Children’s shoes

Those first steps are a huge moment – for both child and parents alike. You as a parent want to be well prepared and your child’s first shoes should of course be particularly good and high quality. Flexibility is a must for good shoes, especially when you child first starts learning how to walk. The following applies for the first year of a child’s life: the younger the child the less material/leather should be between the feet and the floor. Your child only needs proper soles when he or she can walk a few steps independently. It is then even more important to carefully select children’s shoes in order to support the healthy development of the feet and joints. You should let your child walk around barefoot as much as possible in the house and outdoors because this helps the feet stay healthy and enhances your child’s motor skills. However, you definitely do not want to let your child walk barefoot on pavements or forest paths and dirt tracks where there could be stones and other sharp objects. It is important to protect the feet throughout the year, not just when it is cold and wet.

But how do you recognise good children’s shoes? First and foremost all by their good fit! A good fit provides your child’s foot with the right length and suitable width. Furthermore, good children’s shoes are distinguished by quality! At WMS you can count on high-quality shoes with a good fit.

Children’s shoes – and their fit

When buying children’s shoes, you cannot just pay attention to how it looks. Good children’s shoes are distinguished by a good fit, while at the same time giving stability and space for growth. You as parents not only have to pay attention to the right length of the shoes, but to the entire fit. For instance, children’s shoes must also be the right width. If a shoe is too wide, the foot does not have enough support inside the shoe. If the shoe is too narrow, the toes will be constricted. The consequences of this can be pressure sores on the foot or toe deformities. Children’s shoes with ties or Velcro fasteners are recommended because they can be made tighter or slacker at will. Also pay attention to the shape of the sole when buying shoes. A good children’s shoe is adapted to the shape of the foot. If the shoes are too narrow at the front, the toes become constricted and are forced into an unnatural position. WMS – Anatural fit. is the seal for the children’s shoes that provide a good fit that nurtures healthy feet.

Children’s shoes – the right size

Selecting shoes simply by a certain size is not advisable because shoe sizes are not normally standardised. This not only applies to men’s and women’s shoes, but also to children’s shoes. You as parents cannot usually be sure that one size in children’s shoes are really all the same length. You won’t come across this problem with WMS shoes!

WMS ensures that the lasts for its children’s shoes, which are used to produce WMS children’s shoes, are the same length in one shoe size. For this purpose, WMS provides WMS shoe manufacturers with a shoe size table for children’s shoes, according to which WMS shoes are produced. Standardised lengths are therefore guaranteed! Children’s feet and the right shoe size can be measured in specialised shoe shops with the WMS foot measuring device. Do not hesitate to ask advisers in the shop questions about the right size.

Since children grow so quickly, the first impulse if often to buy shoes with room to spare for growing. However, children's shoes must not be too long or too wide! After all, you as parents want your child to develop in the best way. A shoe that is too wide does not provide the right support and can impair the healthy growth of your child’s feet. It is also important that you do not wait until your child complains about small shoes to buy new ones. Because children’s feet are soft and mouldable, children do not always notice immediately if their shoe does not fit well. Instead the feet adjust to the shoes. If you notice that the shoe is too short or not wide enough, the toes may already be deformed. It is therefore advisable to regularly have your child’s feet measured in a specialist shop. Children’s feet can grow very quickly, especially in the first few years of their lives. But just how often is it useful to measure children’s feet? We recommend measuring children’s feet every three to six months, depending on their age. For example, if you are monitoring your child’s height with a measuring stick and you notice that your child has become taller, you should also have their feet quickly checked. Of course you should also regularly check the shoes’ inner soles to determine whether the sweat mark on the sole has changed.

Children’s shoes – emphasis on quality

Parents can barely keep up with little ones who are off on their own two feet. Play area, nursery and primary school – this is where your child walks, runs and plays throughout the year. This means a lot of strain and deterioration for the shoes. Children’s shoes have to be well-cushioned on all surfaces, such as asphalt, sand and mud. And of course, the material has to be tough because shoes have to withstand a good deal of wear and tear when playing and romping around. Children go out in all kinds of weather outdoors and the right footwear is particularly important for this. Quality is a high priority at WMS shoes because children’s shoes have to withstand a lot. Furthermore, it is important to us that children’s shoes provide a firm grip and good flexibility all year round. Whether in summer or winter, WMS shoes protect children’s feet in all weather and they should be breathable. In summer, when heat and moving around go hand in hand, the feet become warm and damp inside the shoes, giving germs a breeding ground if the material is not permeable to air. It should be a matter of course that children’s shoes are friendly on the skin – it is for us at least. Children’s shoes should be particularly well isolated in winter, keeping the feet warm while being breathable at the same time. The feet can therefore also “breathe” in lined shoes and do not sweat too much. High-quality material is also important for all types of children’s shoes!