Choosing the right footwear

It is important that the shoe works with the foot and does not restrict its movement.

Children taking their first steps bend their feet in different directions, roll them and place them on their sides – a stiff shoe would restrict these movements and be uncomfortable.

A thin sole provides good ground feel and helps toddlers learn to walk – the foot has about 200,000 nerves, and 70% of the information about human body movement reaches the brain from nerves in the feet.

For children who walk confidently, it is important that the shoe bends at 1/3 of its length from the toes (this ensures that walking takes place in a motorically correct manner - from the heel towards the toes).

Bobux uses the following soles in its footwear:

• Soft Sole series: non-slip suede (100% natural high-quality leather)
• Xplorer series: very thin, soft, and lightweight sole makes the shoe practically transparent to the foot
• Step-up series: thin and flexible rubber sole allowing easy twisting and bending of the shoe in any direction
• series: I-walk and Kid+: flexible rubber sole with transverse cuts allowing the sole to bend easily.

When standing, the child should have enough space in the front of the shoe to allow the toes to move freely – the toes should not be squeezed from the front or sides. 

 

Children's feet grow quickly (up to 2 or 3 sizes per year), so it is a good idea to measure them regularly to make sure they have enough space at the front for their toes to move freely.

Sometimes one foot is longer than the other – always choose the size that fits the longer foot.

Selecting the right shoe size:

• follow the shoe manufacturer's recommendations (how to choose the right size of Bobux shoes)
• keep in mind that manufacturers use different sizing standards
• do not buy shoes that are too big – walking in shoes that are too big will not be comfortable for your child, they may trip over the toes and fall over
• go by the length of the longer foot (if there is a difference)
   

 

The toes should lie flat and not be squeezed in the shoe. The shape of the shoe should correspond to the natural shape of the foot, i.e. it should be rounded at the front and back and wider around the toes.  

Specially designed shoe lasts, on which Bobux shoes are formed, guarantee the right shape for children's feet at different stages of development (see the description of the Bobux shoe series).

Choose shoes that are made of safe, soft, and breathable material.

Safe:

Children's feet sweat, and children sometimes put shoes in their mouths (e.g., slippers), so harmful
substances from footwear can enter the body. Children's skin is more sensitive to chemicals
and toxic compounds than adult skin, so it is important to make sure that the material from which
the shoes are made of does not contain harmful substances (e.g., mercury and carcinogenic chromium(6) – these are sometimes used in the dyeing and tanning process).

Soft:

The material used to make the shoe should not irritate or pinch, as this could damage the skin.

Breathable:

Children's feet sweat twice as much as adults' feet, so it is important that the material used to make the shoe allow the foot to breathe.
High-quality natural leather, dyed and tanned without the use of toxic substances, is a material
that meets the above requirements.

Bobux shoes are made of high-quality natural leather, tanned and dyed without the use of harmful substances.

Lightweight shoes give your child more freedom, while heavy shoes will quickly tire them out,
and playing will no longer be fun.

The weight of Bobux shoes is:

• soft sole series: ~25 g 
• Xplorer series: ~from 30 g
• Step up series: ~from 35 g
• I-walk series: ~from 80 g
• Kid+ series: ~from 90 g

It is good when shoes are easy to put on and take off.

For the youngest children, this prevents injuries when parents put shoes on them, while for older children, the ability to put on shoes independently provides a lot of satisfaction and encourages them to go outside.

Bobux uses Velcro fastenings, which make the shoes easy to put on, offer a wide range of adjustment, and provide a secure hold around the midfoot.

Children's feet sweat more than adults' feet, so it is important that the insole is made of natural materials. A permanently attached insole will prevent it from moving around when walking, putting on or taking off shoes.

For children who are learning to walk and those who are already walking well, it is important that the foot does not move around inside the shoe.
Several factors influence the correct positioning of the foot inside the shoe and keeping it in the correct position:

• the shape of the shoe (narrowed in the middle and with a heel counter to keep the heel in place)
• fastening (securely holding the midfoot area)
• insole (non-slip)

Shoes wear out to a greater or lesser extent and adapt to the working foot – as every foot is different, you should not put shoes used by other children on your child.

In order for the muscles and tendons that control the ankle and affect its strength and endurance to develop properly, the ankle should have freedom of movement and function.

Whenever possible, let children walk barefoot, as this allows the skeletal and muscular systems to develop naturally.

Therefore, unless otherwise recommended by an orthopedist, the ankle should not be blocked or stiffened. When choosing shoes, make sure that they end below or above the ankle bone, never on it, as this would hinder the natural strengthening of the ankle. The shoe should allow the foot to bend freely at the ankle.

Bobux shoes do not stiffen the ankle area, allowing it to move freely.
The area under the ankle is properly contoured so that it does not pinch this area of the foot.

Well-designed, well-made shoes made from good materials make walking, running, and playing in shoes a pleasure rather than a chore.

Keep this in mind when choosing shoes for your child.

Bobux shoes are handmade from the highest quality materials.

Bobux has a quality control system, and the materials used in the production of shoes have been tested for harmful substances. (see certificates and laboratory test results)