Family footwear · Before ordering

Buying Kids' Shoes Online: Six Checks From Foot Length to Fit

Measure each foot's length and forefoot girth, compare with the specific children's size chart, then check how the delivered shoes fit. See Clarks' illustrated measuring guide and Start-Rite's fitting-check video for separate tasks.

4 min read2026-10-24

Child-shoe fit-checking video linked from Start-Rite's own site. It illustrates checking a worn pair, not paper-and-tape measurement.

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OriginalClarks' step-by-step illustrations for foot length and forefoot girth.Clarks

Your style checklist

Check each item as you go.

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01

What you need

A4 paper and pen
Millimeter ruler
Flexible measuring tape or paper strip
Brand-specific children's shoe size guide

02

How to

If your child can stand independently, place plain paper on a firm, level floor and ask them to stand comfortably with feet slightly apart. If standing is unsafe, use an age-appropriate gauge or professional fit check instead.
Mark the farthest back point of the heel and the tip of the longest toe, then measure their separation in millimeters. The longest toe is not necessarily the big toe.
Measure and record both feet separately. If one is longer, use it as a sizing reference, but do not choose shoes on length alone.
Locate the forefoot joints just behind the toes. Pass a flexible tape under the foot and measure gently around the forefoot without squeezing. This circumference is different from a straight-line foot width.
Compare length and forefoot-girth measurements with that brand's own children's measurement method and chart. Do not use foot-gauge scale readings interchangeably with millimeters unless the brand instructs you to.
When the shoes arrive, have the child put on their usual socks and walk indoors. Check toe movement, side pressure, heel security and natural walking; review exchange and in-store fitting options before wearing outdoors if they do not fit.

One more tip

Home measurements are a starting point, not a final fit guarantee. Use each brand's instructions and test the actual pair indoors after delivery.

Sources and media

OriginalClarks' fit check for toes, sides, heel and walking.Clarks UK

OriginalOfficial instructions updated April 20, 2026.Clarks UK

OriginalStart-Rite's own page linking to a shoe fit-check video.Start-Rite Shoes

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