What size shoe does a "blank" year old wear?

[NotAlBundy]

BG: I work in a shoe store (hence the nickname, NotAlBundy... that joke is so old, especially since I'm female). We have a lot of customers not originally from this country that will come in and buy shoes to send home to their families. We also have lots of grandparents that will come in trying to get shoes for their grandkids.

SC: What size shoe does a nine year old wear?

Me: Well, that really depends on the size of the kid, how fast they're growing, all kinds of things.

SC: Well, what's an average size?

Me: Like I said, it really depends. My nine year old nephew wears around a size 3 in kids, but he's kind of small for his age. When I was nine, I wore a ladies size 10, but I was tall for my age. So, there's a huge range.

SC: So, you think I should get a size 4?

(The customers buying shoes to send home will usually just buy something larger than what they bought last time and hope the kid grows into it.)

[raudf]

Good grief, is it really that hard for grandparents to call their kids and get the grandkiddle's shoe size from them? Oh, wait, that makes sense, so it's not allowed!

[AnaKhouri]

My kid is 2 and wears a size 9 toddler (he has huge hobbit feet). I on the other hand have small feet for a woman of my size.

So there's no standard based on age...if these are grandparents they already had kids and they should know this!

It's a bit like the people who say, "I need a present for my 10-year-old grandson, what should I get?" "Well, what are his interests?" "I don't know." Well, why don't you ask him???

[simplyanother]

Oh man, shoe sizes. I feel like the worst mother, because at any given time I have no idea what size shoes my boys wear. Thankfully, I can just..you know, take them with me. heh

You should start asking them "I don't know, what size shoe does a 35 year old wear?"

It amuses me. hehe

[Pixilated]

Oh man, shoe sizes. I feel like the worst mother, because at any given time I have no idea what size shoes my boys wear. Thankfully, I can just..you know, take them with me. heh

You should start asking them "I don't know, what size shoe does a 35 year old wear?"

It amuses me. hehe

SimplyAnother, may I introduce you to my sister, LOL. I asked once or twice what size shoes my niece wore, and sis had no idea. I think, as with clothing, it can also depend on the style of the shoe.

I confess to having asked similar vague questions, but not for relatives ... it's for those programs at Christmas where you're invited to buy gifts for area children who might otherwise not get anything. I understand the whole privacy issue but jeez ... give me SOME hints! Especially when it comes to boys in their early or mid-teens! (Those are the ones who seem to be selected least often, and frankly, I'm not surprised.)

[NorthernZel]

I think, as with clothing, it can also depend on the style of the shoe.

Indeed-diddly. I have a sense of what shoe size Lil Zel wears - however, I always bring him with me whenever he needs new shoes, so he can get his feet measured + make sure the shoes fit right. Especially during the toddler/preschool era it is important. (Heck, it is ALWAYS important, but as an adult you can have a better judgement about whether the shoe fits, whereas young'uns may focus more on design than comfort.)

[Bella_Vixen]

I'm a 32 year old woman (when did that happen?!?), and I can wear a size 5 in boys (for when I buy boots) and a 13 in girls (dress shoes).

What can I say? I'm a cheapskate, and this helps me save $5.

[simplyanother]

Bella_Vixen, one positive thing about having small feet--you can get all sorts of ridiculous shoes, if you want! I wish, sometimes, I could get light up sneakers in my size, but noooo (well, I'm certain they exist, just not at the local shoe stores...).

My younger son, his foot--I swear--didn't seem to grow--for about two years. I realize now, that it was because his favorite pair of shoes was a pair of notcrocs, so the growing wasn't as evident as it would have been in a pair of tennis shoes.

My older son, he's just on the edge of boys sizes and mens sizes. It depends on the shoe. That was a weirdly bittersweet moment for me (like when I walked into his middle school, and on the 6th grade wing, they had a banner that said "Welcome Class of 2018", that had me bawling @@ at me. lol)...

I'm one of those people who just can't gauge sizes and stuff. I also can't eyeball distances and other helpful things like that. I'm pretty irritating to myself.

Bah. They really should make more uniform children, then it would be much easier for all of us in retail to do our jobs as mind readers properly!

[dalesys]

Bah. They really should make more uniform children...

All hail Procrustes!

The creator of "One Size Fits All"!

[MoonCat]

All hail Procrustes!

The creator of "One Size Fits All"!

As Erma Bombeck used to say, "All of what?"

I can still remember when I was a kid and mom took us shoe-shopping....the sales people would always measure our feet to make sure we got the right size. Do they even still have these things?

[Docmayhem]

The brannock device is still alive and well.

But try finding shoes when you wear a size 12 in a 6E width...

[bhskittykatt]

I mean, I can see how it's hard, with kids growing and different shoe styles and all. I vaguely recall my mom complaining we were outgrowing shoes too fast.

Of course, it's not hard to give the parents a quick phone call and verify which shoes to get.

I'm a 32 year old woman (when did that happen?!?), and I can wear a size 5 in boys (for when I buy boots) and a 13 in girls (dress shoes).

What can I say? I'm a cheapskate, and this helps me save $5.

Grrr. I envy you. I have feet that are US size 11 women's, 9 men's. Sometimes it feels impossible to find cute shoes in my size! On the plus side, my feet are the same size as Hubby's, so if I need to take the trash out or something and don't want to get my shoes dirty, I can steal his.

[raudf]

And amusingly, my parents just called to ask what size shoes does the kiddo wear. The convo got fun.

Me: Just bought him a men's 7, so go up to a 7 1/2 or 8, please.
Mom: Really? He's only 10!
Me: Yes, Mom. I didn't have a child. I had a weed. Oh, and go for 12's or above in shirts, and 12's in pants. *eyes son* Though if you want to buy for "likely to fit" fall, you might want to go with a 14 in both.

Hopefully, he'll be taller than his daddy or I. We're both 5'6".

[fireheart]

I think, as with clothing, it can also depend on the style of the shoe.

Agreed. Australian shoe sizes are slightly different, but I'm a size 8-9 in sneakers and work shoes (i.e. school lace-ups or mary janes), but if it's court shoes or ballet flats, I need a ladies 10. My sister's the same. It's scary....I'm about a good 3-4 dress sizes heavier than her, but we both have the same shoe size. My mum's a ladies 7 and my dad's shoes do not fit me

As Erma Bombeck used to say, "All of what?"

I can still remember when I was a kid and mom took us shoe-shopping....the sales people would always measure our feet to make sure we got the right size. Do they even still have these things?

In specialised shoe-shops they do, but if you're going to yon average department store, then not so much. There's a sports shoe store down here that goes one better: not only do they have the measurement thingy, they also have you walk across a mat to measure where you put the most weight on your feet. from there, they can recommend a set of shoes that will suit you.

[dendawg]

The brannock device is still alive and well.

But try finding shoes when you wear a size 12 in a 6E width...

You should try a Men's 10-1/2 4E...damn near impossible to find. Ugh.