Q When will my child start walking?
A The average
age for walking ranges from about 10 to 18 months. However, this can vary
either way. The most important thing is not to force a child to walk before
he/she is ready.
Q When should my child be fitted with his first pair of
shoes?
A Your toddler
will not need shoes until he/she is walking unaided. Generally speaking this
will occur at approximately 4 weeks after your toddler has started taking
his/her first steps. Shoes & Sox has a range of very soft pre-walking
shoes which offer toddlers protection.
Q Where
should I go to buy my child's shoes?
A Only buy
from shops with a fully trained children's shoe fitting staff. It is very
important that you choose a retailer who stocks whole and half sizes and offers
a choice of width fittings. Never
buy shoes for your child without him/her being present and never hand down
shoes from one child to the next.
Q What happens
when First Shoes are fitted?
A Our Trained Fitters understand that buying first shoes is a great
milestone for parents and their children. Firstly, a
Shoes & Sox fitter
will measure both your child's feet. (Never get stuck on a child's shoe size
because it will vary from make to make and style to style.) Then, she will
determine the parent's preferences and advise the parent which styles are
the most appropriate. Then
she will carefully guide the toes into the chosen shoes and fasten them securely.
Your child will need to stand so that she can feel around each shoe to check
that it fits comfortably across the toe, instep, ankle and heel. The Trained
Fitter will then watch your child walk to see that the shoes are not slipping.
This process
can take about 20 - 30 minutes. For a first fitting, try visit the store during
a week day when it is less busy.
Q Which shoes are suitable for my toddler?
A Never buy shoes for children 'off the shelf' without a proper fitting service.
Look for shoe shapes that closely resemble the natural shape of the foot.
In a toddler this is wide at the toe and narrow at the heel. The
inside edge should be straight to avoid pressure on the big toe and they should
fit snugly around the heel.Buy shoes made from, and lined with, natural materials
- for instance, leather. This will allow the feet to breathe, will mould to
the feet and offer safe, gentle protection. Choose a shoe with an effective
fastener across the instep so that your child doesn't curl his toes to keep
them on. Look for soles that are lightweight, flexible and non-slip with cushioning.
In older children, heels should not be too high.
Q Why are width fittings so important?
A Less than 30% of children have 'average'
width feet. To allow the healthy development of all young growing feet, it
is obvious that a wide choice of width fittings is essential.
Q How often should I have the Fit checked?
A Children up to the age of 3 years old
should be checked every three months. From 3 years old and onwards, a 6 monthly
check is sufficient.
Q Why did my child measure differing sizes in two different
shops?
A Fitting is an art as well as a skill. It requires several
years of experience and training to become an expert Fitter. At Shoes &
Sox we pride ourselves on having the highest fitting standards and the best
fitting team in the business.
Q My child appears to have a walking/foot problem.
What shall I do?
A In the first instance consult your doctor.
If necessary your doctor will refer you to
either a Orthopedic Surgeon or a Podiatrist. If you are not happy with your
doctor's advice get a second opinion.
Q Is it usual to have two feet exactly the same size?
A Many children have one foot bigger than
the other. Generally the difference is slight and does not require the parent
to buy two pairs of shoes. A Trained Fitter knows to gage the fit based on
the largest foot.
Q At what age is fit no longer vital?
A Even when your child's foot looks more
like an adult's, it is still growing and vulnerable. Children's feet stop
growing at approximately mid teens and until then the correct shape and fitting
is as vital as ever.
