How Fast Do Toddler Feet Grow?

My daughter changes a shoe size every 3-4 months or so. I also just purchased summer shoes for her. She is a size 6 and I purchased size 7. She is wearing them already. They are a little big, but I am pretty sure that they will last her through the spring and early summer months. I will likely be shopping again in the September timeframe. The other thing is that I purchased them in store and noticed that different brands called for different sizes. For example, a few of the European shoes were better at a size 7. Some of the American shoes were better at a 6.5. Good luck with growing feet!

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The people at StrideRite told me they usually grow half a size in 3-4 months.

Just a little thing to think about, when their feet are measured at the shoe store, the size they to get is already half a size up from the size they measure (ie they toe hits the size 5 line, so they tell you to get a 5 1/2). That said, if you recently got her the 5s, she's probably actually closer to a 4.5 (meaning the 6s are a full size and a half too big!).

I'd return the new shoes (it's only a bargain if she actually gets to wear them, right?). Go to StrideRite and get her feet measured and ask what they think for summer shoes. If it were me, I'd get a 5.5 and have her wear them with socks at the beginning of summer then without socks at the end once her feet grow a bit.

Hope this helps.

T.

My advice would be to return the 6s. Get her a

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Children's feet grow fast. I'd keep the shoes. Not sure where you live, but if it's in California she will be able to wear the summer shoes in fall and spring....

My son went up a half size every 7 weeks for 5 mths!!! But has now been in the same size for 6 mths. It's hard to tell. If they are cheap, i'd say keep them and wait and see, no worries if she doesn't fit them. But if they're expensive, I'd suggest sending some back and waiting until you need them.

good luck!

Summer in CA can last a long time, so it's possible her feet might grow. It's also possible they will fit her next year. I agree that her feet probably won't grow an inch in a couple of months though.

This probably doesn't apply in your situation, but I have purchased shoes that were a little too big but not too big to wear and ended up with them being pretty worn out before they were outgrown.

I would guess any sandal type shoe you buy for summer now (that fits right now) would still fit by the end of summer. but in autumn you would need to increase in size, maybe a half size up. Trying to remember!

My daughters feet grow in spurts, it seems like one day all of a sudden her shoes are too tight and then they don't grow for a few months. She can wear them with socks in the fall if they are too big in the summer

I think it truly varies from child to child, I doubt her feet will grown an inch by summer since it's only almost a month away, However, by fall they should fit somewhat better. Oh and I used to buy shoes AHEAD of time too, but stopped, problem is... you don't truly know what type or style of shoe is going to fit. As they grow, their feet change not just in size, but shape. by that I mean, my son's foot became a bit wider, so a couple of pairs of CUTE sneakers I bought for him fit in length but the width wasn't quite right. I would hold off on buying too many shoes that are more than a 1/2 inch bigger than her actual shoe size. Then when she is a bit older, you can better cage what type of shoe works best for her foot.

I thought a salesperson at Striderite told me they average up a size every three months? Now I think they meant a half size but I'm not sure. This is just average because every kid is different and they do have growth spurts. You can always take you kid to a Striderite store and they will measure your kids feet for you.

Hello H.,

I have boy/twins also born in Sept of 07. Usually they grow every 3 to 4 month. You can return them if they are really too big and get a 5 1/2. I also noticed that different brands may run slightly bigger or smaller. The sandals you bought may fir her towards the end of summer. So it is up to you to return them or keep them she will use them and buy another pair for right now.

I have five kids who have all grown at totally different rates. They also have spurts and plateaus. How long do you have to return them? Maybe wait a little and see what happens. We just bought our September 2007 little girl a pair of sandals and the shoe store recommended a 5 because she was just to the 4.5 line. She has very narrow feet so we opted for a 4.5 with an open toe. Perhaps she'll need new sandals later but she won't be tripping as much. I only buy ahead from stores I can return indefinately.

It really depends on your child and how quickly she grows. The shoe store people were ALWAYS trying to get me to buy shoes that were a size bigger, saying "oh kids feet grow so fast" but the truth is my kids feet never did! I would never buy anything more than half a size too big because otherwise it's uncomfortable and dangerous. Also, good leather shoes last longer because they soften and stretch over time.
I highly recommend "saltwater" sandals for your little girl. My daughters lived in those for many summers, and now they come in even more fun colors. You can get them at most quality childrens shoe stores.

I think it really depends on the child. I have almost 4 yr old boy/girl twins & their feet (& height) have grown at different rates at different times. Between the age of 18 mos to 3 yrs, my son's feet grew about 4 sizes, but from 3 yrs to now almost 4 yrs , they've grown about 2 sizes. He's in a size 12.5-13 right now. My daughter on the other hand, her feet have always grown pretty slow. Between the age of 18 mos to 3 yrs, her feet only grew about 2 sizes & then now from 3 yrs to almost 4 yrs they've only grown about 1.5-2 sizes. She's only in a size 7.5-8 right now.

But remember that manufacturers make shoes differently (kinda like clothes, but not quite as bad), so it really helps to know the insole measurement of the shoe before you buy, as well as the measurement of the length of your daughter's feet (& width esp if they're narrow or wide) if you're not having your daughter try it on before you buy.

Hope this helps. I tend to buy clothes/shoes ahead of time (winter clothes at the end of winter & summer clothes at the end of summer, etc...) so I'll have them already by the time my kids grow into them & so I'll get them at a much lower cost, but I've found that clothes are easier to buy ahead b/c you can wear clothes a little big, but you can't wear shoes too big as you know or they won't be able to walk in them.

I think it depends on how fast your baby grows, in general. My older daughter was in a size 8 shoe by the time she was 2, but my younger daughter is 4 years old and is still wearing an 8... go figure! I think for summer sandals, you can pretty much buy them that fit right this minute, and they'll probably be fine until the end of summer. You can always hang onto the ones you've bought to use next year? Or exchange them for a size smaller. You don't want her to trip on them.

Dear H.,
I guess it depends on the kid, but my children always outgrew their shoes before they had a chance to wear them out. Friends loved us because we were practically a shoe store!
If you really think your daughter won't be able to fit into them by late summer or early fall when it's still warm enough to wear "summer" shoes, then return them for a smaller size. I couldn't pass up a pair of shoes if they were a great bargain. I just put them away until they fit.
Have fun this summer with your little one!

i was told to always buy a 1/2 size bigger, that way they have room to grow a little. the hot weather will last through at least september so you may get use of the shoes, but just a 1/2 size larger might make more sense.