A toddler shoe size chart pairs US sizes 0 to 10 with foot length. Per Carter’s/OshKosh, size 4 fits about 9 to 12 months (11.4 cm foot), size 6 about 12 to 24 months (13 cm) and size 8 about 2 to 4 years (14.6 cm). Ages are a rough guide only, so measure the foot and check the brand’s own chart.
Baby shoe sizes are generally labeled by age in months, according to Stride Rite, and that is the one stage where age roughly predicts size. After the first birthday the link weakens fast, and by the toddler years brands print wide age bands or none at all. This guide gives Carter’s/OshKosh’s chart with ages, Stride Rite’s chart with lengths and widths, and Nike’s 1C–10C chart in inches, each under its own name because brands convert differently. For older children, continue to the kids’ shoe size chart; for every system on one page, see the shoe size conversion chart.
Baby and toddler shoe sizes by age (per Carter’s/OshKosh)
Carter’s US site blocked access during research, so this table is from the Carter’s/OshKosh Australian size guide. Lengths are foot length in centimeters.
| US Size | Age Range | Length (cm) | EU Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0/NB (XXXS) | Up to 6 Weeks | 8 | 15 |
| 1 (XXS) | 6 Weeks – 3M | 8.9 | 16 |
| 2 (XXS) | 3 – 6M | 9.5 | 17 |
| 3 (XS) | 6 – 9M | 10.5 | 18 |
| 4 (XS) | 9 – 12M | 11.4 | 19 |
| 5 (S) | 12 – 18M | 12.1 | 20 |
| 6 (S) | 12 – 24M | 13 | 22 |
| 7 (M) | 2 to 4 yr | 14 | 23 |
| 8 (M) | 2 to 4 yr | 14.6 | 24 |
| 9 (L) | 2 to 4 yr | 15.6 | 25 |
| 10 (L) | 2 to 4 yr | 16.5 | 27 |
The age bands widen as the sizes climb: three months per size for babies, then a 12–24 month band for size 6, and four sizes all labeled “2 to 4 yr”. Toddler shoe sizes by age only narrow the search. The foot length decides.
Carter’s US charts (seen only through search snippets) list the infant sizes in inches: size 0 newborn 3.5 in, size 1 (0–3 months) 3.7 in, size 2 (3–6 months) 4.1 in, size 3 (6–9 months) 4.5 in and size 4 (9–12 months) 4.8 in. Carter’s own snippets also contradict each other. Size 4 appears as 4.8 in on the baby chart and 4.25 in on the toddler chart, and size 6 as both 5.0 and 5.13 in. Brands vary, and even charts within one brand vary, which is one more reason to compare a measured foot against the chart for the exact product.
Toddler shoe size chart with widths (per Stride Rite)
Stride Rite gives length plus circumference (width) in centimeters. M, W and XW are the circumference around the widest part of the foot. Sizes 1 and 2 come in medium only.
| US Size | Length (cm) | M | W | XW |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9.1 | 11.4 | n/a | n/a |
| 2 (3-6 mo) | 9.9 | 12.1 | n/a | n/a |
| 3 (6-9 mo) | 10.8 | 12.1 | 12.7 | 13.2 |
| 3.5 | 11.2 | 12.4 | 13.0 | 13.5 |
| 4 (9-12 mo) | 11.6 | 12.7 | 13.3 | 13.8 |
| 4.5 | 12.0 | 13.0 | 13.7 | 14.1 |
| 5 | 12.5 | 13.3 | 14.0 | 14.4 |
| 5.5 | 12.9 | 13.7 | 14.3 | 14.8 |
| 6 | 13.3 | 14.0 | 14.6 | 15.1 |
| 6.5 | 13.7 | 14.3 | 14.9 | 15.4 |
| 7 | 14.1 | 14.6 | 15.2 | 15.7 |
| 7.5 | 14.6 | 14.9 | 15.6 | 16.0 |
| 8 | 15.0 | 15.2 | 15.9 | 16.4 |
| 8.5 | 15.4 | 15.6 | 16.2 | 16.7 |
| 9 | 15.8 | 15.9 | 16.5 | 17.0 |
| 9.5 | 16.3 | 16.2 | 16.8 | 17.3 |
| 10 | 16.7 | 16.5 | 17.1 | 17.6 |
Compare Stride Rite and Carter’s at the same size and the lengths are close but not identical: size 4 is 11.6 cm at Stride Rite and 11.4 cm at Carter’s; size 8 is 15.0 cm against 14.6 cm. Source: Stride Rite sizing help.
Stride Rite stages
Stride Rite sorts its baby and toddler shoes by stage of movement, with overlapping size and age bands:
- Crawlers: sizes 1–4, 0–12 months.
- First Walkers: sizes 3–6, 6–18 months.
- Independent Walkers: sizes 4–10, 9 months to 4 years.
