Baby shoe size chart

Baby shoe size chart by foot length

Each size fits a foot up to the length shown, on the US children's scale that Nike and Stride Rite follow. Nike's and Stride Rite's lengths for these sizes are within about 1/16 inch (0.1 cm) of the chart. If the foot is between two sizes, choose the larger one, as both brands advise.

Some charts also list a size 0 for newborns. Carter's puts it at a 3.5 inch foot. The kids' shoe size calculator starts at 1C, and for a foot smaller than that it suggests soft-sole shoes sold by age in months.

Month sizes (0-6 months) versus C sizes

Many baby shoes, especially soft-sole shoes, are labeled by age range instead of a numbered C size. One month label usually covers more than one numbered size, and each brand draws its ranges differently.

Carter's numbers its baby shoes and adds an age to each: size 1 for 0-3 months, size 2 for 3-6 months, size 3 for 6-9 months and size 4 for 9-12 months. Stride Rite labels its size 2 for 3-6 months, size 3 for 6-9 months and size 4 for 9-12 months. Carter's lists longer foot lengths than Nike and Stride Rite for the same number, so compare your baby's measurement with the chart of the brand you are buying.

Buy by foot length, not by the age on the label. A baby who is big for their age can need the next month range early.

How to measure a baby's foot

1. 1
   Heel against a wallPut a sheet of paper on the floor against a wall. If your baby can stand with support, stand them on it with their heel touching the wall. If not, hold the foot flat on the paper with the leg straight and the heel against the wall.
2. 2
   Mark the longest toeMark the tip of the longest toe, which is not always the big toe. Keep the toes flat, not curled, while you mark.
3. 3
   Measure to the markMeasure from the wall to the mark in inches or centimeters.
4. 4
   Do both feetMeasure the other foot the same way and use the longer one, as Nike and Stride Rite advise.
5. 5
   Look up the sizeFind the smallest size that fits the length in the chart above, or enter it in the calculator. If it falls between two sizes, choose the larger.

Do not add growing room to the measurement. Numbered sizes already leave about a thumb's width, about 1.25 cm, in front of the toes, which is the room the Canadian Paediatric Society describes. The American Podiatric Medical Association gives 10 to 15 mm.

Before 18 months, a baby's feet can grow more than half a size every 2 months, according to the Canadian Paediatric Society, and Stride Rite suggests measuring every two months.

Soft soles for babies who are not walking yet

The Canadian Paediatric Society says that a child who is not walking yet does not need to wear shoes, and that once a child starts walking, shoes can help prevent accidental injuries. The American Podiatric Medical Association says that for younger children, going barefoot or wearing shoes that allow natural movement is preferred, and suggests light shoes with flexible soles that bend easily.

Brands sort baby shoes by stage. Stride Rite lists crawler shoes in sizes 1 to 4 for ages 0 to 12 months, first walkers in sizes 3 to 6 for 6 to 18 months, and independent walkers from size 4. Robeez describes its soft soles as flexing and bending with each step as a baby begins to walk.

If your baby's foot seems to hurt, or you are worried about how they stand or walk, see your child's doctor.