With online shopping, everything you could possibly want is now accessible at your fingertips, and your children’s shoes are no exception. But is shopping online for your children’s shoes the right choice?
While we always recommend visiting your nearest Start-Rite fitting specialist to get your child’s feet professionally measured, we understand that this might not always be possible. If you don’t have a stockist nearby or your children find the shop experience overwhelming, our website is packed full of fitting advice to make shopping online the next best thing.
In this blog, we walk you through how to use our website to get the best results for your child.
Whether you’re a seasoned online shopper or this is your first time buying new shoes online for your little one, there are some key steps that you can take to ensure a quick, enjoyable and seamless process.
As tempting as it can be to plan ahead and buy your kids’ new shoes before they grow out of the old ones, this isn’t the best choice for your children’s feet or for your wallet. That’s because children’s feet grow so quickly they might grow out of their new shoes before getting a chance to wear them!
Generally speaking, foot growth tends to slow as children get older, so it’s less risky to buy ahead for children in their teenage years. However, growth isn’t typically uniform – your teen may still experience growth spurts that lead to going up a shoe size abruptly.
In contrast, babies’ and toddlers’ feet grow the quickest. For this age group, it’s best to measure your child’s feet as close as possible to the time of buying.
Another thing to consider is how storage time can affect seasonal shoes. While it can seem cost-effective to buy sandals, for example, at end-of-summer sales, bear in mind that a year’s improper storage could mean they come out of the wardrobe not looking their best, even if they do still fit.
We have a variety of ways to help you measure your child’s feet in the comfort of your own home, accounting for foot length and width as well. These include:
If you need to convert measurements into shoe sizes, our size calculator or conversion charts can help you.
It’s important to know that much like women’s clothing brands, different shoe manufacturers can size slightly differently – so if you’ve shopped elsewhere before, don’t assume your child will need the same size shoe without checking.
Not all shoes are made equal, and some are better suited to certain things than others. For example, if you’re looking for school shoes, you don’t want to have to scroll through dozens of boots or wellies while you browse.
Before you can narrow down your search, though, remember to think about what kind of shoes your child really needs. If you usually opt for a simple canvas shoe, consider what types of activities your child will be getting up to and whether a more specialised shoe – like a boot or a sandal – may be the better choice.
Perhaps your child feels most comfortable in leather styles, or maybe you’re looking for shoes in a particular colour. Our website’s filters allow you to narrow down your search to find the perfect pair that meets all your specifications.
You can filter your search by size, width fitting, colour, age group, features like removable insoles and even stylistic choices like how the shoe fastens and what materials are used.
Effective shoe shopping isn’t just about choosing what they need – it’s about what they want too. By narrowing down your search first and then letting your child take part in the final selection process, you stand a much better chance of your child loving their new shoes when they arrive.
This can even turn new shoes arriving into a much more anticipated moment. Opening a box-fresh pair of shoes that arrived in the post can be really fun and memorable for little ones!
Though we do our best to make sure you get the right size with our measuring advice and fitting tools, there are some aspects of fit that just can’t be guessed until your child tries on their new shoes. That’s why we always recommend checking the fit to ensure shoes are comfortable for kids – no matter what the numbers say.
If the fit isn’t quite right, don’t despair! We know how important it is for every child to wear well-fitting footwear to support their healthy development, so we offer an easy-to-follow returns process within 90 days.
Whether you choose to shop with us online or with one of our retailers, we have you covered for all your child’s footwear needs from their first steps to marching onwards and upwards through their school years. Happy shopping!
Author: Vista, published 22-07-2026.
