FAQs​
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We're asked many questions about children's feet and footwear, here are the answers to the questions most often asked. We cover many of these topics in more detail on the blog, where there's a relevant blog, we've included a link.
If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to get in touch and we'll do our best to help.
How often should I have my children's feet measured?
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The rate at which children's feet grow varies significantly and often happens in spurts, therefore their feet should be measured regularly. If your child is under 4, the advice is to do a fitting check every 8-10 weeks. They will not necessarily need a new pair of shoes every time but it allows you to keep a track of how their feet are changing and how much growing room they have left. As they get older children's feet do not grow as quickly, so a fit check every 3-4 months should suffice. If you are at all concerned about fit, just take your children to have their shoes checked, there is no obligation to buy.
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Do not be tempted to buy shoes that are too big in an attempt to make them last longer, this can damage a child's feet as much as a pair that is too small. We always fit with a thumb's width of growing room and a comfortable fit on the width. If a shoe is too big a child will not have proper control, affecting the way they walk and potentially causing them to trip and fall.
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When should I buy my child their first pair of shoes?
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The best thing for a child learning to walk is to be barefoot. The soles of the feet are covered in nerve endings sending vital information to the brain about the ground and the surrounding environment. Growing feet need plenty of freedom for the toes to be able to grip and spread, for the muscles to strengthen and for the bones to develop naturally. We advise not to buy shoes until your child has been walking independently for about six weeks. If during this time your child is outside, or their feet need to be kept warm, you can put them in prewalker shoes to protect their feet. Prewalker shoes are very light and flexible, so as not to hinder the learning process and ease the transition into wearing more structured shoes.
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Some children seem to be able to make their school shoes last the whole school year, how do they manage this?
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Some children's feet grow more slowly and they may be lucky enough for the same pair of shoes to fit for this length of time but many are likely to grow within the school year and it is advisable to get the fit checked once a term.
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Children generally wear school shoes for at least eight hours a day and they can take quite a pounding during this time. Looking after shoes will help to prolong their life, clean regularly with an appropriate leather polish and spray with a waterproof protector once each half term.
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Blog post: Top tips for buying school shoes
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Is it ok to put my child in second hand shoes?
The simple answer is no. Every foot is different and what works for one child may be completely the wrong fit for another, even siblings can have very differently shaped feet and walking pattern. The sole of a shoe develops a wear pattern and the insole moulds to the foot of the wearer, therefore if another child puts it on, their foot will not sit naturally in the shoe, it will try to adapt to the imprint left by the previous owner, potentially affecting the way they walk and their posture. Children's feet also sweat much more than an adult's, over time this degrades the lining of the shoe. This internal wear is far more important than how worn the shoe looks on the outside.
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Blog post: Is it ok to wear hand-me down shoes?
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Why are the shoes I bought not the same size as the measuring gauge showed?
Just like clothing sizes, unfortunately there is no standardisation of shoe sizes. Shoes made by different manufacturers, in different countries and from different materials will all fit the foot differently, therefore you can not assume that a shoe in a certain size will fit properly. An experienced shoe fitter uses the measuring gauge as a guide and can interpret how the measurements relate to the shoes they stock.
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Blog post: So what is the right size?
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My child hates having their feet measured, what can I do?
This is a common problem, so do not feel that yours is the only child behaving this way. Our advice is to keep taking them to get their feet measured. They will begin to appreciate that it's not a scary thing to do. The idea of holding pop-up shops at playgroups is that the child is in a familiar, relaxed environment and can watch their friends having their feet measured too. It's also best to do it at a time when you child is not too tired or hungry.
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It is also very common for a child to form an attachment to their shoes. It can help to explain to them that they are getting a spare pair of shoes, or a new pair to help them run fast, then gradually transition to the new pair.
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What are barefoot shoes?
Barefoot or minamalist shoes are designed to be as close as possible to not wearing shoes! The key characteristics are a thin, flexible sole, enabling you to feel the ground and have full range of movement; a zero drop sole, completely flat from heel to toe, with no internal shaping; foot-shaped, being widest across the toes; and they need to fix to your foot, such as with laces or straps, so that the shoe and foot move together.
Most children do not need shoes for support, just for protection, barefoot shoes are a good option, allowing the foot to grow naturally and develop strength and flexibility. We are gradually including more barefoot children's styles in our range.
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Blog post: Barefoot shoes...
My child only wants to wear Crocs or wellies - is this ok?
Many children love shoes that are easy to put on and take off themselves. These shoes are made for a specific purpose and are great for occasional wear but they are not designed to be worn all day, every day. They are not fitted shoes and being made from synthetic materials, will not allow feet to breathe in the same way as leather shoes do.
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A correctly fitting pair of shoes will offer the right support and allow feet to grow and develop naturally, leaving your little one free to run, jump and explore without impediment.
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I run a playgroup and would like you to come and run a pop-up. Would you be interested?
Yes, absolutely! We love visiting playgroups, please contact the CeCe & Me shoe fitter closest to your location, find their details here.
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How do I pay for the shoes?
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We take payment by card, so you can pay using any debit or credit card, including American Express, or ApplePay. You can also pay with cash.
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