Getting the fit right is everything when it comes to children's footwear especialty barefoot shoes, where the whole point is that little feet have room to move, splay, and grow naturally. The good news? You don't need a Brannock device or a visit to a shop. Here's exactly how to do it at home, in under two minutes.
What you'll need A piece of plain paper, a pencil, and a ruler or tape measure. Check How to Measure Your Child’s Feet page.
Step one: Trace the foot Have your child stand on the paper with their full weight through the foot not tiptoeing. Trace carefully around the outline, keeping the pencil vertical (not angled inward). Repeat for both feet; it's normal for one to be slightly larger. Download our printable template.
Step two: Measure from the back of the heel to the tip of the longest toe (often the second toe, not the big toe). Write down the measurement in millimetres for accuracy.
Step three: Add growing room For barefoot shoes, we recommend 10–12mm of growing room beyond the foot measurement. This allows natural toe splay without the shoe being so long it affects gait. Let´s check how understand the comfort range section in our step by step size guide.
Step four: Check our size guides Use your measurement alongside our individual
A note on width Barefoot shoes are designed with a wide, foot-shaped toe box as standard. If your child has particularly wide feet, check the product description for any width-specific notes, or
How often should you re-measure? Children's feet can grow a full size every 3–4 months in early childhood, slowing to roughly every 6 months by school age. We suggest measuring before each new season.
Ready to find the right pair? Browse our full range of barefoot trainers available or explore the complete collection to find something that works for every occasion, knowing the size is sorted.
