According to Austrian researchers, eight out of 10 children do not wear the right shoes.
Out of 1,300 children studied, one in four wore shoes that were at least three sizes too small. In some cases, they were five sizes too small.
The rule normally states that there should be 12-17 mm between the toes and the tip of the shoe.
Lead author Dr. Norman Espinosa of the University of Zurich said, "Improper footwear is well recognized to be an extrinsic factor regarding the development of forefoot deformities. Small forefoot boxes in children’s footwear could impair toe function and proper development and promote early establishment of forefoot deformity."
Researchers had some interesting results. They discovered that sizes are often smaller than what is indicated on the sole of the shoe.
It was a truly striking finding,” says Dr. Espinosa. "The shoe sizes given by the manufacturers almost never matched with the true sizes measured by our group."
It is recommended to regularly check your children’s shoes and slippers to ensure that they fit properly, especially since young feet grow very quickly. An easy trick for parents to do is to cut a cardboard foot length of your child and add 12 mm. Compare that to your child’s foot to ascertain whether the shoes are too small.