Here at Central Shoes we've got trained kid's fitters in both of our stores, Limerick and Kilrush. It is very important to ensure your child is wearing the right shoes for the right stage. We've created a blog post to answer any questions you might have about a kid's fitting. Enjoy!

When should my baby start wearing shoes?

When your baby is beginning to crawl or shuffle on their bottom, our lightweight and flexible pre-walkers will give them extra grip to assist their walking development. When shoes are fitted correctly, it allows their feet to develop naturally and assist them on their walking. 

Should my baby wear shoes when they are learning to walk?

In the early stages of walking, it is best to allow your child to be barefoot as much as possible. This allows their feet to breathe and get stability from the floor. Pop on some shoes when they want to walk outside or in public places. When they are fully walking and steady on their feet, you would put them into their first walking shoes. 

What is cruising? 

Cruising is the stage between crawling and walking when the baby is bracing themselves to take their first step. You will often see them using the sofa to pull themselves up or holding onto a table to take small steps. Our pre-walkers will provide the support they need to start taking those first steps.

How often should I replace my child's shoes?

We recommend to get their feet measured 6-8 weeks after getting their first shoes to ensure they are still getting the best support. On average, a baby's feet grow three sizes in their first year, two sizes until they start school and one size until they're in their late teens. We recommend getting their shoes checked and feet measured regularly by trained fitters. 

Do I need an appointment to get my child's foot measured?

We do take walk-ins but bookings are preferred. You can now book a Kid's Fitting Appointment for our Limerick and Kilrush store. Appointment slots are 15 minutes per child, giving our fitters enough time to measure their feet and give you lots of different options between styles and colours.

I can't make it into a store, can I measure my child's foot at home?

You can now purchase an at-home measuring gauge that comes with instructions and a size converter to give you the correct UK size so you can order from our website. Our fitters are available to advise you on how to measure and fit at home, you can contact us at anytime through email or call us during work hours and we would be happy to help. 

Both of our stores follow the government guidelines to provide a safe shopping experience for you and your family. Our staff are fully equipped with PPE and our store is cleaned and sanitised on a regular basis. We have sanitiser stations at the front of the store and at the till.

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