Sandals for kids

How to choose sandals for a child?
How to choose the right children's sandals. A few rules to follow carefully.
This is not just general information, it is the result of my experience as a person who selects an assortment for a children's store and as a mother of two children.
The sole should be flexible and grooved (not smooth)
The sole should be flexible and preferably grooved, especially in the forefoot. This outsole creates a special walking mode and maximum grip on the surface. Rigid outsole with overall cushioning and causes a rolling gait and discomfort.

Sandals don't have to be heavy
If the shoes are heavy, then the child is more likely to start “raking” or “shuffling” with his feet. As a result, his gait may change or other orthopedic problems may arise.

Sandals should have high-quality clamps and adjustment

Children's feet are different from adults - they are much narrower at the heel and wider at the toe. Therefore, it is important to choose shoes with a wide front, which will not squeeze the toes either in volume or in width. High-quality adjustment (usually children prefer Velcro) will allow you to fit the sandals to the fullness of the legs and securely fix them to protect against dislocations.

How stiff should the back be

There are two camps - some argue that the heel must be rigid, others believe that the main thing is not so much a hard heel as the correct fixation of shoes on the foot. I belong to the second camp and I think that common sense should be followed: if the child does not have evidence, then he does not need shoes with a hard back. If there is evidence, then I advise you to consult with several specialists (and preferably not in the orthopedic salon of any particular brand, as they can “diagnose you” just to sell you something). The real orthopedic shoes that a specialist prescribes are very different from those sold on every corner, and for serious problems, these shoes are made to order. Without real evidence, do not force the child to wear shoes with a hard back, he will be much more comfortable in one that will simply fix the foot well and securely. Excellent heel hold on Tutubi sandals on First Clozet store. 
Cushioning insole inside the sandals is important
What really matters is cushioning! Children use shoes very actively. They jump and run a lot, and in this scenario, the sole should act as a good shock absorber to protect the legs from injury and pain after the child lands on their heels. You yourself, for sure, have experienced this at least once in your life, remember, when you jumped even from a small height in ordinary shoes with thin soles, the sensations in your legs were very painful. And the kids keep jumping! Moreover, due to the lack of the right anti-shock sole, you can also damage the tendons or pull the muscles. By the way, cool shock-absorbing insole have those models https://firstclozet.com/products/white-kids-moccosins-footwear-for-toddlers-with-strong-velcro, and for boys this one https://firstclozet.com/products/copy-of-kids-nubuck-sandals-shoes-footwear-for-baby. 

Arch supports. Are they important or is it just marketing

What is an arch support is a seal on the insole along the inside. Are they needed? Do they shape the foot correctly? Let's answer with the words of pediatrician - the hat does not form the shape of the head, the gloves do not form the shape of the hand, and the arch supports do not form the shape of the foot. There is no real need for it. The arch support does not form anything, it just provides more support for the foot, and it can be a little more comfortable in such shoes for a very small foot.
The quality of materials and a trusted brand is more important than you think
Sometimes mothers think in vain that there is no need to buy expensive sandals, because the child will “kill” them in a season anyway. But if you conduct an experiment, you will see that even “killed” outwardly, high-quality sandals will still retain their functionality, their Velcro will still hold tightly, and the laces will fix, while the budget counterparts stretch the laces, the Velcro come off or clogged with hair, threads and all sorts of things. As a result, it is very uncomfortable for the child to walk, the leg constantly flies out. By the way, this often happens with sandals that are bought for kindergarten. Think about it, a child spends a huge amount of time in these shoes, and you don’t see what it feels like, comfortable, not convenient, but, you see, you would prefer to be sure that he is comfortable, that nothing interferes with him, and not vice versa - he is nervous and freaking out and gives out something like “stupid sandals” :-). In addition to all of the above, the right shoes form the right gait and do not deform the foot.
Heel, needed or not?
How many orthopedists - so many opinions. Some argue that at least a minimum is needed (as here), others - it is enough if the shoes are simply designed in such a way that the rise of the foot will be initiated. I take this simply - yes - good, no - so no. This does not affect the formation of the foot so much as to run around all the stores in search of a heel of the right height.

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