How to choose shoes for the baby?

Many parents believe that for the baby’s health it’s enough to purchase orthopedic shoes from a reliable manufacturer. In fact, such an approach can do much more harm than good. So which one to choose? On the correct method of selecting children's shoes, read on.

Criteria for choosing the right shoes for the baby

It is necessary to take into account the material (external and internal), size (do not forget that in the early kindergarten age, the foot grows very quickly, because approximately every 3-4 months you have to change shoes), the sole (ideal: flexible, shock-absorbing, stable and non-slip ) and back (height and stiffness matter).

Additionally, pay attention to the method of connecting parts . In one case, seams are good (for example, in summer shoes), in the other it is better to dwell on a model created using adhesive-injection technology. The latter is ideal for walks in wet, rainy weather or during the thaw.

Material

Genuine leather has an optimal set of characteristics:

wear-resistant, but with time it stretches a little (it wears out slightly, the walls become softer and due to this the probability of corns appearance is reduced);
tolerant of frequent washing;
easy to process;
withstands temperature differences better than most analogues;
It has natural ventilation, due to which it can be worn for a long time without harm to the legs.

In addition to genuine leather, VTM - high-tech materials deserve attention . They were obtained artificially, but an order of magnitude better than ordinary leatherette: they heat well (protect legs from overcooling at record low temperatures), have mechanical resistance and are not afraid of contact with moisture.

Textile models in some cases also seem to be a good solution. For example, the material is suitable for creating summer shoes. However, for the smallest crumbs, who have not yet turned 6-7 years old, textile shoes are contraindicated for the reason that they do not have a hard enough backdrop .

Sole

Flexibility in the arch area and in the finger area is a key quality of a good option. In addition, pay attention to the original in appearance and design of the sole on the sole . Each such element has certain functions. For example, shock absorbing. However, such inserts should be located pointwise, locally. If they divide the sole into 2 or more parts - this is a bad shoe.

Important! There must be a roll in the front of the sole of the shoe.

Another reference is the sole material. Formulations containing plastic are not permitted . Such a pair will slip and crack due to temperature changes. The very youngest children who are going to try on the first shoes are recommended models with a sole made of genuine leather. Such products are expensive, but only they meet the requirements.

Heel

Even for a kindergartner who has been visiting the institution for several years, the back of the boot should not exceed 1-1.5 cm. This rule applies to shoes for girls, including holiday models. However, a completely flat sole is not a sign of shoes that are safe for the child. A small transition must be present .

Clasps

The little child will not be able to cope with the laces, and the castle, due to frequent “walks” through the puddles, will begin to seize over time. The Velcro and the pulling elastic at the top will serve much better.

Arch support

Arch support - a small thickening or elevation located in a limited area of the inner part of the sole. Its role is the prevention of flat feet. If pathology is already present, the need for arch support disappears.

Backdrop

Until about 3 years old, children should wear shoes with a very tough spot (but not too much, some flexibility is still needed). Such a backdrop holds the leg well, does not allow it to deviate in one direction or another. This contributes to the formation of the correct foot and tread.

Sock

The best option: round, reinforced, slightly expanding (the toe should be wider than the heel). And if older children can still buy sandals with an open nose, then children up to 3-4 years of age are contraindicated.

Shoe for the first steps - what?

It should not be heavy and massive, it should not have a pointed toe or heel (platform). These postulates are explained as follows:

too high walls are rubbed, excessively wide give mass;
weight pulls down, complicates the process of getting used to the fact that something is on the legs;
it is easier for a one-year-old child in heavy shoes to take off his shoes, and he will use any convenient minute to free his legs from weighting;
the heel and platform reduce stability and create in the child a not entirely correct idea of the distance to the ground;
a pointed nose is bad in that it does not allow the front of the leg to develop correctly;
Frequent wearing pointed shoes is fraught with ingrown nail plate.

The issue of the flexibility of the walls and backdrop should be carefully considered . The ideal option for the first steps is balanced stiffness and softness. If you choose excessively soft - the leg will fall over, the child will begin to club up. If it’s too stiff, it will hurt the baby to walk, he will have corns.

The type of fastener should be reliable, but as simple as possible. Uncomplicatedness is not needed so that the child learns to wear shoes himself - this will happen very soon. Quality will make life easier for the parents themselves, who will often need to, much more often than in the case of older children, dress and undress their baby.

It is also important to understand that orthopedic shoes are medical. Healthy crumbs don't need her . If the orthopedic surgeon, neurologist or surgeon prescribed it, then you need to go not to a regular store, but to where they can make a pair that optimally meets the needs of a particular child.

Important! A key role in the issue of corrective shoes is played by the level or angle of curvature. It is necessary to find out this parameter, otherwise the therapeutic effect of wearing will be low.

Do I need to take "for growth"?

Save on shoes this way does not work. If you try, you will encounter consequences in the form of incorrect positioning of the leg and inversion of the knees. And all due to the fact that large shoes are less stable, unevenly load the foot, do not support it where necessary and slow down the walk. This leads to the fact that the baby begins to twist the leg, put it sideways and keep the knees bent.

How to choose the right size?

You need to measure the leg, add 1.5 cm to the result (in the case of winter boots - 2 cm), and then find the amount in the specialized table.

Measure the leg

There are 2 ways. The first is reduced to measuring the foot with a centimeter tape, the second to its outline. For the last option, put the baby on a piece of paper, make sure that he does not bend his fingers and circle the outline with a pencil . The result should be 2 drawings: left and right legs. The number is due to the fact that children and adolescents relatively often wear shoes of different sizes on different legs.

