When to Replace Your Child's School Shoes
A term of playground, PE corridors and wet walks to the car takes its toll on a pair of school shoes. Sooner or later every parent finds themselves wondering whether the pair their child is wearing still fits, or whether it will last until the end of term.
Here is how to tell, what to look for, and when it is worth bringing them in to be measured.
At a glance: most primary-age children need a new pair every six to twelve months, but growth comes in bursts, so check the fit every eight to twelve weeks rather than working to a date. We measure children of all ages free of charge, and it is a walk-in service.
How often do children need new school shoes?
Somewhere between six and twelve months for most primary-age children. That is a wide range, and deliberately so. Growth is not steady. A child can go several months without changing size and then move a full size in a few weeks, usually at the least convenient moment.
Younger children grow faster and need checking more often. Older children slow down, but they also wear shoes harder, so the shoes often fail before the feet outgrow them.
Which is why the habit worth having is not counting months. It is checking the shoes every couple of months and acting on what you find.
Five signs it is time for new school shoes
1. Toes reaching the end
Press your thumb down at the front of the shoe while your child is standing with their weight on both feet. If you cannot feel a gap in front of the longest toe, they have run out of room. Worth remembering that the longest toe is not always the big toe.
2. Red marks or blisters
Take the shoes and socks off after school and look at the foot itself. Rubbing at the back of the heel, pressure marks across the top, or sore spots on the little toe all point to a shoe that has stopped fitting properly.
3. The sole is worn unevenly
Turn the shoe over. Heavy wear along one edge, a heel that has collapsed to one side, or tread that has gone smooth all mean the shoe is no longer doing its job. A sole that has worn unevenly will also affect how the shoe sits on the foot.
4. The fastening no longer holds
Velcro that has lost its grip, a buckle on the very last hole, or laces that need pulling tighter every morning are all signs the shoe has given up. A fastening that does not hold means the foot is moving inside the shoe all day.
5. They have started taking them off
Children often will not say a shoe hurts. They will, however, pull them off the moment they get in the car, or make a fuss about putting them on in the morning. That is worth paying attention to.
How to check the fit at home
Do this in the evening, when feet are at their largest, and with school socks on rather than bare feet or thin ones.
Length
Child standing, weight evenly on both feet. Press down at the end of the shoe and feel for the gap in front of the longest toe. You want roughly a thumb's width. Much more than that and the shoe is too big, which brings its own problems. Much less and it is time to replace them.
Width
Feel across the widest part of the foot, just behind the toes. The shoe should sit around the foot without squeezing, and the foot should not be spilling over the edge of the sole. Children's feet vary a lot in width, and a shoe that is the right length can still be the wrong fit. Width is the hardest thing to judge at home and the main reason a proper measure is worth the trip.
Heel
With the shoe fastened, ask them to walk a few steps. The heel should stay put. If it lifts away with every step, the shoe is either too big or the wrong shape for that foot.
A home check tells you whether something is wrong. What it will not tell you is what size to buy next, because sizing varies between brands and a measurement is not the same thing as a fitting. If the check raises a question, bring them in.
Why sizing up to make them last does not work
It is a tempting bit of economy and it usually backfires. A shoe that is too long lets the foot slide forward, which causes rubbing at the heel and bunching at the toes. It also changes the way a child walks, because they unconsciously grip to keep the shoe on.
The result is a pair that is uncomfortable for months and still needs replacing at roughly the same time. A thumb's width of growing room is right. More than that is not a saving.
Making a pair last longer
- Rotate two pairs if you can. Shoes that dry out properly between wears last considerably longer, and smell better.
- Dry them slowly and away from radiators. Direct heat hardens and cracks leather.
- Keep PE kit separate. School shoes used for running about at break wear out much faster than ones that are not.
- Deal with scuffs early. A polish or a leather cream every few weeks stops the upper drying out.
- Check the fastenings. A replacement lace or a new buckle is cheaper than a new pair.
Two ways to sort it
If the home check leaves you unsure, come in and we will measure them. If you would rather not make the trip, you can order online and use the returns window to get the size right. Both work.
