The most reliable way to buy the right shoe size online is to measure your child's foot length in centimetres and match it to a size chart. It takes less than a minute and needs only a sheet of paper, a pencil and a ruler or measuring tape.
Step-by-step: measuring a child's foot
- Put paper against a wall. Place a sheet of paper flat on a hard floor with one edge touching the wall.
- Stand your child on it. Barefoot (or in thin socks), heel touching the wall, standing up straight with their weight on both feet.
- Mark the longest toe. Hold the pencil upright and mark the tip of the longest toe. It isn't always the big toe.
- Measure in cm. Measure from the edge of the paper (the heel line) to your mark.
- Repeat for the other foot. Feet are often slightly different lengths. Use the larger measurement.
- Match it to the chart. Find the foot length on the kids' shoe size chart or our size guide. If it falls between two sizes, choose the larger one.
Do's
- Measure in the evening, when feet are at their largest.
- Make sure your child is standing, not sitting — feet spread when they carry weight.
- Measure both feet and go with the bigger one.
Don'ts
- Don't measure over thick socks.
- Don't assume the big toe is the longest.
- Don't size down to make a pair “last longer” — tight shoes are uncomfortable for growing feet.
- Don't rely on a size bought months ago. Re-measure every 2–3 months.
Signs the shoes no longer fit
- Your child complains of sore toes or takes their shoes off as soon as they can.
- Red marks on the toes, heels or sides of the feet after wearing them.
- The toe of the shoe is pressed against the longest toe when your child stands.
Ordering from G&D
Every G&D shoe is labelled with age, UK size, EU size and foot length in cm, so once you have the measurement, picking a size is quick. Most of our sneakers and sports shoes come in UK 11C to UK 5, and toddler velcro styles start at UK 7C. If the size still isn't right, you can request a size exchange within 7 days of delivery. Shop all kids' shoes.