Important! Regardless of the measurement method selected, take measurements only in the afternoon.

Then a ruler is superimposed on the drawing. It needs to be placed between the end of the thumb and the most prominent point of the heel. A centimeter tape - the first method of measuring the foot - is used in a similar way. There is only one difference: you need to ask the child to stand correctly not on a sheet of paper, but on a measuring device .

Important! Do not measure in a lying or sitting position, the data obtained in this way will not correspond to reality. Reason: under the weight of the body, the foot of a small child lengthens by several mm.

The obtained value must be recorded so as not to forget and correctly determine the number of additional cm. For winter shoes, add 1.5-2 cm, for demi-season and summer 1-1.5 cm.

Important! Do not try to check the conformity of the shoe size to the foot length by placing your finger between the child’s heel and the back. Kids do not understand the essence of what is happening and quite often bend their toes on their legs when they feel excessive pressure on the back of their legs. Thus, they are trying to more comfortably fit in a limited space.

What is fullness?

Completeness is related to the height of the legs. Often the smallest children, this figure is very large. Therefore, they need to purchase models that are very loose inside and options with adjusting clasps. The presence of elastic inserts is also welcome.

Indicators of incorrect completeness:

the leg is hardly squeezed into shoes, although its size corresponds to the length of the foot;
during the fitting it is seen that the leg “wobbles”, although the back and toe comply with the stiffness requirements.

Russian size table

Having ascertained the length of the foot, check the data obtained with the table. At the same time, remember that it is Russian . In Europe, China and the USA, metric systems other than domestic are used.

Sizing Example

We put the child on a piece of paper. We circle the left and right foot.
Impose a ruler between the thumb and the heel of the right foot, then the left. We record the results.
The length of the right foot is: 12.4 cm. The length of the left: 12.3 cm.
Determine the seasonality of the model. As an example, let it be winter.
Since the shoe is needed for winter, and the child is small (not even 2 years old), then we add 1.5 cm to the results.

12.4 +1.5 = 12, 9 cm.

12, 3 + 1, 5 = 12, 8 cm.

We are looking for values in the size chart. There are no such numbers, but there is an option for 13 cm. We take it as a basis (we simply round the values up).
A foot of 13 cm corresponds to 21 shoe sizes.
We purchase boots or boots for the winter, wear them with warm socks (for the sake of this, 1.5 cm was added).

Shoes by season - how to determine?

In spring and autumn, children often buy rubber boots. Do not do this for the following reasons:

the design does not provide a solid backdrop;
the upper edge of the shaft can rub (the shaft is wide, dangles on the leg and if the material is not soft enough, then in the aggregate factors lead to skin damage);
no cushioning qualities.

The absence of the latter characteristic becomes a significant disadvantage when running . Instead of rubber boots, which are far from always able to provide dry feet (water flows through a wide shaft) and an adequate level of hygiene, you should choose membrane and leather shoes created by glue-injection technology. It is good because it does not let water through.

Important! Nubuck and suede are not recommended in autumn and spring for the reason that they do not tolerate contact with moisture and this is critical in the case of small children.

When choosing a membrane, look where the layer of the same name is located . By this criterion distinguish between winter (located inside it) and demi-season shoes (is the basis of the top). The difference between seasonal models is critical. So, individual membrane boots for the winter protect the leg even at -30 degrees, autumn ones cannot boast of anything like that.

Important! Do not buy snowboots - membrane dutiks - for children under the age of 3 years and for constant wear by older kindergarteners (if the child is over 3 years old and you are not going to shoe the snowboots so often, you can purchase them). Their use can lead to problems with the foot.

Another good option for wearing from December to February is boots made of genuine leather with a lining of natural fur . This combination maintains normal hygienic conditions, prevents the legs from sweating and freezing, wears out for a long time and does not respond to sudden changes in temperature.

In summer, there is nothing better than sandals . And the thing is not only that they do not fall off their feet like flip flops or do not make it heavier. The model is adapted for long daily use and keeps the ankle in the correct position.

Shoe for indoor, sports and other events

For continuous wearing in a group, take leather sandals with a locking brace, Velcro closures and a rounded nose . Other shoe models will not work. Some are unsuitable due to their closeness (being in a shoe that breathes badly all day is very harmful), others due to structural features. For example, flip flops are not suitable because of the open backdrop. It is contraindicated up to 5-6 years.

Sneakers are recommended for physical education, but it’s better to refrain from sneakers - at such a young age they can provoke flat feet . If the child is engaged in the section, then the shoes should be specialized. Thus, you protect the novice athlete from injuries and accelerate his progress.

On holidays, you can afford beautiful shoes, but beauty does not lie in a large heel. For events, buy a pair whose sole in the back is 1.5 cm higher than the front half, but nothing more.

Footwear "by inheritance" and its disadvantages

Worn boots, boots and sneakers are akin to fingerprints. They demonstrate the structural features of the foot of their master . Adapting to the previous owner, they will not match the foot of another child. And this baby will become uncomfortable, capricious and refuse to walk. The process of getting used to shoes will be complicated.

Foreign shoes can be dangerous to health. Especially if the previous owner had problems with the foot or his parents did not take good care of the shoes, they were not thoroughly washed.

Not all pediatric doctors agree with the above points. So, Dr. Komarovsky insists that it’s okay for a baby to get sandals or boots “by inheritance” from an older brother or sister. The only thing you need is to ensure the proper level of hygiene : thoroughly wash and handle the transmitted shoes. During the procedure, you should pay close attention to the joints and seams. It is in them that microorganisms usually accumulate and actively multiply.