There is no specified age when you must wear your baby shoes. Generally, it is recommended to put on shoes when the baby shows signs of crawling, walking, or independently standing on its feet.
It is not forbidden to put on shows for an infant of two or three months, but the problem is that small shoes are pretty limited and hard to find.
The tiniest shoe available on the market is size number 1. But, these sizes may confuse some parents and cause difficulties. So, what size shoe do newborns wear? Dress your baby up, and let’s go shoe shopping!
What Size Shoe Do Newborns Wear?
It might differ from baby to baby, but in general, the baby shoe size is 1 for babies up to three months, size 2 for babies up to six months, and size 4 and above for one-year-olds.
To find the best shoe size, measuring the baby’s feet and ensuring some space in the toes area is good. Most shoe brands offer size charts to help you find the right one.
All babies have different development, and it is okay for two babies of the same age to wear different sizes of shoes and clothes. This is why you can not buy shoes depending on the baby’s age.
Generally, you should be guided by the foot length and the general shoe size. You must know that the baby’s foot is still developing and growing, and the shoes you buy should be comfortable for the baby.
The newborns up to three months wear size 1 or 2, depending on the foot size and thickness. Babies have thick feet, so it might be difficult to find ones that fit properly.
I recommend you print a baby feet chart from Google and measure the newborn’s feet to ensure what shoe size to buy.
Read more: How to Measure for Flange Size
How to Buy the Right Shoes for a Newborn
There are other essential things you should consider despite the shoe size. Some babies have wide feet, which might be a problem if you skip this measure.
It is not good to place your newborn’s feet in tight and uncomfortable shoes since its feet have just started developing.
Feet length
Most popular brands have labeled the shoe sole length to help parents easily find the right shoe size. Measure the baby’s feet and search for the right shoe size based on your measurements.
The standard shoe size 1 equals 3 ⅝ inches or 7.5 cm in length, and it is suitable for newborns of up to two months.
Size 2 is longer and suitable for newborns between one and three months. The length of size 2 is 4 inches or something around 10 centimeters.
The Nike newborn shoe chart has multiple options to help parents find the proper shoes without buying too big or too small. Here’s a chart of Nike’s shoes for infants.
- US size 2C = EU size 17 = 8 cm
- US size 2.5C = EU size 18 = 8.5 cm
- US size 3C = EU size 18.8 = 9 cm
- US size 3.5C = EU size 19 = 9.5 cm
- US size 4C = EU size 19.5 = 10 cm
Feet width
Feet width and shoe material are the two things that always come together. If you have ever tried to put on shoes on your newborn’s feet, you might know that its feet are wider than standard shoes.
If you know this, you can easily pick shoes of the right material for your baby. Buying larger shoes because of the baby’s wide feet is not good because the shoes might be too heavy for its feet and damage its motor skills, making it unable to move its feet like before.
To pick the right shoes by the baby’s feet width, you should remove the shoe pad from the shoes you want to buy and determine if it is wide enough to fit the baby’s feet or if it will be tight. Then, you pick the shoe material.
Shoe material
If you want to buy baby shoes for your newborn, pick soft fabric shoes. Do not buy leather or other rigid materials because your baby will grow them up so fast.
Plus, they might be too tight for the baby’s chubby feet and feel uncomfortable. The newborn will reject the shoes because they might pressure its feet and make them hurt.
Instead, choose some flexible and soft materials and fabrics that will fit the feet without putting pressure. Plus, consider that your baby wears socks and booties, so there should be extra space for them.
Common mistakes you should avoid
Not too big, not too small
It is okay to buy shoes that are a little more comfortable, but they should not be too big since they might be heavy and loose. Conversely, buying shoes exactly the baby’s current foot size might get tight and small in a few weeks.
Leather shoes – Avoid them
Your newborn does not actually need shoes since it does not walk or stand on its feet. If you still want to buy newborn shoes to match their outfit, you must pick something lightweight and flexible.
Bigger shoe size for chubby feet
Absolutely no! You will not do a good thing if you pick bigger shoes for your chubby-feet baby. It is okay for a newborn’s feet to be chubbier and not fit some shoes. Instead, wait a while and buy shoes the next month when the baby’s foot starts growing and elongating.
Also read: What Do Diaper Sizes Mean?
Conclusion
Every baby has a different development level, and it is impossible to find a standardized shoe size that will fit all babies of the same age.
So, what size shoe do newborns wear? It can be something between 1 and 2 by the standard shoe size chart.
