Girl's Shoes
Girls' shoes at FlipBuy UK — kids' trainers and sneakers from £12.99 to £20.99, in a range of sizes for everyday wear, school and play.
How to measure a child's foot properly
Children's feet are still forming, and badly fitting shoes can cause lasting problems. Measuring takes two minutes and is worth doing every time.
- Measure in the afternoon, when feet are at their largest
- Stand the child on paper with their heel against a wall, weight on both feet
- Mark the end of the longest toe — which isn't always the big toe
- Measure heel to mark in centimetres, do both feet, and use the larger
- Compare against the length chart on the product page rather than assuming a size
How much growing room to allow
- 1 to 1.5cm at the longest toe. That's roughly a thumb's width on a small foot.
- Less than 1cm and they'll outgrow them within weeks.
- More than 1.5cm and the foot slides forward, which causes blisters, and the child compensates by gripping with their toes.
- Width matters as much as length. A shoe that's the right length but too narrow causes more problems than one slightly long.
How often to check
- Under 3 years: every 6-8 weeks
- 3 to 5 years: every 8-12 weeks
- Over 5: every 3-4 months
Children very rarely say their shoes are too small. The signs are indirect: reluctance to walk, taking shoes off at every opportunity, scuffing or dragging feet, red marks or indentations after taking shoes off, and toenails that look bruised. Check the insole too — if you can see where the toes press, they've been too small for a while.
What to look for in children's trainers
- A firm heel counter — the back of the shoe should not squash flat between your fingers. This is what holds the foot in place.
- Flexible at the ball, not the middle. A shoe should bend where the foot bends. If it folds in half easily, it offers no support.
- Velcro or elastic laces until a child can reliably tie laces — otherwise you'll be tying them all day and they'll walk on undone laces.
- A removable insole is useful for checking fit and for drying them out.
- Breathable uppers. Children's feet sweat considerably more than adults', and synthetic non-breathable shoes cause odour and skin problems.
How to make them last
- Rotate two pairs if you can. Shoes need a day to dry out inside, and damp shoes break down faster and smell
- Dry away from radiators — direct heat cracks soles and unsticks adhesive. Stuff with newspaper instead
- Brush off mud rather than machine washing. Washing machines dissolve the adhesive holding soles on
- Undo the fastenings — children kicking shoes off without undoing them destroys the heel counter, which is what makes shoes collapse at the back
- Hand shoes down cautiously. Shoes mould to the first wearer's foot, so passing them on is best limited to lightly worn pairs
Common questions
What size should I order?
Measure the foot in centimetres and compare against the product page chart, allowing 1-1.5cm growing room.
How do I know if they've outgrown them?
Check for red marks after removal, bruised toenails, reluctance to walk, and press the toe of the shoe to feel where the toes end.
Are these suitable for school?
Check your school's uniform policy — many require plain black shoes. Trainers are usually fine for PE and non-uniform days.
Can I pass shoes down to a sibling?
Only lightly worn pairs. Shoes mould to the wearer, and a well-worn pair supports the next child poorly.
Related collections
For the full range, see girl's fashion. For boys, boys' shoes. For sandals, girls' sandals & slippers.
