Tips for buying of children's shoes

• Wait to buy shoes until your child starts to walk.
• Examine young children's feet regularly for red spots or blisters, evidence that their shoes don't fit right.
• With the rate children outgrow shoes, it's probably tempting to buy shoes that are too big, but you should never buy shoes that are more than one size too large for your child. Shoes that are too big can cause a child to trip and develop foot problems while trying to walk in shoes that are too large. You don't want your child to trip, and often he or she will wear them out before they actually grow into them.
• Feet should be measured while standing, and always have both feet measured. Since one foot is usually larger than the other, buy shoes to accommodate the largest of the two feet.
• Look for shoes made from breathable materials, such as canvas or leather. In addition to being more durable, they will help to keep the child's foot cooler and dryer, helping to prevent blisters, discomfort, and smelly shoes.
• Soles should be sturdy and thick enough to protect the feet from pain and injury, but the sole also needs to be flexible too so that it will bend with the foot.