Ah, the sweet sound of tiny feet pattering around the house! As your little one grows and develops, it's important to ensure their shoes are the right size. You don't want them tripping over their own toes or feeling uncomfortable all day long (we'll leave that to you). But what is the perfect shoe size for a one-year-old? Buckle up, parents - we're about to dive into the ultimate guide on foot sizes for 1-year-olds!
The Basics
Let's start with some basic information. Most experts suggest that children under two years old should go barefoot wherever possible (less laundry for you!). This allows their feet to develop naturally and strengthens muscles and ligaments. However, in colder weather or when outdoors, shoes are necessary.
When purchasing shoes, measure your child's foot using a sizing chart specific to your country. Remember that every child is different; just because they're one year old doesn't mean they have a standard-sized foot!
What Does A One-Year-Old Foot Look Like?
You might be wondering what exactly you should be looking for when sizing up those adorable baby feet so let us enlighten you:
- Teddy bear-like softness
- Chubby overall appearance
- Lightly wrinkled skin on top
- Shorter than adult-sized toes (yes, really)
Cute as a button! But back to business...
Your child's first pair of infant-sized shoes may range from size 1 (US) / EU size 16/17 / UK 0.5 up until size 4 (US)/ EU size 19/20/ UK 3 depending on the brand and style (looking at those lil Nike sneakers takes me way back).
But wait--before shopping online like crazy let me tell you that a 1 year't old growth chart is the same as an equity market, and it can fluctuate like crazy ~~just like Elon Musks tweets~~.
How Much Will Your Child's Foot Grow?
Hold onto your socks, parents - this one might shock you! Children's feet grow exceptionally fast, with many kids doubling their birth length within just four years (yes you read that right). A study found that babies' feet grew about half a shoe size for every month they aged until they were nine months old. After this point, the rate of growth tends to slow down.
So if your baby was born with tiny toes (a.k.a 'fingerling potatoes'), don't worry too much; odds are good they'll be sporting some big-kid shoes faster than you'd like!
What Size Should You Buy For Growing Feet?
With all of this information in mind...what size should you actually buy? We recommend choosing shoes roughly one-half inch (or approximately one thumb-width) longer than your child's foot at the time of purchase. This allows room for their foot to grow while still providing support and stability.
And now let us bust a myth most mommas believe: "Buying shoes slightly bigger so I won't have to keep buying new ones" yeah sorry but false assumption because buying oversized can lead to blisters and possible sprains due to lack of support.
Other Factors To Consider
Size isn’t everything when buying children’s shoes so here are some other factors:
- The width – make sure it fits comfortably snug
- Make sure there;s ample space for wiggly toes
- Choose breathable materials
In conclusion, we know how hard it must be seeing those cute lil’ fuzzy newborn booties go from ‘aww phase’ --> ‘walkable phase’. However don’t fret―enjoy watching those tumbles & falls whilst those precious feet grow and become stronger! Remember to measure frequently and opt for the perfect size pair that your baby can waddle around confidently in (even if you have to resort to a ridiculous song & dance routine).
Good luck parents, thanks for reading!- we hope this article has been informative and baby-friendly 😉.