How to determine the size of a newborn baby?

To determine the rate of development of a newborn baby, a special table of the optimal sizes of infants has been developed. Of course, every child will not meet the general indicators, but a significant deviation from the norm may indicate developmental disorders. Timely assistance will help correct possible anomalies.

Does a newborn need shoes - the opinion of Dr. Komarovsky

According to Evgeniy Komarovsky, a newborn should learn to walk without shoes, especially since the human foot is created specifically for walking barefoot . So you don’t need any special shoes for the first step. And only when the baby begins to walk ⛵️ tolerably, he can be put on shoes. It is worth keeping in mind that shoes themselves do not correct anything and do not affect how quickly a child learns to walk. It is needed only for protection from cold and mechanical stress.

Therefore, first of all, it is worth purchasing ❄️ winter shoes. For the summer, you will need boots made of breathable material so that the child’s feet are not trapped in them.

When you really need shoes

Theoretically, a baby will only need his first shoes when he starts going outside ☔️. All children who have just begun to walk have an unsteady and unsteady gait, and their foot propulsion is not sufficiently developed. This is partly explained by the limited functions of the not fully formed ankle. A newborn will be much more comfortable in high shoes that fix and support the feet.

This doesn't mean that all parents are obligated to buy one for their children. This is only required for newborns who still walk unsteadily and constantly push, this will give them more stability. And only when they gain confidence, it will be possible to choose any shoes that are comfortable for babies.

Advice! You should purchase orthopedic shoes only for medical reasons, since they are used only for the treatment of pathological conditions of the foot.

How to determine foot length, shoe size and fullness

To choose the right shoes, you need to first find out the size of the child’s foot. You can determine the length as follows:

1. Place a sheet of paper on the floor and, placing the child’s foot on it, trace the foot.
2. If the child is less than a year old, you should use a rope, which you then measure with a ruler.
3. You need to take into account the distance from the heel of the foot to the end of the big toe.

Advice! To determine the size of the shoes, it will be enough to add another centimeter to the length of the baby’s foot as an allowance and compare the resulting result with the table data below.

The fullness of the foot is usually called the circumference of the foot at its widest point. It is usually widest near the toe, in the underwire area near the big toe and little toe. You can measure it in the same way as foot length.

Size chart for children under one year old

☝️ The actual size of a newborn's foot largely depends on hereditary factors and the physique of the child himself. To make it easier to select shoes, you can use the table below:

How to choose the size of shoes for a child

In Russia, it is customary to mark completeness using numbers from 1 to 12 with a set interval between sizes of 4 mm. In Europe, the same principle is followed, but the only difference observed is 5 mm. In the UK and the USA, only letter markings from A to F are used every 5 mm. In this case, letters in this system can be doubled and tripled to indicate completeness that exceeds standard values.

To calculate the fullness of children's shoes, the following formula is used:

P = 0.25*O– 0.15*D – 16.5 , where O is the circumference of the baby’s foot (mm), D is the length of the newborn’s foot (mm), 16.5 is a mandatory constant coefficient.

Measuring body sizes

Every month, during a routine examination with a doctor, along with weighing, infants undergo a procedure for measuring body size. The main indicators of interest to specialists are height, head and chest circumference.

Immediately after birth, the baby’s body will be disproportionate - the head is especially prominent and its figure is slightly higher than the chest circumference. By six months, the circumferences of the head and chest become approximately the same. And after 6 months, the child’s chest begins to expand, and the body proportions return to normal.

Head circumference is measured horizontally, covering the back of the head, ears and forehead. You can check it yourself using a soft measuring tape.

Head circumference size chart:

• at birth – 34-35 cm;
• from birth to 3 months. – 34-40 cm;
• from 3 to 6 months. – 40-44 cm;
• from 6 to 9 months. – 44-46 cm;
• from 9 to 12 months – 46-48 cm;
• from 12 to 18 months. – 48-50 cm.

This indicator allows you to choose the right hats and bonnets for a newborn. Therefore, before buying new things, it is recommended to measure your head. It won’t take much time, but it will save you from the difficulties of choosing children’s hats.

