Heritage British children’s shoe company Start-Rite Shoes has seen unprecedented demand for its free proprietary paper gauge to measure children’s feet at home, with over 20,000 being requested and sent via post during April.

As children would usually be spending 70% of their time in school shoes, Start-Rite has seen a significant uplift in online sales of canvas and sandal styles when compared to the same period in 2019.

Start-Rite recommends measuring children’s feet every six to eight weeks to ensure shoes fit and are fit for purpose. With no opportunity to measure in-store, demand for home measurement has increased. Plus, during lockdown, the children’s shoe industry quickly sold out of physical measurement gauges.

 

Subsequently, Start-Rite is encouraging parents to download and print a free and simple-to-use, paper measuring gauge here. Parents without access to a printer can click here to request Start-Rite sends a paper gauge to them in the post. There is also a short film to help parents understand how to use the paper gauge effectively.

The College of Podiatry estimates over half of children have suffered injuries by wearing shoes that were either too small or unsuitable.

Commenting is Kate Tansley, CEO of Start-Rite Shoes. “Children normally spend around eight hours a day in their school shoes. We are experiencing high demand for our home styles and parents needing to check sizes before purchasing online.

 

“While nothing beats the customer service our parents get when their children’s feet are measured and fitted in-store, our paper gauge gives parents reassurance on the size of their children’s feet in the comfort of their own home. We hope parents will find the paper measuring tool useful.”

Start-Rite is also reminding parents that as all children’s feet are different shapes and sizes, measuring is only the first step to achieving a good fit. It’s also important to check that shoes fit the whole foot. Below is the “Start-Rite How To Check They Fit” guidance. It is also available here.

‘How To Check They Fit’ from Start-Rite Shoes

1. Heel Grip – Whilst your child is sitting, lift one foot and hold the ankle with one hand and grip the heel of the shoe with your other hand. Pull down gently a few times to check the shoe is gripping the heel well. Now repeat on the other foot.
2. Top of the Shoe – Ask your child to stand up. Use your fingers to feel around the top of the shoe and check there are no gaps, particularly between the shoe and the heel.
3. Ankle – Feel around the ankle bone to check the shoe does not touch the ankle bone, as it could rub. If the shoe has a padded collar it is designed to support the ankle and will touch the ankle bone. It will feel soft and padded.
4. Length – Feel the top of each shoe for the end of your child’s longest toe. Apply gentle pressure to check the toe is not pressing against the end of the shoe. All our shoes have growing room built in; you should be able to feel the growing room with your thumb.
5. Width – Feel along each side of the shoe with your hand, you shouldn’t feel any pressure or bulging at the sides and the widest part of the foot should be in the widest part of the shoe.
6. Depth – Rub your thumb across the top of the shoe, you should feel the leather move with a shallow ripple effect as you push across it. If there is no movement at all the shoe is too narrow. If you can push the leather into a ridge the shoe is too wide.
7. Depth with a low-cut shoe – Run a finger under the top part. Make sure it’s not so tight that the foot bulges out of it. Also, not so loose that there’s a big gap underneath.
8. Walking – Ask your child to walk in the shoes. They should be able to walk easily and naturally. The shoes should not slip off the heel and there should not be excessive gaping at the sides.