How to measure your child's feet

Five minutes, a sheet of paper, a pencil and a ruler. No app scanning, no guessing from a photo — you take the measurement, and the passport keeps the history.

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   Step 1: Measure at the end of the day

   Feet swell as the day goes on. An evening measurement reflects the size a shoe needs to be comfortable at its worst, not its best.

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   Step 2: Put a sheet of paper against a wall

   Use plain letter or A4 paper on a hard floor, not carpet. Tape the short edge so the paper cannot slide, with that edge flat against the wall.

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   Step 3: Stand your child on the paper with socks on

   Heel touching the wall, weight on both feet, standing tall and looking forward. Sitting or leaning makes the foot read shorter than it really is.

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   Step 4: Mark the longest toe

   Hold the pencil upright — not angled — and mark the paper just in front of the longest toe. That is not always the big toe.

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   Step 5: Mark the widest part

   Make a small mark on each side of the foot at its widest point, usually across the ball of the foot. Width is optional, but it makes recommendations more confident.

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   Step 6: Repeat for the other foot

   Feet are rarely identical. Measure both — sizing always follows the larger foot.

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   Step 7: Measure and record

   With a ruler, measure from the wall edge to the toe mark, and between the two width marks. Record both feet in the app with the date, in centimetres or inches.