Infant and toddler shoe sizes (per Nike, 1C–10C)
Nike’s Babies & Toddlers range runs 1C to 10C, with foot length in inches. As with Nike’s other charts, the CM/JP column is a shoe size, not a foot length.
| US Kids | UK | CM / JP | EU | Foot Length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1C | 0.5 | 7 | 16 | 3 9/16 |
| 2C | 1.5 | 8 | 17 | 3 15/16 |
| 3C | 2.5 | 9 | 18.5 | 4 4/16 |
| 4C | 3.5 | 10 | 19.5 | 4 9/16 |
| 5C | 4.5 | 11 | 21 | 4 15/16 |
| 6C | 5.5 | 12 | 22 | 5 4/16 |
| 7C | 6.5 | 13 | 23.5 | 5 9/16 |
| 8C | 7.5 | 14 | 25 | 5 15/16 |
| 9C | 8.5 | 15 | 26 | 6 4/16 |
| 10C | 9.5 | 16 | 27 | 6 9/16 |
Nike’s page also shows a row of ages in months, but it has seven values for ten sizes and no stated mapping, so it isn’t paired with sizes here. For Nike’s apparel and older kids’ sizing, see the Nike size chart.
Why EU toddler sizes differ by brand
The same US toddler size carries a different EU number at each brand. A US 5 is EU 21 at Nike (5C), EU 20 at Carter’s and EU 20.5 on Skechers’s infant/toddler table. Skechers’s other rows include size 1 = UK 0 = EU 16, size 4 = UK 3 = EU 19.5, size 7 = UK 6 = EU 22.5 and size 10 = UK 9 = EU 26.5. Nike puts size 10C at EU 27, as does Carter’s. If you buy from a European brand, compare the foot length on its chart rather than converting the US size.
How to measure toddler feet
Stride Rite recommends an in-store measurement on a Brannock device, especially for babies and toddlers. At home, it suggests either a printed guide or a tracing:
- Printed guide: print at 100% scale and check it against a credit card. Place the heel against the wall end and mark the first point past the big toe.
- Tracing: with the child standing barefoot, trace both feet, then measure from the heel to the tip of the big toe in centimeters.
- Width: wrap a ribbon around the widest part of the foot and measure the ribbon against a ruler or a soft tape measure.
- Pick the larger foot: size to the bigger of the two measurements.
Nike’s no-printer method is the same idea: stand the child on paper against a wall and trace. If the length falls between sizes, Nike recommends sizing up.
How fast toddler feet grow
Per Stride Rite, growth slows as children get older:
| Age | Typical growth (per Stride Rite) |
|---|---|
| Under 15 months | About 1/2 size every 2 months |
| 15 months to 2 years | About 1/2 size every 2–3 months |
| 2 to 3 years | About 1/2 size every 3–4 months |
| 3 to 5 years | About 1/2 size every 4 months |
Stride Rite advises measuring about every two months. It also notes that it takes around 24 months for a newborn’s foot bones to fully develop.
Shoes before and after walking
Stride Rite says going barefoot before walking helps balance, and that “most pediatricians recommend infants go shoeless”. Once a child starts walking, it recommends light, flexible shoes with soft, slip-resistant rubber soles and rounded heels. That’s useful when buying secondhand baby shoes too: flex the sole and check the tread before you buy. Baby socks follow the shoe size, and the sock size chart covers kids’ ranges.
The verdict
For babies, age is a fair starting point: Carter’s/OshKosh’s three-month bands line up with sizes 0 to 4. From about the first birthday onward, measure. The Carter’s chart is the best reference for toddler shoe sizes by age, Stride Rite’s is the best for width, and Nike’s 1C–10C table is the clearest in inches. Expect brands to disagree by a few millimeters and by up to a full EU size, and expect even one brand’s charts to conflict. With feet growing half a size every two to four months, re-measure every couple of months and buy for the foot in front of you. When a toddler outgrows the 10C mark, the next stop is the youth size chart for clothing and the kids’ shoe chart for shoes.
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FAQ
What size shoe does a 1-year-old wear?
Carter’s/OshKosh lists size 4 for 9–12 months and size 5 for 12–18 months. Stride Rite’s First Walkers run sizes 3–6 for 6–18 months. Measure to confirm.
What is the difference between baby and toddler shoe sizes?
They are the same numbering system. Baby sizes are generally labeled by age in months; toddler sizes continue the same US numbers up to about size 10.
What does 5C mean in toddler shoes?
It’s a child’s size 5 on Nike’s chart, fitting a 4 15/16 inch foot. By general convention C means child, though Nike doesn’t define it on its size page.
How do I measure my toddler’s feet at home?
Trace both bare feet while the child stands, measure heel to big toe in centimeters, and size to the larger foot. Stride Rite also offers a printable guide.
How often do toddler shoe sizes change?
About half a size every 2 to 4 months between 15 months and 3 years, per Stride Rite. Measure about every two months.
