Guide to Baby Shoe Sizes

Every parent knows that a child's feet grow rapidly, and they will outgrow numerous pairs of shoes before 3 years old. It is important to keep in mind that baby and toddler shoes sizes often overlap. Shoes vary by manufacturer therefore so will sizes. While the best guideline will always be the manufacturer’s recommendations, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind.

• Crib Shoes While they are not necessary, people often choose to put crib shoes on newborns, preemies and babies up to six months old. The crib shoes can complement an outfit and also help protect the child's feet from the elements. 
  
  Constructed of soft fabrics that are lightweight, flexible and breathable, crib shoes are sized from 00 to 2. However, if the crib shoes are sized using inches, translate them into the following categories:
  - Preemies usually wear size 00
  - Size 1 equals a heel to toe measurement up to 3 9/16 inches.
  - Size 2 equals a heel to toe length of up to 3 7/8 inches.


• Crawling Shoes Generally, babies up to one year old should have their feet measured every month, but certainly before buying shoes. 
  
  Shoes intended for the crawling stage are for babies that are just learning to crawl and pull to standing on their own. Soft-soled crawling shoes come in sizes 0 to 3 and protect the feet of babies up to nine months old while giving them the ability to be active.
  
  A heel to toe length of up to 4 1/4 inches equals a size 3 shoe.
  
  


• Walking Shoes Babies nine months to three years old wear what are known as walking shoes. These provide the child's foot with support while they are learning to walk, run, climb and jump. Make sure these shoes are made of breathable, durable materials, but are not too stiff or heavy. The general rule with walking shoes is that you should be able to bend the sole with ease.
  
  Measure babies and toddlers from the age of one to two years old every two months, and toddlers older than two years every three months.
  
  Walking shoes range in size from 2 to 8, but sizes vary by manufacturer, so the best plan is to always try the shoes on the child. 
  
  With the child standing before you, ensure there is at least a thumbs-width between the tip of the big toe and the end of the shoe to make sure the child has room to move and grow.


• European Sizes Keep in mind that some children's shoes come from Europe, and therefore have European sizes. European baby shoes start at size 16 (the equivalent of a U.S. size 1), and go up to 30 (the equivalent of a U.S. size 12).