5 Back-to-School Shoe Shopping Tips

It’s that time of year again when parents start their back-to-school shopping. New school supplies, shoes and clothes, and backpacks are on your list to make sure your child is prepared to tackle a new school year. But occasionally, your child’s desires are not always the same as yours. This can be especially true when it comes to their choice of shoes. Today, Dr. Hubert Lee at CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, WA, shares his top tips to follow when shopping for your child’s footwear. 

While slip-on shoes or flip-flops with little to no support may be what your child wants, they may experience foot pain before they’re even a month into the new school year.

You always want your child to put their best foot forward when starting a new school year and that begins with making sure they have appropriate footwear. Between physical education, playing with their friends, and recess a properly fitted shoe is vital to ensuring they can enjoy everything their school has to offer.

Before you hit the stores, here are some things you should keep in mind while footwear shopping with your student:

1. Never buy previously worn shoes. While hand-me-downs and consignment shops are good places to shop for a lot of things, shoes are definitely not one of them. Aside from possible bacteria and fungus, used shoes have likely lost all of their padding and cushioning.

2. Determine how flexible the shoes are. While you don’t want a shoe that is so flexible that it breaks down under pressure, it also shouldn’t be too stiff. Look for a shoe that is stiff in the middle but that has a flexible toe box.

3. Take your child shopping with you. Don’t choose shoes for your child just because they “were the right size.” Your child’s foot is growing constantly, so they need to have their feet measured professionally. (It’s important that both feet are measured.) Secondly, most shoe manufacturers' sizing varies, so even though you get the shoe size they're wearing now, it may not be the best fit.

4. Always shop in the afternoon. Because our feet tend to be their biggest toward the day’s end, it’s the best time to shop for new footwear. If you purchase shoes to accommodate your foot when it is this size, it will help avert foot pain and the shoes becoming uncomfortable.

5. Never buy shoes that have to be “broken-in.” Because your child’s shoes should feel comfortable immediately when they are worn for the first time, the best kind of shoes do not need to be “broken-in.” Doing so will prevent painful blisters on the top of the toes or the heels of the feet.  

If you have trouble choosing the best shoes for your child’s feet, contact Dr. Hubert Lee at CarePlus Foot & Ankle Specialists in Bellevue, WA today to schedule an appointment online or by calling us at 425-455-0936.