe Sizes?

Baby shoe sizes are denoted using the letter ‘C’ (c for child). These sizes are made for newborns and infants. However, toddler shoe sizes are denoted using the letter ‘T’ (t for toddler). If you go in a shoe shop, you would find baby shoes with these sizing symbols. T-Toddler sizes run from 0 to 13, and C-child sizes run from 0 to 3.

How Long Do Babies Stay In Each Shoe Size?

Babies go through 4 or 5 shoe sizes in the first 12 months after birth. Honestly, this rate may vary from child to child. As they get older, the growth slows down. Toddlers of 2 years and above stay in one shoe size for at least 6 months.

Why Do Baby Shoes Always Appear Larger Than Expected?

We expect that the shoes will look smaller, like tiny baby feet. But this is not the real case. Nowadays, most baby shoe brands are aware of the growing feet size. That is why they make wider and slightly larger-appearing shoes. This helps the child to use the shoe longer than expected. And the shoe sellers get fewer returns, too.

Conclusion:

Dear mommies and daddies, do not worry if you find the job of choosing shoes a daunting task! You are the parents, and you will always get the best for your child! I hope you have found this guide useful.

Keep checking your little one’s feet size in four to five months. Measure the foot length of your baby correctly with their feet straight, and always go for one size up! Also, try to get comfortable, soft, non-slip, anti-skid, and flexible shoes so that they can move or stretch their tiny feet easily. It adds comfort to your baby’s feet after wearing shoes. See what your child likes or in which shoes they remain the most comfortable.

Parenting is all about trial and error and trusting your instincts! With experience, you become able to guess your baby’s cues. That’s why I have created this blog to help new parents to smoothen their parenting journey. If you have any doubts regarding shoe selection for your little one, you can email me!

Until then, happy parenting.