Opinion
Baby needs new shoes or why children’s shoes get on my nerves
by Michael Restin
Almost always too tight: the most common pitfalls of kids’ shoes
9/4/2025
Translation: Julia Graham
Children often wear shoes that are too tight. And I didn’t even notice when they were due a new pair. But you can’t rely on much when buying kids’ shoes and that includes taking the manufacturer’s sizing with a pinch of salt.
«They’re too tight.»
When my son initiates the shoe-buying conversation, I react with a mixture of anger (they’re hardly worn 😤) and a guilty conscience (I noticed too late 😱).
Are his shoes really pinching again, or is it purely a fashion whim? Unfortunately, it seemed to be a mixture of both. The shoe in question, that looks almost new and, to the best of my recollection, is still in the box, had become too small again without me noticing.
Children going about in shoes that are too small is so common that it’s usually the rule rather than the exception. I wasn’t aware the extent of it until I delved into the topic. More than every other child (site in German) is running around in shoes that they’ve outgrown – or that never fitted.
Growth spurt surprise
Until the age of three, their feet grow roughly 1.5 mm each month, which can slow down to 1 mm monthly and continue to decrease by school age. In theory. However, in practice, you have to factor in that kids have growth spurts, feet come in different sizes, not to mention shoe numbers that you have to take with a pinch of salt. What’s more, children often don’t even notice when their shoes have become far too small.
If there’s no room for the foot, it’ll adapt to the space and be forced into a shape that can harm the child in the long term. I don’t want that, you don’t want that, nobody wants that. Alongside traditional tips, maybe it’s worth implementing a few well-known nuggets of wisdom when it comes to buying shoes – such as checking shoes in the evening and allowing a thumb’s width of space.
Shoe sizes can overpromise and under-deliver
On the Children’s Feet – Children’s Shoes website, the research team led by Dr. Wieland Kinz publishes its findings based on thousands of feet and shoes they’ve measured.
- Only around three per cent of shoes are the correct length on the inside. They’re almost always a lot smaller than the shoe size indicates. On average, it even amounts to two sizes smaller.
In other words, the EU number in the shoe doesn’t mean an awful lot, as there’s no standard for it – which is unusual given the continent’s love of regulating everything with binding standards. So, if you’re shopping for shoes online, look for a size chart on the manufacturer’s website and check the information in centimetres or millimetres.
Source: Screenshot nike.com
Children can’t gauge when it’s the right size
I usually only order shoes if I already know the model and need the next size up, as I want to avoid returns. But even if I go into a shop, I’m always left wondering what really fits. From a child’s point of view, it’s usually quite clear-cut: whichever looks the nicest wins the most comfortable shoe award.
That’s when the games begin. You have to to listen to your kid’s opinion but not give it too much weight. The Children’s Feet – Children’s Shoes team often found that both boys and girls give the thumbs up to shoes that are too tight – even if they’re several sizes too small. It’s also important to check both feet, as they can be different sizes.
The thumb test
We’ve all done the good old thumb test. I kneel down, say «stand up straight», press the toe of the shoe to check, then usually follow up with long drawn-out «hmmmmm». It’s not that easy to judge.
- At the front, the longest toe should still have 12 to 17 millimetres’ clearance, which is roughly the average thumb width.
To be sure that the toes are really stretched in the shoe and don’t retract when you apply pressure, hold down on the toes from above with your other hand. To be honest, that’s not the way I normally do it.
The sole test
Another popular method is also deceptive. People often remove the insole from boots or shoes with toe caps that make it difficult to feel the space underneath. The idea is that if your foot still has room in front on the insole, it’ll also have adequate space in the shoe. It’d be nice if that was the case.
- Bear in mind that the length of the insole often isn’t the same size as the actual inside length of the shoe.
If you stand on the insole to test it, you might be in for a nasty surprise, as these rarely fit shoes perfectly, sometimes even coming from a different manufacturer. You’ll get an even bigger surprise if you don’t keep your heel a centimetre away from the back edge. This is because it doesn’t rest on the edge of the shoe, but about a centimetre further forward.
The template test
It’s worth making a cardboard template as a relatively easy way to determine what’s the right inside length. To do this, trace the outline of your child’s foot and then cut out a rounded-edged rectangular strip. The rear end point marks the heel (rounded), while at the front you extend the strip for children’s new shoes by 17 millimetres.
- Bear in mind that height also plays a role. Obviously, you can’t use this method to determine whether the tip of the shoe is pressing on the toes from above.
That being said, if this template fits into the shoe, the toes should have enough space in the coming months. Meanwhile, if you’re using it to check existing shoes, the strip should be 12 millimetres longer than the foot and still fit in without bending. If that’s no longer the case, it’s time to slowly start looking for a replacement.
More focus on the feet
It’s funny because we normally lovingly check on children’s growth and keep a note of it when it comes to height. But their feet are somewhat neglected. So it’s worth checking their shoe collection regularly. I ordered the plus12 measuring device from the Children’s Feet – Children’s Shoes team. This lets you work out the foot length and inside length of the shoe.
In future, I want to measure more often – and also keep a closer eye on my own shoes. A lot of adults even find that the shoes they wear every day are actually too small, and I fear this’ll be the case with one or two of my pairs. At least my son’s now running around in his dream trainers that’ll hopefully fit for a long time. It’s better to have a dent in your wallet every few months than to feel your big toe pinching.
Michael Restin
Senior Editor
Michael.Restin@digitecgalaxus.chSimple writer and dad of two who likes to be on the move, wading through everyday family life. Juggling several balls, I'll occasionally drop one. It could be a ball, or a remark. Or both.
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