Breast circumference also increases as the baby grows. If in the initial months the increase is 1.5-2 cm per month, then after six months the figure will steadily change by only 0.5-1 cm.

Chest circumference chart for infants:

• at birth – 30-32 cm;
• from birth to 3 months. – 30-38;
• from 3 to 6 months. – 38-45 cm;
• from 6 to 9 months. – 44-50 cm;
• from 9 to 12 months – 50-52 cm;
• from 12 to 18 months. – 52-54 cm.

Useful: Teaching your baby to walk independently

Knowing the chest circumference, you can easily choose clothes of the required size for your child, which will simplify the choice of models and save a lot of time.

Leg by month

According to statistics, in the first couple of years, the length of a newborn’s foot increases by almost 4 cm. In the next 2 years, it grows ⛰️ by about another 3 cm. Then the rate of increase in foot size decreases to almost a centimeter per year until the child turns 14 years old .

And only by the age of eighteen the formation of the feet is completely completed.

The table below shows in detail the dependence of the size of children's shoes on the age of the newborn:

Table of correspondence between the age of a child up to one year and foot sizes in centimeters

Since children's feet grow very quickly, children often have to buy shoes. It's no secret that shopping in search of a suitable product takes a lot of time and can be very tiring for a small child.

For this reason, many parents prefer to take measurements from their children, in this case, measure the child’s foot size by age and, leaving the kids at home with their grandparents, go shopping.

How to find out the size of a small child's feet by month, how to determine the size of children's shoes by the child's age? This article will answer these and other pressing questions.

To make children's shoes comfortable, you need to correctly determine your foot size and choose the appropriate product.

Obviously, a newly born baby does not need shoes. Socks and warm booties are used as an analogue at this age. After some time, the baby grows up and begins to walk independently. From this moment on, there is a need to wear shoes.

How to find out your child's foot size

Finding out the approximate foot size of a small child at home is not difficult at all. There are several ways to do this:

• Measure your foot using a centimeter;
• Use the classic formula;
• Apply a table of foot sizes according to the child’s age.

On a note. If a table is used to calculate the size of a child's foot, it is important to remember that each child develops individually.

Therefore, the size of the leg in each individual case may differ slightly from generally established standards, which are indicated in the size chart.

In order for new shoes to be comfortable and completely fit, it is necessary to take into account not only the length of the foot, but also the age and height of the baby.

Child foot length at different ages

If you need to determine the size of the feet of an infant who cannot yet stand firmly on his legs, then you need to do the following:

1. Gently grasp the baby's foot.
2. Straighten it out.
3. Make sure that the baby does not curl his fingers, otherwise the result will be incorrect.
4. Take a rigid ruler and measure the distance from the tip of your biggest toe to your heel (the outermost point).
5. Carry out similar actions with the second leg of the one-year-old baby.
6. When measuring, the largest values ​​should be taken into account.
7. Compare the result with the tabular data.

Advice. To find out the length of a child’s foot under one year old, you can use a string: it is applied to the foot in the same way as described above, then measured with a ruler and the result is recorded.

There is a classic formula for determining foot length, as well as a method for measuring fullness (height). The first option involves summing the following values:

• Foot length;
• Space for leg growth;
• Space for foot movement during movement.

The second option (by fullness) involves measuring the foot at the widest points of the toe area.

This parameter is denoted by five Latin letters: the first two characterize a thin leg, the second two – average fullness or slightly above average, the last – a full leg with a wide and high foot.

To establish the exact meaning, a half sign can be added to each letter. The next parameter differs from the previous one by 7 mm, the half-length is 3.5 mm.

On a note. The parameter for measuring the fullness of a foot on children's shoes is rarely indicated. Basically, universal shoes are produced for children without taking into account the instep. Such products have fasteners, laces, Velcro or other means of fastening. At the same time, some shoe models for the summer season provide for fullness adjustment using fasteners.

