The problem of choosing shoes for your child, as a rule, becomes urgent after the first 6 months of his/her life.
Therefore, children’s shoes can be roughly divided into two main categories: for children who haven’t started walking yet, and for those who have already made the first steps. Of course, shoes for each of the periods are somewhat different. But there are some general requirements you should consider when you buy shoes for children:
Therefore, children’s shoes can be roughly divided into two main categories: for children who haven’t started walking yet, and for those who have already made the first steps. Of course, shoes for each of the periods are somewhat different. But there are some general requirements you should consider when you buy shoes for children:
1. The sole of shoes must be strong, uneven and elastic. Take the shoes in hands and bend it several times. If the sole is made from cardboard then it’s not worth buying these shoes. Generally, small children need a small heel for walking!
2. Try to choose for the child, especially in the early years of his/her life, boots with adhesive tape. Generally, shoes, fitted with a latch – buckles, lacing, pin, and even buttons are not convenient for the baby. Shoes with adhesive tape have undeniable advantages; your child can easily to learn to wear and remove his/her boots, shoes or sneakers.
3. Pay attention to the back part of the shoes – it should be thick. It is better if it is slightly thicker than other parts of shoes. This will provide enhanced protection for the feet of your baby.
4. Pay attention to the material from which the shoes are made.
The best for choice are natural materials – genuine leather, and fabrics. Check the material of the internal parts of shoes! The idea of genuine leather disappears, if they have synthetic insole!
The best for choice are natural materials – genuine leather, and fabrics. Check the material of the internal parts of shoes! The idea of genuine leather disappears, if they have synthetic insole!
Can you distinguish artificial leather? With modern technology manufacturing synthetic leather, and some artificial materials are not under the force of each manufacturer.
The easiest way to determine the material from which the footwear (footwear elements) is made is to look at a special sticker on the shoe with graphic signs. Such labels are mandatory for manufacturers and importers of footwear of the EU countries. Labels indicate what type of material is used in making soles, lining and top boots.
If the shoes do not have such labels, there are several ways that will help you to distinguish artificial leather, but some of them in connection with the development of new technologies have become obsolete. For example, it was thought that leather is the only material that does not burn, so the first aircraft cabins were covered with natural leather. But this method can not be used when buying shoes; in addition, modern artificial leather has many common features with genuine leather. There is a composition, which gives to artificial leather the smell of genuine leather.
Here are several methods of determining the genuine leather:
• When putting the shoes on the inner surface of the palm of your hand for about ten seconds, the leather gets warm and begins to warm your hands and give a nice warm feeling, while the artificial leather remains cold.
• The bended edge of the leather is more rounded, but the leathery has a bit flat edges, and usually natural leather is thicker than artificial leather.
• Press a part of the shoes with a finger. When pressing you will notice that small creases or wrinkles appear, and then these wrinkles disappear. This is a sure sign of genuine leather.
• Leather can be defined, if we look at its cross-section. Artificial leather tends to have a textile, or polyamide base. And finally, you can drop a usual water on the leather (if allowed when shopping). Genuine leather absorbs moisture and becomes darker, but artificial leather remains unchanged.
5. Pay attention to the manufacturer. But be careful as a well-known brand is not yet a guarantee that you bought a good pair of shoes. In addition, the well-known brands are often counterfeited.
6. Insoles can be normal, anatomic (in proper shoes), and orthopedic – with a large instep-raiser. The choice of instep-raiser , its presence or absence is determined by an orthopedic doctor. Anatomical shoes do not hurt any child.
There is no need to confuse the orthopedic and prophylactic shoes. Prevention or anatomic shoes take the form of the feet, and create comfort while walking. Orthopedic shoes are needed in order to cure a violation of the locomotor system or prevent its development. Manufacturers of anatomic shoes often call it an orthopedic. This orthopedic shoes are sewed by individual plaster molds.
I urge you not to save when buying shoes for children, especially for children who have problems with feet. And do not take second-hand shoes, as they already repeat the shape of their previous owner’s feet, and they will be inconvenient for your child.
