Buccaneer School Shoes - Fitting Guide

5-STEP CHECKLIST FOR A COMFORTABLE FIT

Every step of the way...
1. Make sure your little one’s shoes have enough space, so their toes can wriggle around.
2. The fit must allow for flexibility and bend around the ball area.
3. The shoe must be wide enough to allow for 6 months growth.
4. For comfort and growth, add another 10mm to the length of the longest toe.
5. Buccaneer school shoes have broad heel bases, for extra comfort and stability.

FIND THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOUR CHILD'S FEET

Not sure what size shoe your child takes?

No problem. Buccaneer School Shoes are with you every step of the way.
Simply use our helpful shoe size tool to measure your little ones feet and it will tell you which size shoe you need.
This useful size guide is yours to print out and keep.
Bear in mind that your child's feet are constantly growing, so be sure to measure them every 3 to 6 months!

If you don't have a printer, here's another easy way to find your child's shoe size:

1.  All you need is a ruler, a pen and a piece of paper.
2.  Place the paper on the ground and stand your child on it. Gently press on your child's feet to make sure they're
     flat and that the toes aren't curled. Tip: Try tickling the bottoms of their feet to get them relaxed and easy
     to measure.
3.  Draw a line behind their heels and another line in front of their longest toe. Don't worry, it's common to have one
     foot longer than the other, so use the longer foot to measure.
4.  Measure the distance between lines in inches or centimetres.
5.  Add an extra 0.5 cm for comfort and growth. Find the measurement on the size chart to figure out the best fit.
     Remember to round up if your child falls in between sizes.

HOW TO CARE FOR LITTLE FEET

It's important to look after your baby's developing feet because foot problems can influence your child's whole skeletal structure, including the knees, hips and spine and cause bigger problems later on in life.

Wearing incorrect or ill-fitting shoes contribute to about 70% of all foot problems and most of these begin in childhood.

Little feet need well-fitting shoes that support their developing bone structure. A baby's foot is comprised mostly of soft tissue and cartilage, with only small specks of bone. As they grow, the cartilage matures into the 26 bones in an adult foot. This can take up to 21 years. Baby's feet are therefore vulnerable to the pressure exerted by badly made or ill-fitting shoes.

Because cartilage is more pliable than bone, your baby may not even notice that his shoes are uncomfortable and causing damage. It is important parents choose good quality, well-fitting shoes for their toddlers as they grow. Please refer to our fitting guide for advice on how to fit shoes accurately.

Tips for Buying Shoes for Little Feet

Allow the shop assistant to measure your child's feet each time you buy shoes to ensure you get the correct size. See our fitting guide for more advice.
If your child has one foot slightly bigger than the other, buy shoes that fit the bigger foot comfortably.
Never buy shoes that are too small.
A toddler's feet will grow on average two shoe sizes per year, until the age of four, so don't buy too many pairs of shoes at once. Rather buy more often.
Check every three months that your child's shoes still fit well.

Common Children's Foot Problems

Ingrown toenails – When cutting your child's toe nails, follow the shape of the toe but leave the corners straight. Use an emery board to smooth sharp edges.
Warts – Warts are common amongst children and should be treated professionally by your doctor or a podiatrist.
Pigeon toes (turned in) – This could be due to stiff muscles or bone development problems. It does effect the position of the foot and a doctor should be consulted to provide exercises and physiotherapy to correct the problem.

Tips for Healthy, Young Feet

Walk barefoot as often as possible. It's important for the development of foot muscles as well as sensory development.
Promote walking and running as it builds muscle tone in the feet.
Jumping exercises like playing basketball or jumping on a trampoline are all great for strengthening the foot bridge and other muscles in the feet.
Buy cotton rather than nylon socks to allow little feet to breathe.
Try not to wear the same shoes every day. Let shoes air daily before wearing them again.

5-STEP CHECKLIST FOR A COMFORTABLE FIT

Every step of the way...
1. Make sure your little one’s shoes have enough space, so their toes can wriggle around.
2. The fit must allow for flexibility and bend around the ball area.
3. The shoe must be wide enough to allow for 6 month’s growth.
4. For comfort and growth, add another 10mm to the length of the longest toe.
5. Buccaneer school shoes have broad heel bases, for extra comfort and stability.