First, put your child’s feet into the socks they’ll wear with their new shoes if they will be wearing any. Measuring bare feet is like making cookies without flour—just doesn’t work. Have your child stand on a flat surface, channeling their inner superhero stance.

Lay the paper on the floor, with one edge against a wall. Ask your child to stand with their heel touching the wall. Get ready for some artistry: trace around their foot, keeping the pen or pencil straight up and down. Don’t let them lift their foot, or your measurements might turn out like a wiggly worm! Repeat with the other foot, as those tiny toes might not always be perfectly matched.

Grab your ruler or measuring tape and measure from the heel to the tip of the longest toe. Jot down this number. Next, measure the width of their foot at its widest part—usually the ball area. Record this too, so you know how wide their shoes need to be.

Convert those measurements using a shoe size chart. Make sure to use the one provided by the shoe brand or retailer, as size charts can be as varied as your child’s favorite cartoon characters. Accurate conversion ensures you get the right size, avoiding the dreaded “too big” or “too small” saga.