Also, sizing can vary widely between brands. So once I find a few brands that work for us, I tend to stick with them.

Anonymous wrote:Op i think you have it right but most show little
Kids as something like 1-3 or 13-3 and then big kids 4-7. My oldest is at the end of that and it’s equally confusing bc a big kid 7 is different from an adult 7 so he can wear nikes in big kid 7 but if there too small adult 7 seems to work. His issue is w/ dress shoes. He’s outgrown big kid 7!but the smallest adult ones are too big

But then girls shoe sizes get weird again. My 8 year old is currently a big kids size 4, but I guess could also wear a women's size 5.5 or 6? It's ridiculous!!!! #1: why do men and women need different sizing?! And why is is the women's sizing that is SO WEIRD!!! Mens just...stays the same on the kid's scale and goes up from there.

Anonymous wrote:Buying shoes ahead is a mistake. It never works out right. Sadly.

This. I have only ever been able to buy maybe 3-6 months ahead, when I have an idea of where my kid's feet might be. And it's usually for something a bit more flexible, like winter boots or rain boots. For sneakers or dress shoes it's impossible.

It's much better to try to buy 2nd hand to save money. Buy what you need when you need it. Many many kid's shoes are only lightly worn because their feet grow so quickly! So even a pair of winter boots that had 2 other kids own it before could have maybe been worn only 10 times (at least in the DC area). Ask neighbors or friends who have kids slightly older than yours if they ever have hand me downs to let you know! I have gotten SO MUCH stuff that way. I just donate what I don't use.

I am really cheap on many things...but I brought my kids in to a high-quality shoe store (Shoe Train in Potomac) when they were little and could not say what was more comfortable or less. They were really knowledgeable on which brand was better for a wide/narrow whatever foot. They also stood had great recommendations about when to size up and when not to.

I have two masters degrees and cannot solve this equation. Why is it so hard to figure out?

Anonymous wrote:Buying shoes ahead is a mistake. It never works out right. Sadly.

+1. Last fall when my daughter was 4, I bought shoes next size up for summer 2022: sandals and water shoes, thinking she’d easily grow into that size by summer. She didn’t and I wound up having to buy sandals again for her once summer came. We’re going to florida for vacation next month so I just had her try on the next size up shoes I bought in fall 2021 that were way too big still in summer 2022 and guess what? Now they’re too small. So she never wore them. If it was tennis shoes/something she’ll wear year round, then I think buying next size up makes sense but if it’s seasonal shoes like snow boots or sandals? Don’t do it!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. No, I cannot.

I have never been able to figure this out, and my kids' feet do not grow in any sort of reasonable progression.

This made me lol. It is impossible isn’t it?!!!

For real. And I swear I'm not dumb. Why is it so hard???

Buying shoes ahead is a mistake. It never works out right. Sadly.

Anonymous wrote:No. No, I cannot.

I have never been able to figure this out, and my kids' feet do not grow in any sort of reasonable progression.

This made me lol. It is impossible isn’t it?!!!

No. No, I cannot.

I have never been able to figure this out, and my kids' feet do not grow in any sort of reasonable progression.

Op i think you have it right but most show little
Kids as something like 1-3 or 13-3 and then big kids 4-7. My oldest is at the end of that and it’s equally confusing bc a big kid 7 is different from an adult 7 so he can wear nikes in big kid 7 but if there too small adult 7 seems to work. His issue is w/ dress shoes. He’s outgrown big kid 7!but the smallest adult ones are too big

OP, another thing to keep in mind is that kids feet often really slow down their growth around age 4, which can make it hard to buy ahead. I made this mistake last year when my DD was 4, buying summer sandals and swim shoes a size up ahead of the season figuring she'd grow into them. She didn't and I had to go out and buy shoes in her current size.

And now her feet have outgrown that size and also the "size up" I bought, so now I have to buy new shoes again.

Add in the variation in sizes between brands and I think I might become someone who only buys kids shoes in person with a fitting from here on out. Go to DSW or a departments store, sit her down, try them on. You won't save money but at least her shoes will fit.

Kids sizes are the worst! They go up in numbers, and then swing back down to 1 and start counting up again, so you have to pay really close attention to whether they're marketed as "Toddler" or "Kids" shoes. I agree with PP. Measure your kid's foot and check the company's size chart before ordering.

I go by the measurement in inches. I trace DC’s feet and then match that up to the sizes. Sizing between brands can also be inconsistent.

I feel dumb posting this but am confused! DD, 4, wears a 9c or 10c in shoes. I’m looking at some size up sales going on to stock up on shoes and boots for future wear and am confused on sizing.

Some stores show that toddler sizes run through 13c then little kids sizes start at 1y through 6y, then big kid sizes come into play. Other sites list only kids sizes as 1-13Y. So is a 13Y smaller than a 1Y? Are they just not labeled consistently? Help a bargain shopper out please