In store
Free measuring for children of all ages, length and width, no appointment needed. Worth doing if there is pain that does not settle, blisters in the same spot repeatedly, or you suspect a wide or narrow foot.
Online
The full school range is on the site with size guides on every product page. Free delivery over £79.99 and 30 days to return anything that is not right.
Free measuring, no appointment needed
We measure children of all ages, not only first shoes, and there is no charge. It is a walk-in service, so there is no need to book. Come in any time we are open, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5.30pm, at 25 to 31 Newry Street, Banbridge. We measure both length and width, seated, on a proper gauge, and it takes a few minutes.
We have been fitting children's shoes here since 1960. If you would like to know what to expect before you come, our guide to school shoe fittings at Donaghys walks through it.
Buying school shoes online
Plenty of parents order school shoes without coming in, particularly for a replacement pair partway through the year, and it works perfectly well if you go about it the right way.
- Use the size guide on the product page. Every listing has one, and it is specific to that brand. Sizing is not consistent between makers, so a 12 in one brand is not always a 12 in another.
- Measure at home first. Stand your child on a sheet of paper against a wall, mark the end of the longest toe, and measure heel to mark. Do both feet and work from the longer one.
- Order in the evening if you are measuring then. Feet are at their largest later in the day, which is the measurement you want.
- Check the fit properly when it arrives. Indoors, on carpet, with school socks on. Run the length, width and heel checks above before the labels come off.
- If you are between sizes, use the returns window. You have 30 days, so there is no rush to decide on the doorstep.
If you are stuck between two sizes or unsure about width, ring us on 028 4066 2750 before you order. It is usually a two-minute conversation and it saves a return.
What we stock
Our school range covers Clarks, Startrite, Geox, Biomecanics, Hush Puppies, POD, Lelli Kelly and Dubarry, across a spread of widths and fittings.
Browse girls' school shoes and boys' school shoes, or jump straight to the size range you need:
There are usually school shoes in the kids' sale too, which is worth a look if you are replacing a pair partway through the year.
We ship from Northern Ireland, so customers in the Republic of Ireland pay no customs charges. Delivery is free on orders over £79.99, and you have 30 days to return anything. Full details on our delivery and returns page.
Frequently asked questions
How often should children get new school shoes?
Most primary-age children need a new pair every six to twelve months, but growth comes in bursts rather than steadily. Check the fit every eight to twelve weeks and replace when the shoes fail the check rather than working to a fixed schedule.
How do I know if my child's school shoes are too small?
Press your thumb at the front of the shoe while your child stands in it. If there is no gap in front of the longest toe, they have outgrown it. Red marks, blisters, or your child pulling the shoes off after school are also reliable signs.
Should I buy school shoes a size too big so they last longer?
No. A shoe that is too long lets the foot slide forward, which causes rubbing and changes how a child walks. About a thumb's width of growing room is right. Beyond that you get an uncomfortable shoe that still needs replacing at much the same time.
Do you measure children's feet, and does it cost anything?
Yes, and it is free. We measure children of all ages, not only first shoes, and we check width as well as length. It is a walk-in service with no appointment, done seated, Monday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm at our Banbridge shop.
Can I just use my child's last size when buying school shoes online?
It is a reasonable starting point, but sizing varies between brands, and feet change in width as well as length. If it has been a while since they were measured, it is worth having it checked before you order.
Can I buy school shoes online without having them measured?
Yes, and many parents do. Measure at home first, use the size guide on the individual product page rather than assuming sizes carry across brands, and check the fit properly when the shoes arrive. You have 30 days to return anything that is not right.
Are hand-me-down school shoes a good idea?
Generally not. A worn shoe has moulded to the shape and gait of the child who wore it, and the sole has worn unevenly to match. A second child is effectively starting in a shoe shaped for someone else.
Ready to check?
Run the thumb test this evening. If it passes, you can stop wondering and check again in a couple of months. If it does not, order a new pair online or come in and we will measure them properly and find something that fits.
