Back to School Shoe Shopping Tips
It’s the beginning of August, meaning the new school year is approaching. If you’re a parent or grandparent who will be buying new shoes for returning to school, we at Pasco-Hernando Foot & Ankle would like to offer some “cliff notes” to help you score the best footwear for your child or teen.
Shop in person—ordering shoes online with a few keystrokes is easy, but you need to try the shoes on to ensure the best fit. Take your young shopper to a reputable shoe store to shop for footwear.
Accommodate injuries—if a youth has had a foot or ankle injury or has a chronic foot problem such as Sever’s disease, check with our podiatrist, Dr. Lawrence J. Kales, to see if there are any specific footwear recommendations for your child. Contact our Hudson office at 727-868-2128 or 352-683-5799 for an appointment.
Get a proper fit—your child should have both feet measured at the shoe store. Don’t be surprised if one foot is larger than the other—this is fairly common. It will result in blisters and possibly an ankle twisting or other foot injury. Always buy shoes that will be comfortable for the larger foot. Allow about a thumb’s width between the longest toe and the front of the shoe.
Plan a late-day shopping trip—feet swell as the day goes on. Shopping late afternoon or evening means your child will try on shoes when their feet are at their largest. It will ensure that shoes will be comfortable the entire day through.
Bring the right socks—it’s best to try on shoes with the same type and thickness of socks you will wear with the shoes. It will give a more accurate fit.
Resist fads that can harm the feet—proper footwear is one of the best ways to protect podiatric health. Choose excellent quality footwear that supports your child’s feet and is made of breathable materials. Shoes made of vinyl or plastic don’t allow for air circulation around the feet. Funky heels or treads could result in injury.
Take your time—have your child try on both shoes and spend some time walking around the store to make sure they are not rubbing or pinching anywhere. For young children, inspect their feet after they take off the shoes for red spots or other indications of irritation.
Contact us today if you have additional questions about the best shoes for your child or grandchild.