How to find out children's foot size

The easiest and most common way to determine the length of a child's foot is using a measuring tape. To do this you need to do the following:

1. Prepare a sheet of paper, a pencil and a ruler.
2. Ask your child to stand on a blank sheet of paper.
3. The foot should be placed flat on the plane. It is important that the child does not curl his fingers.
4. The foot is outlined with a pencil. Another option is to place a foot moistened with water on the paper.
5. Measure the resulting silhouette or imprint with a centimeter.
6. Check the resulting figure with the metric grid data and determine the size.

Important! Similar actions should be performed with the second foot. The fact is that the size of one mark is almost always larger than the second. Of the two values ​​obtained, you need to choose the larger one.

During the measurement, you need to ensure that the child’s legs are level and the baby rests confidently and completely on his feet.

At the end of the procedure, you need to add 1/2 cm to the result (if you plan to buy summer shoes) or 1.5 cm (for winter shoes).

Thanks to this, the boots will not be too big and at the same time will fit well on feet dressed in warm socks. In addition, there will be free space for air inside, which will allow the shoes to retain heat for as long as possible.

Trace the foot to determine size

To compare foot length with shoe sizes in a store, you can cut out a stencil and apply it to the sole of the product like an insole.

On a note. It is better to take measurements in the evening, since during the day the foot is subjected to physical activity, which is why it increases slightly in size by night. In addition, blood flow improves in the evening, which also affects the length of the foot.

The foot length of a one-month-old child is determined every 3 months; in children aged 6-10 years, the foot size is determined every 5 months.

This method has several advantages:

• allows you to get the most accurate values;
• the process is easy to carry out;
• indicators do not depend on gender, specific age and height of the baby.

Important! The resulting figures cannot be rounded. You need to take into account every millimeter, then it will be almost impossible to make a mistake with the choice of suitable shoes.

How fast does the leg grow?

Child's head size by age

Children's feet grow every day, but these changes become noticeable only after a certain time. At the time of birth, the length of a newborn’s foot is about 7.5 centimeters. Subsequently, the size of the foot increases very quickly.

During the second year of life, the legs grow by 2-3 centimeters, and the feet add the same amount in the third year. The growth process stops by the age of 15, by which time the leg size is 23-26 centimeters.

In girls, growth ends earlier than in boys - at 11-14 years old, while in the latter this period can last up to 18 years.

As the foot grows larger, its shape and structure also change. For each age period, certain types of shoes are selected that take into account the child’s developmental characteristics.

Table by age in centimeters

How to choose shoes for a child under 1 year old

In order for the child’s foot to develop normally, the baby must wear shoes that fit the foot size. It is important that children's shoes are not too big or too small. Otherwise, foot deformation may occur. A special table will help you determine the length of your child’s feet in relation to age.

Sizing chart for children's shoes

Size chart in different countries

When measuring a child's foot using a ruler, the result is a metric size (mm).

Previously, there was only one system by which the size of children's shoes was indicated in cm, equal to the length of the foot. The difference between the sizes was 5 mm. Now another system has become widespread - the non-mass system.

In this case, the size is indicated in so-called points, each of which is equal to 0.66 cm.

In Europe, foot size is determined using the stichmass system. In Russia, metric is most often used, but recently the first option is also gaining popularity.

Important! Manufacturers in different countries are guided by their own size charts (foot length can be determined in cm, inches, lengths, etc.), so when choosing a product you need to pay attention to the manufacturer and take into account the sizes according to the corresponding tables.

Country Size Chart

Signs of choosing the right shoes:

• The boots are easy to put on and take off;
• The shoes fit well, the foot is clearly fixed in it and at the same time not pinched;
• The child’s fingers should reach the toe of the shoe, but not rest against it;
• An adult's little toe can fit between the back of a shoe and a child's heel.

How to spot tight shoes

Shoes should always have a small supply. You can determine it by the insole of the product that the baby is currently wearing. You need to add a few centimeters to the length of the insole, then you will get the optimal size for the child.

To understand that the stock has been selected incorrectly, you need to pay attention to the following indicators:

• The child's shoes fit tightly;
• The arch support is not in its place (it should be located under the arch of the foot);
• Compare the model of the child’s foot with the sole of the product. To do this, place the stencil inside the shoe and determine the reserve by the heel.

