Children's feet grow pretty fast. And, the growth is unique from one kid to another. It's so quick that their feet, particularly small babies', can grow up to one inch every year!
Fortunately, some materials (like Vessi's patented Dyma-tex) are designed to adapt and hug the wearer's foot shape - just like a sock. Vessi shoes have a stretchy knit upper, which means the more you wear them, the more comfortable they become. This also makes them a great option when it comes to finding a personalized fit for your child's feet.
To help you understand what shoe size your kid might fit, we've put together this children's shoe size chart broken down by age.
Children's Average Shoe Size by Age
Understanding size charts can be difficult and things seem to get much more complicated when it comes to children's shoe size charts.
From infants to teenagers, the shoe chart shown below is an average shoe size chart. It will give you a decent idea of how large a child's feet are at each stage of their growth and development.
However, this is a rough estimate that may differ from one child to another.
Girls' Shoe Size by Age
This section includes sizes for infants, toddlers, and young girls in US sizes, UK sizes, and European sizes.
Newborn- US 0-1 (C)/UK 0-0.5/EU 15-16
3 months- US 1-2 (C)/UK 0.5-1/EU 16-17
6 months- US 2.5-3 (C)/UK 1.5-2/EU 17.5-18
12 months- US 4 (C)/UK 3/EU 19
18 months- US 5-5.5 (C)/UK 4-4.5/EU 20-20.5
2 years- US 6-8 (C)/UK 5-7/EU 21-23
3 years- US 8-9 (C)/UK 7-8/EU 23-25
4 years- US 10 (C)/UK 9/EU 26
5 years- US 11-11.5 (C)/UK 10-10.5/EU 27.5-28
6 years- US 12-13 (C)/UK 11/EU 29
7 years- US 12-13 (C)/UK 11-12/EU 29-30.5
8 years- US 1-2 (Y)/UK 13-1(Y)/EU 31-32
9 years- US 2-4 (Y)/UK 1-3(Y)/EU 32-35
10 years- US 4-6-7 (Y)/UK 3-5(Y)/EU 35-37
11 years- US 7/UK 6(Y)/EU 39
12 years- US 7/UK 6(Y)/EU 39
Boys Shoe Size by Age
As with the section above, this section includes sizes for infants, toddlers, and young girls in US sizes, UK sizes, and European sizes.
Newborn- US 0-1 (C)/UK 0-0.5/EU 15-16
3 months- US 1-2 (C)/UK 0.5-1/EU 16-17
6 months- US 2.5-3 (C)/UK 1.5-2/EU 17.5-18
12 months- US 4-5 (C)/UK 3-4/EU 19-20
18 months- US 5-6 (C)/UK 4-5/EU 20-21
2 years- US 6-8 (C)/UK 5-7/EU 21-23
3 years- US 8-10 (C)/UK 7-9/EU 23-26
4 years- US 10-11 (C)/UK 9-10/EU 26-27.5
5 years- US 11-11.5 (C)/UK 10-10.5/EU 27.5-28
6 years- US 12-13 (C)/UK 11-12/EU 29-30.5
7 years- US 13 (C)-1(Y)/UK 12-13/EU 30.5-31
8 years- US 2-3 (Y)/UK 1-2(Y)/EU 33-34
9 years- US 4-5 (Y)/UK 3-4(Y)/EU 35-36
10 years- US 6-7 (Y)/UK 5-6(Y)/EU 37-38
11 years- US 7-8/UK 6-6.5(Y)/EU 39
12 years- US 8/UK 6.5(Y)/EU 39
Measuring Guide: How to Measure Your Kid's Shoe Size
While going to a store to have their feet professionally measured would be the best option, you can also measure them from the comfort of your own home.
Simply follow the instructions below:
Take a sheet of paper and place it on a level surface, like the floor. Have your child stand on the paper barefoot. You may need to hold the paper up to their feet for newborns.
Make a mark on the back of the heel and the longest toe.
Measure the distance between the markings and use that to check the conversion chart.
Both feet should be measured. The best fit is the bigger foot if one is larger than the other.
How to Check Kid's Shoes Really Fit
If you're planning to buy different types of shoes like sneakers, boots, or sandals it's a good idea to check a shoe size chart first. It's important not only to keep any tears from happening during daily adventures but also for your child's health.
Many parents will use the "toe test" to check overall fit. This involves squeezing the shoe tip to see if your child's toes have enough room. Keep in mind that older children tend to squeeze their feet, resulting in inaccurate readings.
To fix this an option is to gently hold the front of the shoe to prevent your kid from moving their toes. Then check the heel area to see if there's enough area to expand.
While you don't want a massive distance, a shoe with a tiny space between the heel and the back of the foot is great for comfort.
If you find your child's heel is moving up and down a lot when they walk you should choose another size. If the heel still moves too much, the shoe is still too large. If you've already bought a pair and you see this happening, tightening the laces might help a bit.
Tips to Remember When Choosing Kids' Shoe Size by Age
Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind when looking at the right size for your child's feet.
Children grow by half a size every three to four months! We recommend remeasuring often.
Never let a child wear a shoe that is too small for their feet, regardless of the child'sage!
There should be about a half-inch between the end of the longest, fully extended toe and the end of the shoe.
Fit the broadest section of the foot to the widest part of the shoe so that the shoe bends with the foot's curve.
When your infant takes their first steps, get them their first pair of shoes. Shoes for first-time walkers are built with features that help with stability and support. Things like rounded, non-slip bottoms and high-density rubber bridges.
Children's feet are still growing and developing. Remember that many adult foot issues can be traced back to ill-fitting shoes when they were younger.
If you put your child in a shoe that is more than a size too big for the kid's feet they may trip while walking.
If you're buying a child's shoe that follows the US or UK size system, keep in mind that the notation system resets around the age of six. At the age of five, your kid can wear a children's size 13 and at the age of six, a youth size 1.
The notation method for newborns, children, and adults is the same when buying a children's shoe that follows the European size system.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Child's Foot Shoe Size
1. How often do I need to buy new kids' shoes?
Every parent understands that children's feet grow quickly. To keep up with their changing foot you should consider buying new shoes every 3-5 months.
Online shoe shopping is a great idea to address this because it allows you to see thousands of options without having to go to the mall every 3 months.
2. How fast do kids' feet grow?
Between the ages of 0 and 2, a child's foot can develop around 1 inch every year. For the next two to five years, the growth rate is usually about 0.75 centimetres per year. For the next six to eleven years, approximately 0.5 centimetres per year.
To minimize foot problems like chronic children's foot pain, it's a good idea to measure your child's feet every few months.
3. At what age do a child's feet stop growing?
It generally depends on if your child has female or male feet. For example, boys' foot growth often stops at around the age of fifteen. On the other hand, girls' feet stop developing at around thirteen.
