YOUR CHILD’S SHOE FITTING QUERIES ANSWERED

The first term of the school calendar is already at halfway point and attentions are turning to making sure kids are kitted out for the remainder of the year. With a wide range of styles, late opening times and a free expert fitting service Brantano aims to make the back to school shop as easy as possible for parents. Louise Williams, expert training and fitting advisor at Brantano, has over 20 years of experience and is responsible for liaising with brands such as Clarks, Start-Rite and Hush Puppies to ensure that Brantano staff are trained to the required standard. Here Louise answers common questions asked by parents: How should a shoe or boot fit around the ankle? Should it be snug and no slipping or is a bit of slipping ok? “The collar of the shoe (the bit that sits under the ankle and across the heel) should sit comfortably just under the ankle bone and comfortable on the heel. Most children’s shoes are made with padded collars in order to minimise any rubbing of the ankle or heel. When the child walks the shoes should not move up and down as this can cause rubbing and blisters. Boots should also fit snuggly around the ankle area and it’s also important to consider the thickness of socks. When buying winter boots it’s always a good idea to take a couple of pairs of socks with different thicknesses so the fitter can check the fit. As part of our measure and fit process our expert fitters will always check the areas around the ankles and heel grip to make sure there is a comfortable fit. Shoes which can be taken off easily without being unfastened would probably be too big.” My mum always suggests buying school shoes a size bigger so they last the whole school year, is this a good idea? “It's never a good idea to buy shoes which are too big, as this can cause foot damage or accidents such as trips. Growing room is always built into children's shoes and Brantano fitters will recommend the best fit to include this, so there is no need to buy bigger sizes.” What should I be looking for to know my child’s feet and ankles will be protected as much as possible in winter days? “As we approach autumn and winter Brantano will stock a range of shoes and boots suitable for little feet in the cold and wet weather. As with shoes our expert fitters will measure and fit boots making sure they are a comfortable fit for your child. For very snowy days we would recommend a snow boot for warmth and for rainy days we would recommend a leather boot that has been protected such as Clarks Shadowfun.”