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A size guide to children’s wellies

Wellies

Wellies are a necessary part of growing up and long before Peppa Pig, children have delighted in jumping in muddy puddles. While wellies seem like a fairly standard purchase, we receive a great deal of questions from concerned parents on getting the correct fit. Below we have created a Size Guide to Wellies and answered the top questions. We hope it helps.

How should wellies fit?

Our top tips for finding the right size for your child:

1. Try wellies on with socks.

Most of the time your child will be wearing wellies during the colder months, so will also be wearing thicker socks with them. Most wellies do not have insole padding as supportive as with shoes, so it’s also a good idea to wear a comfortable thicker sock with your wellies. Make sure you have a thick winter sock to hand for when your child is trying them on.

2. Select your child’s shoe size.

It’s important that wellies fit around the calf and the foot. Wellies should be loose enough around the calf to be comfortable for walks and playing, but tight enough so that they do not slip off when (sometimes) the child gets caught in sticky mud! Don’t squeeze feet into wellies that are too small for the foot. Obviously, this will rub the foot, but also this will prevent air flow and preventing the air from helping to insulate the foot, will mean the foot will feel colder.

3. Choose boots with good treads.

A welly should provide your child with comfort and a sense of confidence when out on rougher terrain or in wet weather, so the sole of the welly is important. A narrow tread works better for hard surfaces, so if your child is more likely to be adventuring through mud and puddles and soft terrain such as fields, choose a boot with a wider tread which will offer more security in these tougher conditions.

Wellies

Should you size up in wellies?

So many parents ask this question and size up to make allowances for thicker socks. There is no need to size up and you should always try on a pair of wellies that are true to your child’s size at the time, while wearing thicker socks that will be used in the winter months. If you are buying online and want to be sure about Start-Rite sizing then use our guide on how to measure your children’s feet. All Start-Rite shoes and wellies have growing room built in, so with our wellies you should not have to size up.

Do wellies stretch?

Because wellies are made from rubber, it means they ‘can’ stretch, and this is certainly the case with wellies made from natural rubber. Cheaper alternatives made from PVC are less likely to stretch. It’s not recommended to attempt to stretch a pair of wellies. Again, while it is possible, stretching would certainly damage the integrity of the boot and reduce its ability to protect the child wearing it.

Wellies

How to choose the right size wellies?

So, we have talked about choosing wellies in the correct size for your child’s foot, and trying them on with thicker socks, but here are a few other things to consider:

  • Choose matte boots for hardwearing and patent boots for style.
  • Children love bright wellies as their imaginations come to life outside, so look for a fun design that best suits their hobbies and personality.
  • Measure, measure, measure. Children’s feet can grow suddenly so be absolutely sure the wellies are not too tight in the first instance.
  • Keep your wellies clean to get the best value from them. Wash down particularly thick mud on the soles with a soft bristle brush or old toothbrush.
  • Ankle wellies are cute! But not so practical for muddy puddles. We find children prefer half height wellies for the sense of freedom they get in them.
  • Look for wellies with an elasticated top and waterproof upper to keep calves and feet dry on the inside.
  • For determined toddlers, look for wellies with ‘handles’ for little hands to grip and pull on in the excitement at heading out on an adventure.

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