You can define tight shoes like this:

How to tell if shoes are too small

Signs of tight shoes are:

• The baby tucks his fingers when walking;
• Calluses, abrasions, and redness appeared on the feet.

Determining which size of children's shoes will suit your child is not difficult. To do this, it is enough to use standard methods of measuring the foot and compare the indicators with the data in the table.

Source: https://kpoxa.info/uxod-razvitie/razmer-nogi-rebenka-vozrastu.html

How to choose your first shoes

When choosing shoes for a baby, you need to follow certain rules:

1. There should be fastening fasteners. With their help, it will be easier to adjust the width of the boot cavity for the child, depending on the thickness of the sock used.
2. Be sure to have a high heel, even if you plan to take summer sandals.
3. You should not take shoes larger than the required size. This will only make it more difficult to walk and maintain balance.
4. Consider the rise of the child's foot. An infant should not be given very high boots.
5. The toe of the boot should be round.
6. Pay attention to the season and weather. For example, in the warm season, sneakers are more suitable for a child, but when it gets colder, he will need warm boots.

Advice! Rigid, supportive shoes will be most useful for infants under 3 years of age. If the need for it disappears before this time, there is nothing wrong with that.

Common mistakes parents make

There are 4 common mistakes that inexperienced parents make when choosing children's shoes:

1. Putting shoes on a newborn ahead of schedule. You should choose your child’s first shoes no earlier than 9-12 months from the moment of birth, when he has already learned to walk. In this case, a newborn should wear shoes only during street walks.
2. Wearing someone else's shoes. Because each baby wears them out differently, wearing old boots will have a detrimental effect on your newborn's foot development.
3. During the fitting process, you should not place your finger between the back and the newborn’s foot to assess the stock. In this case, children begin to curl their toes, which creates additional free space.
4. You can’t buy shoes “back to back.” Children at a young age grow extremely quickly.

Medical service portal

The foot of a healthy newborn is relatively longer and thinner than that of older children, and the ankle and its small joints are extremely mobile. Thus, with dorsal flexion of the foot, its surface comes into contact with the anterior surface of the tibia, and with plantar flexion, the dorsal surface becomes parallel to the tibia, and its back part is turned inward or outward at an angle of 45°.

The apparent incorrect position of the feet in a newborn with the full range of these movements should not be a cause for concern. This positional configuration is corrected spontaneously.

Turn the foot with your toes inward. This condition, which is quite common in infants, can be caused by inward rotation of the forefoot or the entire foot. Both of these conditions are aggravated if the baby sleeps face down or crawls with the feet and toes turned inward. The curvature, where the entire foot is turned inward, is relieved by standing or walking. If its angle exceeds 45° in a child at the age of 3 months, 30° at the age of 9 months and 20° at the age of 1 year, an orthopedic consultation .

Treatment usually involves various methods of keeping the foot in an externally rotated position during sleep. For this purpose, pajama legs are pinned or sewn together, or the ends of a watch strap are sewn to the back surface of soft booties. The most common frame for this purpose spans the entire width of the pelvis, attached to booties. Treatment for 6-12 months is usually accompanied by an effect. Children over the age of 11/2 years often cannot withstand tied shoes on themselves at night and therefore it is better not to disturb them until the age of 3, when this method can again be used.

Turn your toes outward. With this pathology, the child begins to walk a little later due to an unstable position. In this case, the entire leg is rotated outward, rather than just the foot. Such a curvature is usually corrected spontaneously, but faster with therapeutic exercises. The child’s hips are covered above the knees, rotated as much as possible inward and held in this position for 5 s. The exercise is repeated 5 times with each swaddling. In addition, to prevent the child from sleeping in a frog position, the pajama legs are sewn or pinned.

Metatarsal varus. Normally, a line drawn along the foot through the middle of the heel should pass through the second toe. Many newborns have an inwardly rotated forefoot. Persistent deformity often requires constant wearing of properly fitted shoes.

