3 Signs Your Toddler’s Shoes Are Too Small
(and What to Do) 

At Simples, we’re obsessed with healthy feet (and happy parents). Here are three easy-to-spot signs that your toddler’s shoes might be too small — plus what you can do about it.

1. The Toes Test: Squished or Curled Up

Take a look at your toddler’s toes when they’re wearing shoes. Do they curl under? Do they look squeezed together? That’s a clear sign the shoes are too small. A toddler’s toes should have room to lie flat and move a little inside the shoe.

Quick tip: Press gently at the front of the shoe when your toddler is standing. You should feel about a thumb’s width of space (roughly 1 cm) between the end of their longest toe and the tip of the shoe. No gap? Time for a new pair.

2. Red Marks or Blisters After Play

When you take your toddler’s shoes off, check for marks on their skin. Red spots, indentations around the toes, or blisters on the heel mean the shoe is rubbing in the wrong places. Sometimes kids won’t complain — they just accept the discomfort. But their skin tells the truth.

Quick tip: After a playdate or park trip, do a “shoe check.” A little mark from socks is normal, but deep red lines or blisters mean their shoes are too snug.