Letting our young ones exercise and explore their passions is a must if we want to raise happy and healthy kids. At a certain age, our children start expressing their interest in sports, and this is a great way to waste that excess energy and help them sleep better at night. More often than not, our little ones are interested in soccer and if you want to be a good parent and support them in their dreams, you need to provide them with the needed equipment to keep them safe. If kids use normal footwear for this sport, they are more likely to get injured so you need to get them cleats. In this 2024 guide, we are going to tell you how are kids’ soccer cleats supposed to fit and what you need to pay attention to when getting this type of footwear.
Should you get a size bigger?
The first question that every parent has is if they need to get a size bigger for their kid’s soccer footwear. We all know how fast our children get bigger and higher, and we are well aware that sometimes we need to purchase them new sneakers several times a year because their feet are getting bigger. We all know that this can strain the family budget, and since sports equipment can be expensive, we don’t want to end up wasting money on something that will lose the majority of its value after a few days of our little ones playing soccer.
Because of this, many parents want to save themselves some stress and they want to purchase footwear that the child will grow into. This can be a good thing to do for other types of footwear, but when it comes to cleats, it may not be the best decision you can make.
If you are adamant about getting a bigger measurement, then you need to be smart about it. If you purchase a pair that is too big for your kid, they are more likely to get injured. You will need to help them fasten the cleats too tight to stay in place, and there is going to be much more wiggle room inside the footgear that could easily lead to your little one injuring their feet or ankles.
When purchasing a pair that a child can grow into, you need to know what is the maximum sizing up that you can afford. Experts suggest that you need to check by using your thumb. If there is more room than the width of your thumb between your child’s big toe and the footwear, then you should not get the pair. Anything under that is okay.
Know that it is far better to invest slightly bit more in your child’s hobby and passion that to risk them seriously injuring themselves. The medical bills, the stress, and the pain are going to cost much more than going through several pairs of cleats in a year.
How are they supposed to fit?
Now let’s talk about how this type of footwear is supposed to fit and how it should feel when your little ones are wearing them. You should know that more often than not, the cleats should be a tight fit and you should get about half a measurement too small for your child’s foot. If this is not an option, and if you don’t want your kid to grow them out too fast, then you can just get them the exact fit so that with time, they can get that tight feeling that is supposed to be there.
Know that the type of footgear, as well as the brand, will play a huge role in how durable and protective these cleats are, and the dream pairs, kids cleats shoes are a great option for parents who want to provide the best for their kids. The collection offers many different types, styles, and colors, and you can find out more about the brand and the cleats if you visit https://dreampairshoes.com/collections/kids-soccer-shoes.
If you choose to go with the exact right fit for your kids, you should size down because in that case, the foot will be completely protected from all the impact. We know that during soccer, the players not only hit the ball, but they also run a lot and they can easily trip or just hit the ground with their toes. When the footwear is tight enough, the risk of injuries or even broken bones is minimized, and the whole foot will be protected. The footgear needs to be tight on all sides and it should hold the foot in place without adding too much strain on it.
Keep in mind that if the pair is too tight, then it will lead to blisters and wounds, and in that case, the player will not be able to do anything on the terrain. The best thing you can do is talk to the coach and ask them what they recommend for the youngest players. When it comes to toddlers to preschoolers, then the fit should be just right, however, when it comes to children that are older than 6 or 8 years, then you should opt with going half a measurement down than what they usually wear.
Experts suggest that in any case, the gap between the big toe and the shoe should not be bigger than one-fourth of an inch. This is the best possible scenario for children. If your little one’s feet are growing too fast in this period, then you can opt for one half of an inch gap, but never more than that. You may be able to save some money if you purchase a size or two bigger, but in that case, you risk your kid getting easily injured.
The width is usually unified and it can be difficult to find different widths. More often than not, the width of the footwear is made to fit tightly around the foot without causing strain. If your child’s feet are bigger or narrower, you may need to look for a specialized brand that offers different types of cleats that could help you out with this. Overall, you need to communicate with your child and the coach, and you need to be on top of the situation. Know that you will be required to invest in more pairs when your child is still growing, but it will be all worth it when you see how happy and proud, they are with their new cleats.