If it is possible to abduct the forefoot beyond the midline by no more than 30°, therapeutic exercises performed by parents each time they swaddle the child are usually sufficient. Traction is performed by holding the heel in the middle position with the first and second fingers of one hand, while simultaneously moving the foot with the other hand to the abduction position for 5 s. This manipulation is repeated 5 times. The intensity of exercise should be moderate. The foot should be held by the head of the first metatarsal bone, since energetic pressure on

The first finger can lead to the development of hallux valgus. If forefoot movement is limited, careful orthopedic evaluation and treatment is required. After traction, the foot is held in the correct position with a plaster cast, which is changed approximately every 7 days. Then it is replaced with special shoes with a gradually widening upper part, in which the child begins to walk.

Clubfoot. The term “clubfoot” covers a number of congenital foot abnormalities. The most common deformity is equinovarus. It is characterized by:

1) horse foot;

2) varus position of the subtalar joint ;

3) varus position of the fore and middle parts of the foot,

Uncorrected clubfoot leads to the development of persistent rigidity in the pathological position and a secondary disruption of the normal development of the bones of the foot.

Early treatment is very important, since the joints of the foot have the greatest mobility during this period. It is given the most correct position and fixed with a plaster cast or adhesive plaster. Correction and staged application of a plaster cast are repeated every few days for 1-2 weeks, and then every 1-2 weeks. In the past, correction and casting were carried out throughout the entire treatment period, and in case of failure, surgical treatment was resorted to. However, redressing performed on very thickened ligaments leads to stretching of the cartilaginous growth plate of the bones and the development of permanent changes. If conservative treatment fails, tenoligamentocapsulotomy is performed to isolate the calcaneal tendon, ankle capsule, subtalar joints, medial ligaments and articular capsules. If necessary, surgery should be performed on children aged 2-3 months. Parents should be aware of the possibility of surgical treatment.

After conservative treatment, the child’s foot looks relatively normal by the end of the 1st year of life. However, in its lateral section there is always an excess of soft tissue, and the gastrocnemius muscle of this leg is thinner. Due to the possibility of relapse throughout childhood, orthopedic treatment and observation are necessary.

Other forms of clubfoot, such as calcaneal valgus, present no particular difficulty; their correction is carried out according to the same principles.

Vertical foot. With this pathology, the scaphoid bone is incorrectly located on the isthmus of the talus. The ankle joint gives the foot the position of a horse, and its anterior section is in a position of dorsal flexion, due to which the foot takes the shape of a rocking chair seat. When palpating the plantar surface, compaction of the head of the talus is determined. A child with a vertical foot should be consulted immediately by a podiatrist.

Ittle-shaped fingers. Most often, the II finger is displaced do II dorsally, and the III comes into contact with the I. Despite the parents’ concerns, this curvature does not cause functional impairment and is spontaneously corrected with supporting load. Correction using an adhesive plaster, applied under the first finger, above the second and under the third finger, somewhat reassures the parents.

Extra fingers. Since this often makes wearing shoes difficult, they should be removed. Accessory toes are often combined with an additional metatarsal bone. Since segments of incompletely ossified metatarsal bones in newborns are not radiologically detectable, their resection should be delayed until the age of 1 year, when they become visible. This leaves enough time for the wound to heal before the child begins to walk a lot.

Syndactyly. This pathology is rarely associated with any difficulties and is rather of cosmetic importance; There is usually no need to separate the fingers.

How to buy shoes correctly

♻️ When buying boots for your child, you need to pay attention to the following:

1. You should not buy models with an open heel until the baby is over 5 years old, otherwise this will have a detrimental effect on the formation of the child’s ankle.
2. Children's shoes must have an instep support.
3. The sole should be chosen only corrugated and made of porous rubber.

1. You should not take children's shoes with flat soles, otherwise you can ruin the baby's gait and posture.
2. The toe of a shoe for a newborn must be wide so that his toes can be placed there quite freely.

✔️ Only if you follow all these recommendations you will be able to choose the perfect shoes for a newborn. Naturally, it is better to choose bright shoes in order to pleasantly please the child, but you must adhere to the above requirements.
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