Getting the right shoe size for your child sounds simple. But most parents are doing it wrong — and it's costing their children's foot health.
Store measuring tools are often inaccurate. Children's feet grow at different rates. And many parents simply guess based on age — which can lead to shoes that are too tight, too loose, or the wrong shape entirely.
Here is the correct way to measure your child's foot at home, recommended by pediatric podiatrists.
Why Accurate Measurement Matters
A shoe that is even half a size too small can restrict natural toe splay, compress the metatarsal bones, and create pressure points that damage developing tissue. A shoe that is too large can cause instability and poor gait mechanics.
During the critical development window of ages 0 to 6, getting the fit right is not just about comfort — it directly affects how your child's bones and muscles develop for life.
What You Will Need
- A blank piece of paper
- A pencil or pen
- A ruler or measuring tape
- Good lighting
Step-by-Step: How to Measure
Step 1 — Do It at the End of the Day Feet naturally swell throughout the day. Measuring in the evening gives you the most accurate reading of your child's largest foot size.
Step 2 — Have Your Child Stand Place the paper on a hard flat floor. Have your child stand on the paper with their full weight on both feet. Do not measure a sitting or lying child — the foot spreads differently when bearing weight.
Step 3 — Trace Both Feet Trace carefully around each foot — heel, sides, and all toes — keeping the pencil vertical at all times. Angling the pencil inward will give a smaller reading than the true size.
Step 4 — Measure the Length Using a ruler, measure the distance from the back of the heel to the tip of the longest toe on each tracing. The longest toe is not always the big toe — check each one.
Step 5 — Measure the Width Measure the widest part of each foot tracing — usually across the ball of the foot where the toes meet the main foot.
Step 6 — Fit to the Larger Foot Most children — and most adults — have one foot slightly larger than the other. Always fit shoes to the larger foot.
Step 7 — Add the Correct Growing Room A properly fitting children's shoe should have approximately 1 to 1.5 cm of space between the longest toe and the end of the shoe. This allows for natural toe splay and growing room without the shoe being so large that it causes instability.
Important: Never Size Down Even if a shoe looks slightly large, never choose a smaller size to get a "better fit." A shoe that appears large but has the correct internal length is always preferable to one that appears to fit but compresses the toes.
How Often Should You Measure?
Children's feet grow approximately 2 shoe sizes per year between ages 1 and 3, and approximately 1 size per year between ages 3 and 6. We recommend measuring your child's feet every 2 to 3 months during the rapid growth phase and every 3 to 4 months after age 3.
Never assume last season's shoes still fit — even if they look fine on the outside.
The BareBella Size Guide
The Explorer Sandal is available in sizes EU 19–25 (US 3–8). Use the measurements below to find the right size:
| EU Size | US Size | Foot Length |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | US 4 | 14.0 cm |
| 20 | US 5 | 14.5 cm |
| 21 | US 5.5 | 15.0 cm |
| 22 | US 6 | 15.5 cm |
| 23 | US 6.5 | 16.0 cm |
| 24 | US 7 | 16.5 cm |
| 25 | US 8 | 17.0 cm |
If your child is between sizes, always size up to allow natural toe splay and unrestricted growth.
One Final Tip
Always have your child try shoes on both feet and walk around before purchasing. Watch how they walk — if they shuffle, trip, or seem uncomfortable, the shoes are not the right fit regardless of what the size chart says.
Healthy feet start with the right fit. And the right fit starts with an accurate measurement.