Put your child's best foot forward

Ill fitting shoes can seriously damage your child's feet. Children's feet grow at a rapid rate up until the age of four, this slows down by the age of five but their feet will continue to grow for at least another ten years. As a child's foot size grows it is important that they are wearing the correct shoe size.

Wearing the wrong shoe size can cause uncomfortable pressure marks and blisters or even problems with gait and posture and pain in the knees or back. Wearing the correct size is therefore imperative. 

When it comes to children's footwear it is important to avoid shortcuts. Poor quality shoes should also be avoided, they may be purse friendly but they wear out faster so are therefore a false economy. 

Every child is different so it is important to select shoes that suit your child's walking development stage. It is also important that the shoes fit properly and allow feet to breathe.

Batemans Footwear shops in Clonakilty, Bandon and Carrigaline have over 40 years experience in fitting children for shoes. All staff members have trained with Clarks and use electronic foot gauges that can measure feet in 3D as well as measuring by hand.

One of the most important things is to make sure that your child's feet are measured for length and width every time they get new shoes. A thorough examination ensures your child receive the most accurate fit possible. 

Batemans Footwear carries two ranges, Clarks and Startrite, which offer a full range of whole and half sizes as well as different width fittings. Batemans have wide selection of brands for pre-walkers, toddlers, and school goers and staff are on hand to advise you on which shoes are best for your child's stage of development. There is something for every shape and size at Batemans Footwear. 

The newly renovated kids section in Batemans in Clonakilty is colourful and cheerful with lots of amusing features to occupy kids such as goldfish tanks. If you visit Bateman Footwear's Facebook page, you can suggest a name for one of the goldfish and the best name gets to take him home!

Batemans are giving away a €300 Clarks family voucher in August. Visit the Facebook page to be in with a chance of winning.